The Home Technology Association (HTA)—the resource for the most qualified and professional home technology integrators—celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. The HTA created the first and only standard of excellence for home technology integration firms in 2017, giving the best-qualified technology integrators a prestigious certification and endorsement developed to differentiate exceptional firms. Since then, HTA has fulfilled its purpose as a badge of quality and to help homeowners get consistently first-rate technology experiences.
In those five years, HTA has grown, expanding its reach significantly. Today, hundreds of HTA Certified integrators in the US and Canada now reap the rewards of the HTA Certification distinction, utilizing it in their marketing efforts to differentiate and elevate their firms. HTA Certified firms have access to valuable sales and marketing tools, industry partner outreach, ongoing education, and more.
The Home Technology Association has also forged alliances with prestigious associations and organizations from adjacent trades, including AIBD (American Institute of Building Design), ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), IDS (Interior Design Society), NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), and NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association). These alliances help bridge the gap between the design-build and integration communities and make HTA Certified integration firms the go-to resource for interior designers, architects, builders, and specifiers. HTA’s ongoing education and content contribution to these trade associations creates a more natural and easily navigable pathway from their membership to HTA Certified integration firms and HTA Supporting Brands. It is also helping to build member confidence in specifying technology into projects and partnering with the right integrator for each project.
“What really drives us is doing everything in our power to change how integrators are brought to new construction and remodeling projects. Integrators decry being brought to the project too late to do their best work, and we all know how nobody wins when this happens. The HTA is serving as the bridge association between the best integrators and architects, interior designers, and contractors, educating them on why it is in their best interests to engage a qualified integrator at the earliest stage in their process and as often as possible,” says Josh Christian, Home Technology Association CEO.
Also of note is the significant success of the HTA Supporting Brand program, with more than 50 of the top smart home technology manufacturers on board to support their mission. HTA Supporting Brands have the unique opportunity to speak to the top integration firms and designers, architects, builders, and specifiers via HTA’s social media, email campaigns, webinars, and other digital marketing activities. The HTA is currently accepting additional Sponsoring Brands in all product categories.
“We are very proud of what the Home Technology Association has accomplished in five short years. The need for a standard of excellence for integration firms was clear to us, and it is great to receive confirmation of this fact from hundreds of HTA Certified Integrators in addition to manufacturers, rep firms, industry service providers, and trade publications,” adds Christian. “We have enabled our certified integrators to easily differentiate and elevate their firms, and many use their HTA Certified status to eliminate unqualified companies from bidding on projects. Consumers and trade partners alike respect and prefer the HTA standard.”
To learn more about becoming an HTA Certified integration firm or Supporting Brand, connect with Josh Christian here; https://htacertified.org/app/contact-us/.
To submit an application to become an HTA Certified integrator, apply at: htacertified.org/apply.
