Z-Wave Alliance at CES 2025 Recap

By Avi Rosenthal, Chair of the Board, Z-Wave Alliance

I look forward to CES each year – It’s always a critical launch point for the new year, offering a myriad of opportunities to reconnect with industry friends, see the latest tech, share my insights and establish new connections. With over 141,000 attendees, CES 2025 was an incredible success for the Z-Wave Alliance. For the first time, we hosted a ballroom that set the perfect stage for our members and leadership to connect with industry peers, press, and smart home enthusiasts, offer live demos at exhibitor tables, host insightful speaking and networking events, and showcase the full power and potential of Z-Wave technology. If you couldn’t join us, here’s a snapshot of the highlights.

Alliance Member Exhibitors

The Alliance would like to thank the following members for exhibiting in the ballroom and being such an integral part of our presence at the show: Alfred International, Silicon Labs, Siterwell, SmartRent, Vision Electronics Technology. If you haven’t already, check out the member news at CES 2025.

Setting the Stage for 2025: Z-Wave Long Range, Interoperability and Manufacturing Trends

I had the privilege of moderating our first fireside chat, “The Power and Potential of Z-Wave Long Range.” Joined by industry leaders Jake Alamat (Silicon Labs), Agnes Lorenz (Zooz), Abe Kinney (Alarm.com), and Brad Cook (Alfred International), we delved into the Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) advantages, groundbreaking applications, and untapped markets. A standout moment came when Agnes shared why Zooz chose ZWLR from the get-go: it’s SmartStart technology. By allowing installers to connect devices seamlessly via a simple QR code scan, SmartStart significantly reduces support issues—a real game-changer in deployment efficiency.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge moderated “Interoperability in Smart Home Security,” a compelling discussion between me and panelists Gilles Drieu (ADT), Nitesh Patel (Tech Insights), Daniel Wroclawski (Consumer Reports). Together, we explored how open communication protocols like Z-Wave address critical consumer concerns about compatibility and security. Our panelists agreed that interoperability is key to bridging the gap between smart home automation and robust security systems.

In our third fireside chat, “Manufacturing in 2025,” I sat down with Terry Arbaugh, Chief Commercial Officer at Seacomp. Terry provided an eye-opening analysis of manufacturing trends, advocating for Mexico as the long-term solution for connected device production. By comparing costs between Mexico and Asia, he illustrated the economic and logistical advantages of nearshoring. This session also highlighted how Z-Wave’s standardized ecosystem simplifies manufacturing, accelerating deployment and reducing complexity.

Exclusive Data Insights

I know how important data can be when making decisions for the path forward, so I was thrilled for BlueConnect to have an opportunity to sponsor a “Lunch and Learn” session for Alliance members. Jennifer Kent, VP of Research at Parks Associates, offered a data-rich exploration of the IoT market. Jennifer presented insights into consumer adoption trends, challenges, and opportunities in the smart home space. Key topics included advances in device integration and the growing demand in both multi-dwelling and single-family homes. Parks Associates’ research reinforced Z-Wave’s strong position as a leader in the IoT ecosystem, showcasing how the protocol continues to evolve to meet consumer needs.

What’s Next…

CES 2025 demonstrated the Z-Wave Alliance’s commitment to driving innovation and fostering collaboration within the smart home industry. Through new product demos and speaking opportunities, this year’s show highlighted how Z-Wave remains the backbone of a secure, interoperable, and connected future. As the Chair of the Board for the Alliance, I can confidently say that we are excited to build on this momentum throughout 2025 and beyond.

If you’re attending ISE 2025, we’d love to see you at the Z-Wave Alliance Summit & Unplug Fest EMEA, where the Alliance is offering panels and presentations covering the state of Z-Wave Chips, product development with open source, and more. Browse the full agenda and register here.

Exploring the Z-Wave 2024B Specification: Advancing Smart Home and IoT Innovation

The Z-Wave Alliance today announces the release of the 2024B specification package. Packed with enhancements that improve interoperability, security, developer tools, and regulatory compliance,

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