Commercial Integrator 2023 BEST Award Winners

Published: 2023-06-23Author: Alyssa Borelli

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When Commercial Integrator conceived the BEST Awards, the founding vision was straightforward: Put simply, the program was created to highlight products and services that are genuine difference-makers in the commercial AV industry. In particular, to align with CI’s status as the business handbook for technology professionals, the BEST Awards program showcases offerings that help integrators sustain and grow their businesses.

When the awards program was created, though, no one could have imagined all the headwinds that integrators would face in a year like 2023 — namely, continued supply-chain snarls, multi-decade-high inflation, and a labor shortage. Thus, if ever there was a time to pay close attention to our BEST Award honorees and consider how you can benefit from their excellence, now is that time.

As opposed to operating the BEST Awards in a “crowd-sourced” way, CI relies on a panel of unbiased judges who have no affiliation with or connection to the candidates. Each judge assesses nominees independently, thus ensuring that each one is empowered to exercise their own judgment, free of undue influence.

For every candidate, judges consider three separate metrics: a product’s most important functional features; the benefits the product provides to the integrator; and the product’s design and/or technical innovation. Thus, judges’ perspective on each nominee is well-rounded, reflecting a mix of specs and tangible business value.

Dan Ferrisi, editor-in-chief of Commercial Integrator, says, “The past 12 months have been equal parts challenging and opportune for the commercial AV integration channel. Despite escalating labor costs, interest-rate hikes and general economic tumult, integrators have seized on society’s desire to enjoy communal spaces and communal experiences, all of which must be enhanced by AV technology. The BEST Awards represent CI’s best effort to spotlight the technology tools that make those experiences indelible.”

Ferrisi continues, “In the slideshow that follows, you’ll see some of the very best hardware, software, services and integrator resources that our industry has unveiled. Although our panel of independent judges was charged with choosing just one winner per category, I want to commend every BEST Award nominee for reflecting the very best of the art, science and craft of AV. Every nominee deserves recognition and praise, and I want to commend each one.”

Without further ado, enjoy this spotlight of BEST Award winners. And don’t forget to start thinking about what products in your pipeline might be good candidates for the 2024 BEST Awards!