The “last mile” of cable routing is often the most difficult. As an audio visual distributor who has worked in the industry for so many years, we have been there ourselves. A corporate boardroom with solid concrete floors, a listed heritage building where you can’t touch the walls, or a facility where downtime for construction simply isn’t an option.
Traditionally, the industry has had two choices. Expensive, messy floor trenching or cheap, unsightly plastic trunking. Neither is ideal. One blows the budget and the timeline; the other ruins the aesthetic of a professional space.
As a professional surface-mounted cable management system, Smart-Way isn’t just “another bit of trunking.” It is a specialised infrastructure solution designed to route electrical, network, and AV cables cleanly from point A to point B without opening a single wall or lifting a floor tile. At Dizztribution, we are seeing a significant shift in how UK integrators approach commercial tenders by utilising this specific system and we thought it would be a good idea to talk about it.
One of the most interesting trends we’ve noted is the profile of the Smart-Way user. The highest volume of interest is coming from large-scale commercial integrators and those tendering for projects where “Smart-Way” is already written into the consultant’s specification.
There is a reason for this. While the initial hardware cost is higher than basic industrial trunking, the total cost of ownership (TCO) and the speed of install make it a much more profitable choice for the integrator. We find that once a team tries the Smart-Way system on one project, they don’t just use it again—they actively spec it into their own future designs.
The most powerful USP of the FSR Smart-Way is its ability to bypass building work. In a modern commercial environment, “opening up” a space is a logistical nightmare. But as a reminder, what are the problems with trenching and jackhammering?
The good news is that Smart-Way eliminates these variables. Because it is surface-mounted but maintains a sleek, low profile, it provides the professional finish of an under-floor run with the ease of a surface-mount install.
Standard electrical trunking was designed for twin-and-earth power cables. It wasn’t designed for shielded Cat6A, high-speed HDMI, or proprietary AV-over-IP cables.
FSR designed the Smart-Way with a larger internal capacity than typical trunking. This allows integrators to run power, data, and AV signals together in a single, organised run. Crucially, the system is designed to maintain the proper bend radiuses for fiber and high-end copper, ensuring that your 4K/8K signals aren’t compromised by tight corners or pinched jackets.
Commercial spaces are high-traffic environments. A raceway in a university hallway or a companies busy corridor needs to do more than just look good, it needs to survive.
The Smart-Way floor option is a load-bearing powerhouse. Unlike cheaper alternatives that crack under the weight of a trolley or become a trip hazard, the Smart-Way is designed with a ultra-low profile and sloped edges.
Integrators rarely have the luxury of a straight line (pause for laughter ;-)). Columns, corners and existing furniture usually get in the way. The modular nature of the FSR Smart-Way system means you can pivot your routing with ease.
In the AV world, change is the only constant. Five years from now, that boardroom might need a new protocol or a higher grade of fiber.
In a traditional “hidden” installation, a cable upgrade means more construction work. With Smart-Way, the cables remain completely accessible. Maintenance, troubleshooting, and future system upgrades become a matter of minutes rather than days. For the client, this is a massive selling point; for the integrator, it makes maintenance contracts significantly more profitable.
Smart-Way is part of the wider FSR AV Infrastructure Ecosystem. At Dizztribution, we encourage integrators to look at the “Whole Room” solution. FSR doesn’t just provide the path; they provide the destination.
By combining Smart-Way with FSR’s other industrial-grade solutions, you create a seamless, single-manufacturer infrastructure:
Where should you be specing FSR Smart-Way? While it works anywhere, it excels in these four sectors:
Modern offices often have glass walls and “open” ceilings. Routing cables to a centre-room conference table is notoriously difficult. Smart-Way provides a boardroom-ready finish that matches high-end office aesthetics.
Universities are constantly upgrading their tech. Retrofitting a 50-year-old lecture hall with modern networking and lecture capture tech is the perfect use case for a surface-mounted, load-bearing system.
In hotels and retail stores, “the look” is everything and bulky plastic trunking is almost always immediately rejected by interior designers. Smart-Way’s metallic finishes and slim silhouette allow it to blend into the environment.
Healthcare environments require strict infection control and minimal disruption. Avoiding trenching means avoiding the release of dust and spores trapped under old floors. If you are working in a dentist, orthodontist or hospital environment, this can be a critical safety factor.
When you look simply at the price, yes, FSR Smart-Way is more expensive than standard trunking. But when you factor in the reduced labor time, the elimination of “making good” costs, and the increased professional reputation that comes with a high-end finish, the choice is clear.
At Dizztribution, we’ve seen more and more installers and integrators who win the big tenders are the ones who solve the client’s problems before they even arise. Specifying a system that protects the building’s integrity while providing a future-proof AV path is how you move from being a “contractor” to a “partner.”
If you are tendering for a commercial space or looking for a way to upgrade an existing installation without the mess of construction, the FSR Smart-Way is your answer.
If this all sounds good to you but you have more questions, don’t be afraid to get in touch. We are always happy to help answer any questions you have. After all, Dizztribution is a site for installers, by installers.
