Wednesday, 5 January, 2022, in Las Vegas, saw the opening of the “Consumer Electronic Show”, or CES for those who know it well. The world’s largest high-tech industry show is back on track after last year’s digital edition. A smooth return, this time hybrid (as the Covid-19 pandemic still hasn’t had its last word) despite numerous last-minute cancellations and doubt over whether the show would still go ahead, along with the multitude of debates around it. The time has come to take stock of our first participation in the great technological pilgrimage.
A mixed bag for CES 2022…
It is true that Covid-19 (and its range of variants) did not spare the technology industry. Whilst traditionally, from the moment the starting gun fires, tens of thousands of tech professionals and fanatics used to head to the airport to visit Las Vegas. The situation was quite different for 2022. A health context that drastically reduced the arrival of major tech brands, but also journalists, investors … In total, there were still over 2,300 exhibitors (against 4,500 exhibitors in 2020), for 40,000 visitors (against 170,000 in 2020). As a result, Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, shortened the show by one a day and closed the doors of the South Hall (previously occupied by companies in the field of hardware, drones etc.).
Numbers were dropping, right until the last minute, which inevitably left some places empty. But some had already had the foresight to put in place a surprising backup plan. This was the case with LG, who occupied a huge space with a stand made entirely of … plywood panels. In addition to the wow effect of a stand with its eco-friendly look, it was also the discovery of the brand’s QR Code innovations that intrigued visitors, it enabled them to experience the brand through their phone throughout the whole show with ads in 3D and Augmented Reality.
… but which sends a positive message for the future
A reduced presence indeed, but with this comes many advantages! It was unanimous that the return to a physical trade show made people realise how much they’d missed non-pixelated human contact, albeit masked. Whilst smiling eyes replaced mouths, the aisles of CES 2022 offered more time for discussion. Where normally it was necessary to pitch in 2 minutes flat, this year the entrepreneurs took the time to make links with journalists and professionals (investors, distributors…). An exchange also improved by the reduced attendance and lower decibels. But we can’t wait for masks to become a distant memory so that the pleasure of face-to-face meetings can make a comeback!
Fewer large manufacturers means more visibility for start-ups and SMEs! Let’s talk about French Tech. This year again, it was once more the delegation with the most start-ups present on site. Less numerous than in 2020 (about 170 start-ups), there were still more than 130 to present their innovation at CES 2022. As Forbes puts it, “For comparison, the Italian delegation was 43 startups, the Dutch 50 startups, the Swiss 16 startups… This made the other countries realize the importance of being at CES.”
The main themes of CES 2022
Like every year, CES has been a big hit and continues to showcase innovations from around the world. Intended to change our lifestyles and consumption patterns, some themes hit the jackpot in Las Vegas.
Connected health, the strong theme of CES 2022
The 2022 edition of CES highlighted many health innovations: for example, devices to detect and alert on the presence of Covid, to relieve pain, to capture and monitor the slightest functioning of the body. This is the case of the French start-up Grapheal, which won an Innovation Award for its digital test strip for Covid-19 screening.
Mobility & the car of tomorrow
The car is becoming a computer in its own right, all electric and all software. Historic manufacturers (notably the Stellantis group) as well as the most recent ones have announced strategic alliances with digital suppliers, reflecting the desire for change in the entire mobility industry. A nod to the Toulouse-based start-up EyeLights, which is focusing on road safety with its connected windscreen, which displays driving assistance information on navigation, safe distances, or the presence of cyclists and pedestrians in blind spots.
Metaverse in all its forms!
If you had to bet on a word that would be heard from all mouths and used by many companies to present an innovation, you’d do well to put a wager on the metaverse. A technology that has been making a lot of noise in the press in recent months, and which is becoming a powerful marketing argument. Although some innovations were very inspiring for the future (notably the connected glasses of the TCL group), the metaverse allowed us to confirm that real life is much better. For now…
StoriesOut left amazed after these 3 intense days (in addition to the 20,000 daily steps). CES is a must-attend show for innovators in all sectors. It is an essential event for gaining visibility, notoriety and making chance meetings that can totally change the next sunrise or fundraiser.
We still have lots of thoughts to share with you following our trip to the US, including feedback and advice from entrepreneurs. So keep an eye on our blog, there’s more to come soon!
