In the booming IoT lighting industry, see who the top influencers are and what they’re doing

by Brianna Crandall — March 9, 2018 — A new Leaderboard Report from Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of global specialized professional services firm Navigant Consulting, examines the strategy and execution of 15 key influencers in the commercial building market for Internet of Things (IoT) lighting, with Philips Lighting, Acuity Brands, Eaton, and OSRAM ranked as the leading companies.

According to Navigant Research, IoT lighting solutions bring connectivity to devices that were previously not connected and provide data (where data was not available) through the connection. Connectivity and communication can happen between devices within the lighting system and between lighting devices and non-lighting devices. Within lighting systems, such communication can be accomplished through networked lighting controls.

Lighting controls, originally designed for dimming or daylighting, have shifted to more sophisticated controls that can provide space utilization, conference room management, increased employee productivity, and improved operational efficiency. This shift has expanded the vendor ecosystem for lighting controls in commercial buildings beyond lighting manufacturers and lighting control companies to include technology firms and startups.

According to the report, the evolution from an intelligent lighting system toward an IoT lighting system has occurred in large part because of the easy use of sensors as a host for IoT applications. This evolution has expanded the playing field to include many companies that do not manufacture their own luminaires but focus instead on the sensors and controls or platforms for an IoT lighting system.

Krystal Maxwell, research analyst at Navigant Research, pointed out:

The Leaders within this report have separated themselves from the competition through a broad solution portfolio, strong partner relationships, and advanced technology development. Contenders and Challengers in this market will need to improve in various ways, from expanding their solution offerings to increasing sales to differentiating themselves through unique features and applications.

During the next decade, Navigant Research expects to see strong global growth for IoT lighting solutions thanks to technology advancements and customer demand for increased data and building insight. According to the report, the total global market for IoT lighting is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.9 percent from $808.2 million in 2018 to $5.5 billion in 2027.

The report, Navigant Research Leaderboard: IoT for Lighting, evaluates 15 vendors in the IoT lighting for commercial buildings market. These players are rated on nine criteria: vision; go-to market strategy; partners; technology; geographic reach; sales and marketing; solution performance; solution portfolio; and staying power.

 Navigant’s Top 10 IoT lighting vendors are:

  1. Philips Lighting
  2. Acuity Brands
  3. Eaton
  4. OSRAM
  5. Enlighted
  6. Cree
  7. Legrand
  8. Current
  9. Molex
  10. Cisco

Using Navigant Research’s proprietary Leaderboard methodology, vendors are profiled, rated, and ranked with the goal of providing an objective assessment of their relative strengths and weaknesses in the market for IoT lighting solutions in commercial buildings. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research Web site.