Big news for integrators and manufacturers alike! The NSCA Excellence in Product Innovation (EPI) awards are back for their 12th year, and they’re better than ever. With revamped categories and a new stage for the winners, this year’s awards are designed to reflect the evolving ways integrators adopt and implement cutting-edge technology.
Here’s what’s new:
A Fresh Stage for Recognition
This year, the EPI awards winners will be announced at NSCA’s Excellence in Business Operations (XBO) Experience event, happening Oct. 28-29, 2025, in Austin, Texas. This shift from the Business & Leadership Conference (BLC) gives the awards a new spotlight, aligning them with the operational excellence that integrators strive for every day.
All-New Categories to Reflect Industry Growth
The categories have been completely reimagined to highlight the innovations that matter most to integrators. With six divisions and 25 awards up for grabs, there’s a category for every groundbreaking product:
- AI & Intelligent Automation: Celebrating AI-driven solutions for classrooms, enterprise AV, safety and more.
- Recurring Revenue & Service Enablement: Honoring tools that help integrators build sustainable RMR models.
- Installation & Integration Excellence: Recognizing products that make deployment faster, easier and more cost-effective.
- Cybersecurity & Risk Mitigation: Highlighting secure solutions that protect data and systems.
- Platform Power & Ecosystem Integration: Showcasing technologies that integrate seamlessly into broader ecosystems.
- Next-Gen Innovation: Celebrating trailblazing products that redefine what’s possible in the industry.
Why Enter?
Winning an EPI award isn’t just about bragging rights (though that’s a nice perk!). Winners receive:
- On-stage recognition at the XBO Experience event.
- Coverage in Integrate, NSCA’s trade publication, and other industry outlets.
- Social media shoutouts, press release mentions, and a spotlight in NSCA’s blog and newsletters.
- A featured spot in a photo gallery on CommercialIntegrator.com.
How to Enter
If you’re a manufacturer with a product that’s driving innovation in the integration industry, now’s the time to shine. Here’s what you need to know:
- Eligibility: Products must have been announced after July 1, 2024, and available for sale and shipment by Dec. 31, 2025.
- Entry Deadline: Submit your entries by Sept. 25, 2025.
- Pricing: Each entry is $697, but NSCA members can save $200 per entry with a coupon code. Combine this with the early-bird rate (available through Aug. 21, 2025) to save even more!
Ready to showcase your innovation? Visit https://epiawards.secure-platform.com to enter today.
A Word from NSCA
“We’ve evolved the Excellence in Product Innovation awards this year to better reflect the innovations that drive the industry forward,” says Tom LeBlanc, NSCA executive director. “Our updated categories ensure that we recognize not only breakthrough products but also solutions that solve critical business and operational challenges. Our goal is to honor innovations that empower integrators to deliver more value to their clients.”
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate your product’s impact on the integration industry. Enter now and join us in Austin this October to see who takes home the honors!
