Hunter Douglas today introduces PowerView Gen 3 Automation. With a completely new communications protocol, new hardware, and a faster, more intuitive setup process, PowerView Gen 3 makes quoting, specifying, and installing Hunter Douglas smart shading easier and more appealing for professionals.

The automated window treatment category remains a strong growth pillar in the custom integration channel. The release of PowerView Gen 3 aims to fuel the category’s momentum by alleviating commonly cited challenges with window treatment installations – without compromising quality or experience. Leveraging dealer feedback and industry-favorite features from previous PowerView iterations, the Gen 3 system is built on a solid and tested infrastructure, newly devised to help dealers take on more shading projects, streamline installation, reduce truck rolls, maximize profitability, and ultimately increase homeowner satisfaction.

The PowerView Gen 3 platform expedites the installation process for integrators and delivers personalized, sophisticated control of Hunter Douglas shades for homeowners. The PowerView App’s intuitive dashboard enables fast, easy configuration with proximity detection, which displays the shades that are nearest to the user first on the list and offers quick tap naming and scheduling options. Once setup is complete, ownership of the project can be transferred to the homeowner. At first glance, homeowners can access and modify shades, scenes, automations, and settings in the App.

PowerView Gen 3 Automation trades the old proprietary PowerView RF communication for a standards- based Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol that provides greater operating range and reliability. The protocol enables smart, real-time, two-way communication of commands between the shades and the PowerView Gen 3 system to ensure that shades are exactly where the homeowner wants them to be. With the adoption of BLE and the upgraded line of accessories, scaling automated shades is simple regardless of the project size. For small jobs, the new communication protocol ensures that Hubs and Repeaters are no longer required to use the App, create scenes, or trigger automations by communicating directly with personal devices.

For larger projects, the PowerView Gen 3 Gateway serves as a range extender to synchronize window treatments throughout a home for consistent performance throughout the home. The Gateway enables powerful control capabilities, whether a home has one shade or hundreds. With the addition of a Gateway to a project, integrators can incorporate the functionality of PowerView Gen 3 into popular third-party control systems including Control4, Crestron Home, Elan, and more – all with full two-way shade control. Now with enhanced natural language processing for more speaker-specific commands, consumer-favorite voice integrations with Google Home and Amazon Alexa allows homeowners to control shades with a simple voice command. Users can also control or schedule their shades to move individually or in a group right in the App or using a sleekly redesigned PowerView Pebble Remote.

Gen 3 enables homeowners to enjoy the benefits of an automated home lifestyle without compromise style, pairing the familiar, high-quality designs they expect from Hunter Douglas with the technology they did not know they need. With the expansive Hunter Douglas portfolio, integrators can offer unrivaled customization and near-infinite design possibilities. Clients can choose from dozens of styles and hundreds of fabrics in the widest range of shading sizes on the market. From colorful pops of expertly designed drapery to uniquely woven wood blinds, and from AERC-certified honeycomb styles to classic roman shades, integrators can satisfy the design requirements of any project while elevating their clients’ lifestyle with confidence.

Hunter Douglas is committed to offering multiple levels of support to help dealers find success in the automated shading category. Dealers that are part of the Hunter Douglas Custom Integrator Program can take advantage of sales and training tools on The Link.