Sunricher was pleased to welcome Paul Drosihn, General Manager of the DALI Alliance, for a strategic and technical exchange focused on the continued evolution of the DALI ecosystem and the opportunities emerging from DALI+.

As lighting systems become increasingly connected, the industry is moving beyond the traditional boundaries of wired lighting control. During the meeting, both sides discussed how DALI-2 and DALI+ can coexist as complementary technologies, providing greater flexibility for different project requirements and application scenarios.

From DALI-2 to DALI+: Expanding the DALI Ecosystem

A key focus of the discussion was the development of DALI+, which brings DALI communication into wireless networks based on Thread. Rather than replacing DALI-2, DALI+ is expected to extend the DALI ecosystem into applications where wireless connectivity can provide greater flexibility.

For new buildings, wired DALI-2 remains a strong choice for structured lighting installations, while wireless DALI+ can offer additional flexibility where cabling is difficult or undesirable. This can be particularly relevant for retrofit projects, historic buildings and applications where installation constraints need to be minimized.

The discussion also highlighted the strategic role of DALI+ Bridge technology, which can help connect established DALI-2 systems with the emerging DALI+ ecosystem and create a smoother path toward future hybrid lighting solutions.

Lighting Control Meets Connected Buildings

The conversation extended beyond lighting control itself.

With the increasing adoption of sensors and connected devices, lighting systems are becoming an important source of building data. Occupancy, temperature and other environmental information can support broader building applications, creating new opportunities for lighting systems to interact with HVAC, security, building management and other smart building technologies.

This evolution reinforces a broader industry trend: the future of lighting is not only about controlling light, but also about connecting lighting with the wider building ecosystem.

Sunricher's Role in an Open, Multi-Protocol Future

Sunricher's experience across DALI, D4i, KNX, Zigbee, Matter, Bluetooth, DMX and other technologies provides a strong foundation for developing solutions that bridge different protocols and application requirements.

During the exchange, Sunricher also shared its ongoing work in DALI+ and its approach to large-scale reliability and interoperability testing. The company sees the ability to integrate different technologies—not to isolate them—as increasingly important to the development of intelligent lighting systems.

The practical combination of DALI control gear, sensors, gateways and multi-protocol connectivity also creates opportunities to bring open lighting technologies into a wider range of commercial and smart building applications.

Looking Ahead

The exchange with the DALI Alliance provided valuable insight into where the DALI ecosystem is heading—and where new opportunities may emerge.

For Sunricher, the future of lighting lies in open standards, interoperability and intelligent connectivity. By continuing to invest in DALI technologies while embracing wireless connectivity, sensing and multi-protocol integration, Sunricher aims to contribute to the evolution of a more flexible and connected lighting ecosystem.

DALI-2 and DALI+ may represent different paths of connectivity, but together they can open new possibilities for the next generation of lighting.