Meeting Each Client’s Individual Tech Needs
April 23, 2021
Technology can run the gamut from a refrigerator with different temperature zones or a hands-free faucet to whole-home automation systems that including lighting, security and temperature control.
Are your clients looking for a cooking appliance they can interact with via their phone and monitor remotely? Or do they want something as simple as more USB outlets in the bathroom? Finding out their sweet spot is the key to success in using interior design technology solutions in today’s homes and potentially expanding your service offerings.
Click HERE for a gallery of tech solutions for clients
Determining Client’s Tech Needs
Mary Fisher Knott, CID, CLIPP, CAPS, of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Mary Fisher Designs, studies her clients’ profiles – age, family, budget, lifestyle, what they want to generally accomplish in their overall design – to find out what level of technology they want and what they are able to handle.
“Not everyone wants to control their appliances with an iPhone,” she added. “Although younger clients tend to want as much technology as possible.”
Molly Switzer, AKBD, of Molly N Switzer Designs LLC in Portland, Ore., suggests starting out basic, as technology can be so overwhelming for some. She asks her clients how they are already using it in their homes and then educates them on the benefits of technology in making things more convenient.
It is helpful to come up with a checklist of tech/smart/connected items with information on how they can solve everyday problems to see which your clients want to incorporate. This can start out more basic and then get into the different layers of lighting, security, etc.
“It’s also important for consumers just getting started with smart home to consider the connectivity options available to them,” said Mitchell Klein, executive director of the Z-Wave Alliance, a group of home tech companies that relies on Z-Wave as the industry standard for wireless smart home and automation offerings. “Wireless protocols are at the core of every smart home and serve as the backbone to connectivity in a system to keep devices communicating with one another.”
Chime Video Doorbell from Control4
Misgivings & Benefits
There are undoubtedly consumer reservations when it comes to technology. Some of the most common are cost, privacy/security issues, obsolescence and user friendliness – or lack thereof.
“The need for increased security remains important as more devices are added to the same network,” said Klein. “Smart home technology developers should focus on the consumers’ desire for products that add convenience and safety to the home without putting network security at risk, prioritizing devices with security built in.”
Some homeowners refuse to incorporate technology into their homes because they think it will be hard to operate. Bill Strang, TOTO’s president of corporate strategy, eCommerce and customer experience, says this may have started as early as when we had to set the clock on the VCR, but his company strives to make its products as easy to use as possible. He believes consumers today have the benefit of the internet to learn how to use these tech-driven offerings and in turn see the value they can provide.
“All technology can be complicated, but not all products need to be connected to the internet,” said Jeremy Snider, Zephyr VP of product. “And just because a connected feature exists with a product does not mean you have to use it.”
The Zephyr app is extremely easy to use and eliminates the need to physically interact with the hood if your hands are full. And if your clients do choose to use the connected features, remind them that this will provide important information regarding service needs.
“Some consumers continue to think that smart products are difficult to install or operate and you need to be tech savvy in order to buy them,” said Matt Henson, product manager at Jasco. “Since voice assistants have come out, many products have streamlined such processes to make a pretty seamless introduction – for even the most novice of consumers.”
Cost can also be a deterrent to integrating technology into today’s homes, but the benefits of going smarter – convenience, peace of mind, improved health and wellness – can outweigh most misgivings and fulfill client’s tech needs.
Legrand GFCI USB Outlet
Today’s Consumer Demands
Improved lighting, security and privacy needs top the list, and self-cleaning and touchless options are also growing in popularity.
“Since the onset of COVID, there has been a renewed interest in our homes, and it has changed how we live our lives,” said BS. “More consumers are looking for integration of technology that provides improved hygiene.”
According to Klein, with this heightened awareness around touching surfaces and spreading germs, homeowners have really leaned into voice-controlled smart home devices over the past year as a medium of choice to control their home.
“A simple voice command can turn on the bathroom light, turn the water on in the kitchen sink and even put the home to bed at night, thus giving users the ability to conveniently activate a system without having to physically touch it,” he added.
Technology can provide other health benefits as well, including bathing therapies to reduce stress and ventilation systems that enhance air quality. Controllable lighting can be helpful for those who need more – or less – illumination for various tasks, and natural light is important for bringing the outdoors in via blind control.
“Consumers are looking for new ways to keep their homes and families protected,” said Klein. “Smart home security, video surveillance devices and doorbell cameras have increased in popularity.”
According to Kay Kwok, head of connected products and digital services, Bosch Home Connect, because people are spending more time at home, they are using their appliances more to preserve and cook food and to maintain sanitary conditions in the home.
“We have seen greater demand for appliances as a result, and there’s a real need for consumers to have those that deliver high-quality, reliable results and make their lives easier,” she said. “This is where connected appliances can really make a difference. We’re seeing consumers adopting digital solutions at a faster rate and expecting more from the products they’re purchasing – not only because they’re doing more around the home and want a way to simplify these tasks, but also because they have more time to study and try new technologies.”
SmartThings Cooking assistant from Samsung
Brands Are Stepping Up
Lots of companies, including Samsung, are using AI technology to stay ahead of the curve and meet client’s tech needs as they change rapidly. Bosch elicits feedback from consumers so they can easily identify opportunities in the marketplace.
“Because Home Connect is an open ecosystem, our smart home partner network is always growing,” said Kwok. “This means that we can continually bring consumers new and enhanced experiences and customize the ways they work with them.”
Strang says you always want to be tracking consumer trends, but that it is also important to bring things to the marketplace they didn’t even know they needed.
“Consumers didn’t say ‘Make me a better toilet seat,’ but we added the bidet and heated features anyway,” he added. “The need and the desire are there as people continue to transition how they are living their lives.”
According to Snider, Zephyr makes it a priority to talk to customers and the design community to stay on the pulse of consumer trends.
“Homes have taken on greater significance, and thus people want more reliable products,” he added. “And they want more options.”
When it comes to technology, as design professionals, it is a good idea to educate yourself on the offerings available to your clients and your client’s individual needs, according to Kordon Vaughn, vice president of marketing, campaigns & creative at SnapAV/Control4 – even if that is not usually your expertise.
“My advice is to find a professional integrator in your area and learn about what they can do for your clients so they get the experience they deserve,” he added. “It is becoming less expensive to service clients because there are more integrators available, and your clients are definitely going to ask for tech elements in their homes.”
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