More exhibitors and more innovations than ever before is exceptionally good news for retail and industry. For the first time, this year’s IFA included an additional leased space, where 1,823 exhibitors (+13 %) presented their latest products on an exhibition area of 158,000 (+5 %) square meters. With an expected order volume of 4.5 billion euros and 240,000 visitors, the world’s most important trade show for consumer and home electronics finished on 7 September in Berlin.
With its considerable success, IFA 2016 laid the foundation for strong end of year business. “IFA was able to once again build on its position as the world’s most leading trade show for industry and trade, and as a brilliant order platform. The number of innovations and new products presented in Berlin is almost endless. Therefore IFA’s contribution to the positive trends in these industries is correspondingly large. IFA is a unique platform for promoting positive business performance, unlike anything elsewhere in the world. The fact the order volume increased to 4.5 billion euros is an impressive proof to its significance,” says Hans-Joachim Kamp, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH, the organizers of IFA.
“IFA has once again underlined its role as the world’s most important meeting place for the Home Appliances industry to come into contact with retailers and consumers. A multitude of exciting innovations to their very positive response. We are extremely satisfied with the outcome anticipating very strong end of year business,” says Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Chairman of the Home Appliances Division at ZVEI and President of the European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers (CECED).
IFA once again showed how trade shows are truly a ‘people business’. Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin: “The number of international trade visitors increased to 64,000.”
Journalists from more than 50 countries have reported extensively on the latest technology trends. Global media interest has soared to new heights with IFA 2016. As Jens Heithecker, IFA Executive Director, describes, “the number of international media representatives has risen to around 1,800.”
From the smart kitchen to the connected car, virtual realities and the Internet of Things – the speakers at IFA Keynotes 2016 are the people driving the digital evolution and revolution. BSH CEO Dr. Karsten Ottenberg introduced Mykie, the kitchen elf. A cute robot that could soon be standing on the kitchen table to share useful tips. Over the coming years he should make it out of the current laboratory environment and into real-life kitchens, so he can become better acquainted with other connected devices in the home and get to know his new family.
With “me connect Concierge Service,” “motion seating,” “community-based parking,” and “smart ready to drop”, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, presented the car as a “quality time machine” at this year’s IFA Keynotes. He said these functions make it possible to get work done in the time spent in the car. To Mark Papermaster, CTO of AMD, virtual reality is the logical advancement of a development that has already taken us from radio, to televisions, to computers and digital connectivity. We are now standing before “the path to true virtual presence”.
The internet of things (IoT) is already revolutionising everyday life. This was also confirmed by IBM Watson IoT Manager Harriet Green with numerous examples presented during her keynote at IFA 2016. Green brought Olli with her onto the stage at CityCube Berlin. Olli is a driverless twelve-seater minibus with an electric drive.
The new Smart Home exhibition area in Hall 6.2 was very popular with visitors and the media. On these 3,000 square meters, more than 40 exhibitors from 15 countries exhibited their latest products and services covering various aspects of intelligent home automation, including lighting, room temperature, and heating, to energy management, security systems, wireless transmission technologies, access management, and integrated robots for different purposes, such as vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers. More than 150 companies showcased the latest smart home solutions on their stands.
On six days of the trade show, IFA TecWatch, IFA’s future lab, revealed what is currently being developed inside research labs, think tanks within young companies, universities, industry organizations, and innovative companies. The TecWatch Forum complemented the exhibits on five days of the trade show with presentations, gatherings, and panel discussions, as well as idea competitions for young entrepreneurs. Top trends such as smart living, virtual reality, UHD, and startups were powerful crowd pullers.
IFA 2017 will take place from 1st to 6th September, at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds (ExpoCenter City).
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