The Future (of Fenestration) is Bright!
With technology speeding along at a somewhat alarming rate, it would be impractical to be part of an industry that couldn't keep up with these changes.
With the recent release of the iPhone 5, and computer tablets being a much more widely recognised asset to the workplace (especially in sales) it is easy to make the fairly safe prediction that the future of any office is going to see technology being used to improve everyday systems. The real question for the fenestration industry is how is the market going to adapt and sell products that fit in with this technological advance?
(Bristol Bi-fold's note: When searching for a bi-fold door, suppliers won't always give you all the information you need - that's why we've provided you with a FREE eBook: "The 7 Secrets Other Bi-fold Door Suppliers Won't Tell You": Don't miss out, click here to download it now.)
2012 has been a year of beating the odds...so far at least.
The window and door industry were expected to do fairly poorly, given the poor economical state of the country and the construction trade doing equally poorly.
So far however, this has not been the case – and as I, and many other observers have pointed out previously, this is not because are economy 'isn't that bad' it's because people are spending their limited funds on improving what they already own instead of purchasing anew.
I think this is the beginning of what will be an important factor in the modernisation of the fenestration industry. It will become less of a case of replacing windows with windows and doors with doors, and more about the gadgets and innovative design systems that accompany the new doors and windows.
That's not to say people won't still have a need for what the industry has traditionally sold...we will always need windows and doors – denying that is ridiculous!
We'll always need doors and windows....but..
But what I do think is that the market will be much more focused on the high-tech pieces of equipment, such as integral blinds, intelligent glass, electric window systems and energy saving structures, instead of simply the doors and windows themselves.
We are seeing a huge increase in customers that don't want your bog-standard door fitting anymore; they want bifolding or sliding, performance, energy-saving, economically engineered doors with integral blinds and electric window openers.
And, in the future, this list of 'high-tech' extras will become the norm, and the new list of extras will be the futuristic looking equipment that is still currently inaccessible for UK installers.
For example, intelligent window systems using products such as Smart Glass which promotes the idea that the possibilities of glass technology are endless.
With transparent glass monitors, and electronic touchscreen displays within the glass, it really is a product of science fiction!
But fairly soon (hopefully!), products like these will be a reality for the window and door salesmen of the UK and the industry will continue to modernise, evolve and sell products which people not only need, but want.
Want a piece of the action? Take a look at our bifold guide below, and enjoy the benefits of technology in your own home.
The FREE 7 Secrets Other Bifold Door Suppliers Won't Tell You
When searching for a bi-fold door, suppliers won't always give you all the information you need - that's why we've provided you with this FREE eBook. Don't miss out, click here to download it now.
