Consumers are offered bundled devices by manufacturers and builders.
Smart thermostats and other devices connected to the HVAC system are becoming increasingly intelligent. Consumers are interested in everything from voice-activated blinds to ovens that can be turned on before a homeowner arrives. In many cases, these smart gadgets work independently of one another. Most of them come with their own apps, which slow down customers' phones.
Many people are beginning to ask if there isn't a better way to do things. After all, there's no denying that a smart home's HVAC system plays a critical role.
“HVAC is the largest energy consumer in the home,” said Matt Wall, director of product management and application for Samsung. “HVAC also impacts comfort the most out of all devices in the home. Automating heating and cooling in the home to add convenience and improve comfort while reducing overall home energy consumption is something that is desirable for all homeowners.”
The main challenge is how to provide consumers with the finest smart home experience possible. Some businesses that sell various goods are promoting the concept of a single-brand home. Simultaneously, home builders are beginning to offer new-home purchasers a package of smart products.
Consumers Get a Complete Experience
Samsung is the type of firm that can provide a wide range of smart products to its customers. Thermostats, light switches, and televisions are all examples of smart products. Samsung is also one of the largest smartphone manufacturers. In fact, Samsung's SmartThings is like a foundation for all home appliance connectivity and smart technology because the product is also compatible with non-Samsung gadgets in the house.
In addition, Samsung has expanded its smart home ecosystem to include new home building. The SmartThings app or sophisticated software that offers a separate GUI and other capabilities that overlay on top of the SmartThings cloud enables a full home automation suite. For single-family and multifamily complexes, the software gives a customized interface and feature set.
On the other hand, LG offers a product called ThinQ that encompasses the whole LG consumer product range. The LG ThinQ app allows users to automate how gadgets work and interact with one another.
“Homeowners expect to have a solution that provides a complete comfort experience, which includes the ease of operation through their smartphone and/or smart devices,” said Glenn Savage, manager of controls engineering for LG Electronics U.S.A. Air Conditioning Technologies.
Many early adopters use these apps to control not only their HVAC systems, but also their lighting and access to their houses, according to Savage.
“A small portion of technology aficionados have pulled all their systems into a single point of control and have automated some or most of its operation,” he said. “Adoption going forward will be based on the perceived value by consumers that home automation provides.”
Collaboration with Home Builders
LG's goal is to make customers' lives easier as their interactions with their homes and goods become more efficient. Many businesses strive to achieve this goal. Lennar recently teamed up with a number of smart home feature providers, including Resideo's Honeywell Home smart thermostat.
Resideo's worldwide head of connected services, David Quam, said that the business has partnered with a lot of house builders in recent years, but Lennar's Everything's Included is more ambitious and applicable than most. HVAC plays a key role because it's one of the key systems that makes customers feel at ease in their homes. He is aware of the problem of app saturation that some smartphone users encounter.
“When you can start to convey information in a meaningful way that builds trust and engagement with the homeowner, that gets them to the point where they say, 'You know how this runs, do it for me,’” he said.
Consumers should learn to put more trust in HVAC contractors over time. With the consumer's permission, they can examine a continuous stream of data. This enables them to prevent problems from becoming major as it establishes a strong bond between the customer and the contractor.
As a result, an HVAC professional has the advantage of being in a customer's home every day. The risk is that they will never be able to enter that consumer's home because the smart ecosystem will keep them out.
Consumers stick to what they're familiar with.
Consumers who prefer a product that they are familiar with are like HVAC professionals that specialize in a specific line of air conditioners. They take a risk of losing some clients as a result of their focus, but they may also win others as a result of their knowledge. Therefore, it is proper to become an expert rather than trying to serve every consumer.
Besides, consumers are searching for a single solution for all of their smart home needs. Much of it is based on the tools they are already familiar with.
“These ancillary products that work better together and fall within one app is the point of least resistance for the installing contractor, and it’s the direction consumers are headed to,” LaNois said.
Many systems are open to collaborate with other systems. For example, a Google Nest thermostat can be controlled by an Amazon Alexa device, while a Honeywell Home thermostat can be controlled by a Google Assistant device. Therefore, HVAC professionals should always seek ways to integrate consumer gadgets into these systems.
However, some HVAC contractors should be more involved with smart homes. Because the research by Security.org shows that more than 80 million US homes want to buy a new smart home gadget in the coming year. You have the option of becoming a part of that family or being turned away at the front door.