​​The Products Are Getting Smarter. Is Your Business Ready?

Every sale now carries more choices, technical dependencies and service expectations. From smart automation and energy performance to natural materials and premium customisation, the product conversation around window coverings and drapery is becoming more sophisticated. For dealers and manufacturers, however, the more important trend sits behind the finished product. What does it offer your customer?

The opportunity is significant. So is the operational pressure. 

Business Ready insyte by accent software

The new Luxaflex® PowerView® Automation takes the sophistication of your window coverings to new heights. 
Quoting this product requires numerous elements to factor in.

Smart window coverings are becoming part of the connected home

Motorisation is increasingly being sold as part of connected living, rather than as a stand-alone luxury upgrade. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

At Raleigh in 2026, motorisation was addressed not only as a product feature, but as a sales and specification opportunity. Industry education focused on identifying a customer’s smart-home needs, demonstrating practical uses such as privacy and light control, selecting between control technologies and simplifying installation and troubleshooting (International Window Coverings Expo, 2026).
This phenomena alone changes the sales conversation. A consultant may need to capture the motor type, power source, control method, smart home platform, room groupings, charging access, wiring requirements and installation conditions. A quote may also need the correct remotes, hubs, controls and accessories.
When those details sit across handwritten notes, spreadsheets, emails and supplier portals, the risk of incompatible selections or missing components increases dramatically. Stronger systems should guide the salesperson towards valid product combinations, retain the technical information with the job and pass it clearly to ordering and installation.

Insyte Sketch lets you capture sketches, photos and notes on site while quoting, keeping every important detail attached to the job and clearly communicated to the team

Energy efficiency is becoming part of the specification

Energy performance is also becoming a more important part of the product conversation. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Australian Government identifies windows as one of the biggest sources of heat gain and loss in the home, with up to 40% of heating lost through windows. It recommends close-fitting lined curtains, blinds, pelmets, suitable backing, tightly woven materials and appropriate seasonal use of window coverings (Australian Government, n.d.).
 
This also creates a more informed and detailed buying conversation. Customers may ask about insulating fabrics, cellular construction, light control, external shading, orientation fit and the difference between summer and winter performance. 
 
For businesses, this means energy cannot remain a broad marketing claim. Sales teams need access to accurate product information and a consistent way to record what was recommended, why it suited the room and what must happen during installation. Photos, measurements, orientation notes and product specifications need to stay connected to the quote rather than being stored separately. 
Natural materials and personalisation multiply the choices
Houzz’s 2026 trend reporting points to homes that feel warmer, more personal and built to last. It highlights rich materials, warm wood tones, earthy colour palettes and natural textures such as linen, wool and rattan (Parker, 2026).
 
For customers, this creates a richer design experience. For the retailer, it expands the number of possible combinations across fabrics, linings, headings, hardware, finishes, control options, layered treatments and installation methods.
 
Premium customisation can increase the value of a project, but it also creates more room for revisions, purchasing errors and margin leakage. The business needs to be able to re-quote quickly, apply changes consistently, enforce vendor specifications and maintain a clear record of what the customer approved. 
Higher product expectations create higher service expectations
A smart, layered or highly customised treatment cannot be delivered reliably through a fragmented process.
The customer expects the appointment to be confirmed, the quote to reflect every decision, the order to be correct, the installer to understand the site and the business to provide updates without being chased.
The operational chain matters as much as the product.
This is why the strongest response to 2026 trends is not simply adding more ranges of motor options. It is building the operational capacity to manage complexity from first enquiry through to final installation.
The strategic question is no longer, “Can we specify, quote, order, install and support without losing information, margin, or customer confidence?”

Built from more than 25 years of window covering industry experience, Insyte gives businesses one connected place to manage everything we’ve talked about above including: leads, appointments, quoting, product rules, ordering, receiving, installation requirements, customer communication, remakes and reporting.

The aim is not technology for its own sake, but rather, to help businesses offer more choice without losing control of accuracy, margin or the customer experience.
The business best positioned for the next stage of the market will not necessarily be those with the longest product list. They will be the ones able to turn sophisticated customer expectations into a clear, repeatable and profitable workflow.

Explore how Insyte supports the complete window covering journey or book a demonstration to see how it could work across your business HERE.

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Article References​​​​​​​​​​​​

 
Australian Government (n.d.)Windows.  Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Accessed 4 August 2026. LINK
Houzz. (2026, May 20). 2026 U.S. Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report. Houzz. LINK
International Window Coverings Expo. (2026, May 4). Key takeaways discovered from IWCE Raleigh shaping the future of the industry.IWCE LINK
Parker, M. (2026, January 1). 25 home design trends defining how we’ll live in 2026. Houzz. LINK

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