So, why are we talking about IFA 2019? Although not strictly connected to our reference market – Pro AV –, the trade shows dedicated to consumer electronics often reveal interesting insights into solutions and trends that can potentially be embraced by the professional integration sector.
It is enough to have a look at the dominant trends of the 2019 edition, which took place in Berlin from the 6th to the 11th of September, which are about voice commands, Artificial Intelligence, 5G networks… in short, that mix of technological innovation and connectivity that currently characterises, to a large extent, the entire audio-video market. All of this is enriched by the ever increasing awareness of the consumer, who is able to ask the professional for well-defined results and solutions
As for the exhibition itself, 2,000 exhibitors, 245,000 visitors – with 50% of visitors from outside of Germany – are outstanding figures, and they confirm the continuous capacity for renewal of this long-established (first held in 1924) but very up-to-date event.
Particularly popular were the two keynote presentations held by Huawei CEO Richard Yu and by Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon, who explored how 5G connectivity can push the potential of artificial intelligence to the limits of the computing world in devices, vehicles and industrial applications. At the heart of the exhibition was the IFA NEXT innovation hub, with numerous start-ups and research institutes from various countries. For this edition, the area hosted Japan as the first Global Innovation Partner Country, with a pavilion focused on the interaction between man and machine.
Of course, there were also major product launches, from computers to telephones, from TVs to audio systems, while the horizons of the smart home are expanding to embrace electric mobility, which has rightly become a favourite of global consumers.
