Insight

InstallerSHOW 2025 was full of bold claims about innovation. Smarter controls. Hybrid systems. AI-driven optimisation. Bigger stands. Brighter screens. Yet when we listened to installers, a different theme emerged.

They are not asking for more features. They are asking for products that are easier to fit.

At the event, Lorefully captured thousands of real-time installer contributions. Not survey boxes. Not polished testimonials. Short, direct responses from people who install, commission and troubleshoot every day.

The message was consistent. Innovation is welcome. But installability still decides what gets specified next time.

“It looks good in the brochure…”

One installer told us:

“It looks good in the brochure, but you try wiring that controller once it’s on the wall.”

That gap between design and reality came up repeatedly. Products that assume perfect wall space. Instructions that assume ideal lighting and time. Interfaces that assume the user enjoys scrolling through menus.

Another installer was blunt:

“Why are we still seeing connections that need specialist spanners? Everything should be designed for standard tools.”

This is not resistance to change. It is a demand for respect. Installers want manufacturers to design around the environments they actually work in. Cupboards. Loft spaces. Tight plant rooms. Retrofit chaos.

Product design still matters most because it determines whether a job runs smoothly or spirals into delay.

Time is the real metric

Manufacturers often talk about performance metrics. Installers talk about time.

Time to mount.
Time to wire.
Time to commission.
Time to fill in compliance forms.

One installer put it simply:

“The paperwork side of commissioning takes as long as the install.”

Another added:

“Massive opportunity for heat pumps, but if it slows down the team, then it’s hard to justify.”

That is the commercial reality. If a product adds friction, it adds cost. If it increases callback risk, it reduces margin. Reliability and clarity will always beat novelty.

Durability builds loyalty

Installers also notice material quality.

“The same valve I fitted 10 years ago still works. The new version snapped before it was even in.”

That kind of experience lingers. Installers do not announce they are switching brands. They just switch.

Trust in this sector is practical. It is built through brackets that hold, threads that do not strip and components that survive transport. Premium pricing creates premium expectation. When that expectation is missed, brand equity erodes quietly.

Smart systems need to be simple

There is genuine curiosity about hybrid systems and connected controls.

“The hybrid setup is interesting… it gives people a fallback.”

That word fallback is telling. It signals caution.

Another installer admitted:

“I don’t have much specialist knowledge to share about those systems yet.”

This is a reflection of pace. New systems require confidence, training and clean interfaces. If innovation multiplies apps, logins and portals, installers become the ones managing the confusion.

As one contributor observed:

“It’s not actually about the tech… it’s about who is using it and how it is sold.”

Technology that simplifies commissioning will spread quickly. Technology that complicates handover will stall.

Installers want to be involved

Perhaps the most important theme was not technical at all.

“Decisions get made by people who don’t do the work.”

Installers want their experience factored in early. They want prototypes tested in real homes. They want manuals reviewed by someone wearing gloves on site. They want to be treated as partners in the transition.

They also take pride in what they do.

“I’ve learned from every install, and we take pride in getting it right.”

That pride is an asset for manufacturers. But it needs to be supported, not undermined by avoidable design flaws.

The opportunity for brands

Live events are often treated as marketing showcases. They are also dense insight environments.

When installers gather in one place, they speak honestly about what works and what does not. They talk about time pressure. Customer expectations. Product frustrations. Small design improvements that would make a big difference.

For sponsors and exhibitors, that is strategic intelligence.

The brands that win in this market are the ones that reduce friction on site. The ones that improve a mounting bracket after feedback. The ones that streamline commissioning because installers asked for it.

At Lorefully, we structure and surface that frontline insight in real time. We help brands turn installer voice into sharper product development, stronger marketing content and clearer positioning.

If you are investing in InstallerSHOW or similar events, the question is simple. Are you just exhibiting, or are you learning?

Installers are already telling us what they need.

The brands that act on it will stand out long after the show floor is packed away.

Reach out at hello@lorefully.com to see how we can help you make the most from the show, either through our bespoke research or content generation packages.