Our View from IWCE VISIONS 2017

Our View from IWCE VISIONS 2017

IWCE VISIONS 2017 in Charlotte, NC is a great opportunity to take the temperature of the window fashion industry, learn what’s new, and think about where technology can support retailers and fabricators.

If attendance is a guide, there’s reason to be optimistic about where our industry is headed. We talked to more retailers, fabricators and other vendors than at prior shows and the majority shared a similar message: Business is good and the future is bright.

Traffic in our corner of the show kept us from roaming the floor too much, but we did see one trend that was impossible to miss. Every manufacturer seemed to be showing motorized roller shades. These are relatively complex products, and their high profile at IWCE VISIONS suggests a growing demand for sophisticated, upmarket products.

What does all this mean for technology?

The growth of complex products–particularly motorized shades like we’ve supported for years is only going to demand greater focus on using technology to compare, quote and sell window fashions. This was reflected in the number of new vendors offering estimating software, or tools that allow retailers to approximate the cost of products.

From our perspective, these tools are headed in the right direction, but don’t quite arrive at a useful solution. Getting there requires three seemingly simple things:

• Complete, up to date product data and pricing
• The capability to quote and order products right in clients’ homes
• Integration with tools like measuring devices, to streamline time-consuming tasks

What’s your point of view? Do you think that the growing sophistication of products is going to require a more tech-savvy approach to selling?

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