This audio was created using Microsoft Azure Speech Services
Consider a day in the life of a smart home:
- Before you even wake up, your home is at work, adjusting the heat or air conditioning to ensure you are comfortable when you rise from bed.
- Your shutters close as you go off to work, providing privacy and security, as well as minimizing hot or cold air infiltration.
- During the day when your home is empty, pre-set thermostats eliminate energy waste, allowing you to maximize savings on your monthly utility bill.
- Half an hour before you return home, your heating or cooling system kicks in to ensure the temperature will be just right when you walk through the door.
- As you proceed up your driveway, your exterior lights automatically turn on, welcoming you home.
Sounds pretty sweet, doesn’t it? No wonder people are embracing smart devices at an accelerating rate. And smart technology isn’t just limited to homes. It’s revolutionizing how small businesses such as restaurants and shops operate, as well. Business owners are able to monitor energy consumption, for example, and receive alerts in the event of a critical equipment failure, such as refrigeration units or ovens.
More than 26 billion connected devices are expected to be deployed by 2020 – 20 times more than in 2016!1 And smart home device spending is set to reach more than $112 billion by 2022.2
Obstacles to deployment
While the convenience of smart technology has driven interest, there remains a disconnect between the idea of having a smart home and actual implementation. A survey conducted by PWC found that of the 81% of Internet users who were familiar with smart home devices, only 26% actually owned one.3 It’s clear that knowing about smart technology is one thing; deploying it is another matter altogether.
Why this gap? Interest in smart technology may be strong, but more than 75% of homeowners would not know where to turn to install a smart home.4 This may explain, in part, why adoption rates are low. It also points to a significant business opportunity for electricians who are now in position to grow their business by offering the latest digital solutions and services.
Growing digital opportunities
Smart technology brands and manufacturers recognize the key role that electricians play in homeowner adoption. To support their trade partners, many companies are offering training and certification programs designed to make the electrician the go-to person for smart home solutions. Among the skills and experience electricians can acquire through such programs are the following:
- Design, installation, and repair skills for digital deployments
- The ability to provide digital electrical equipment
- Experience with the latest alarms, TVs, gates, lighting, fire safety, ventilation, heat pumps, and renewable energy
Companies are also creating different smart home adoption levels, allowing consumers to start small with a single device and then upgrade progressively to a complete system. This approach benefits electricians in several ways:
- The cost to engage a customer with a single device installation is low
- The interoperability of smart technology facilitates expansion as demand rises
- As customers progress to more advanced systems, the electrician’s margins rise
A smart business move
Digitization and smart technology are creating exciting new opportunities for electricians, enabling them to:
- Satisfy customers
- Create larger margins
- Build a more profitable business
- Enjoy peace of mind
Schneider Electric has always been at the side of electricians in their daily professional life and throughout their career. Now, with the mySchneider app in their pocket, our trade partners have direct access to Schneider Electric support experts via chat or call – especially handy when addressing challenges brought on by new connected offers. We’re also creating trainings and certifications that enable electricians to respond to the requirements of today’s ever-changing home environments.
To learn more about how Schneider Electric is helping electricians become the smart home installers of tomorrow, visit our page.
- Deloitte “Switch onto the connected home, The Deloitte Consumer review, July 2016”
- https://fr.statista.com/infographie/12417/home-smart-home/
- PwC Consumer Intelligence Series, January 2017, p.6
- Deloitte “Switch onto the connected home, The Deloitte Consumer review, July 2016”
