IoT Home Automation Solutions for the Smart Home

It wouldn’t exactly be correct to say that the market for smart home systems is new. However, IoT home automation solutions today are certainly much more accessible, and to a wider audience, than a decade ago. 

Given this growing popularity, the demand for home control software and the number of players in this industry are increasing. This competition has led to the growing variety and quality of smart home systems available today. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the peculiarities of these solutions and the leading market trends

In 2022, the revenue of the smart home market was around $117 billion. Researchers predict that by 2027 this figure will grow to as much as $222.90 billion. This means that between 2022 and 2027, the CAGR will reach 12.47%. It is projected that by 2027, the number of households that will actively use smart home systems will be over 672 million worldwide.

Analysts attribute the growing popularity of these solutions to several factors, including the increasing adoption of internet and mobile devices, users’ desire to enhance their quality of life and security, lower prices for IoT devices and solutions, and the higher disposable income of people in developing countries.

Aspirations to a more sustainable lifestyle, one that conserves natural resources without sacrificing comfort, is another motivating factor in the adoption of smart home management solutions. These systems make it significantly easier to maximize the energy- and cost-efficient use of various appliances

If you are considering launching a custom home automation solution, it’s vital to understand how these systems work and what they include.

A smart home system can be explained as a network of IoT devices (hardware powered by software solutions), electronic interfaces and communication. The devices in this network have special sensors for detecting and measuring various parameters. They are connected via WiFi, ethernet or Bluetooth and can be managed from a tablet or smartphone, even if the user is currently far away from home.

A user at work in a remote office, for example, can easily check whether the lights at home are turned off. Or turn up the heat or air conditioning to be sure the interior temperature will be comfortable when the family comes home. 

Simply put, each home automation system has three key elements: a smart device, a connected app, and a hub.

The hub acts as a command center. It connects all the smart devices and ensures their interaction.

A connected mobile app for smart homes allows users to control IoT devices and monitor them remotely.

Devices that can be a part of a smart home hub are intended for fulfilling various tasks. Among the most popular types are

• access control and security devices (cameras, motion sensors, smart locks, smoke sensors)
• climate control (smart energy management systems, thermostats)
• resource managers (smart strips, switches, remote sprinkler controllers)
• lighting control (lightbulbs, light strips, dimmers, switches)
• home appliances (enriched with special sensors, theoretically almost any appliance can be a part of smart home management solutions)
• entertainment (smart TV sets, film projectors, speakers, etc.)
• healthcare and beauty (smart scales, humidifiers)

The number of elements included in the system is not particularly important. A smart home system can include just one smart device and a hub that will be managed from a mobile phone or tablet via a relevant application. But of course, one device can’t ensure the same range of functions that are available when you have a bigger system.

There is a wide choice of IoT sensors that help developers to ensure the multifunctionality of smart home automation systems. We offer you to have a look at some of the most popular of them in order to understand how the Internet of Things can be used for home automation.

• Motion sensors

Such sensors can detect any movements in a particular area. They can help you to protect your property while you are not at home. These sensors can alert you if they detect any motion within your flat or house or the cases when your door or windows are opened while you are at work or on vacation. 

• CO/Fire sensors

Traditional models of such sensors are aimed at detecting CO and smoke in the air, but some newer and more advanced ones also can be used for monitoring the air quality at our home and detecting various pollutants in it.

• Leak detection sensors

Sensors of this type are intended for being placed near plumbing pipes, dishwashers, water heaters, and near other objects where the risk of water leakage is high. If a sensor detects a problem, you will get a notification and will be able to react timely.

Among other popular sensors used in smart home automation solutions, we can name temperature sensors, air composition sensors, sound sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, ultrasonic sensors, as well as light level sensors.

Smart home management solutions can be enriched with a wide range of various device types, and consequently, functions aimed at making the lives of users safer and more comfortable. Below are some of the most popular features.

• Remote lighting control. The smart lightning function allows people to avoid unnecessary power consumption.
• Automated window treatment. This feature allows users to control the ambient outdoor light entering windows remotely or schedule smart shades to move automatically at set times.
• Advanced security. The home security functionality not only sends alerts to authorities when it manages to detect an intrusion or smoke, like a traditional security system, but can also notify homeowners about visitors or unusual activities when they are away. Users can also enrich their smart alarm systems with special cameras to see what’s happening at home at any moment, especially when a smoke or intrusion notification has been received. It’s recommended to make such features fully customizable, as different users may have absolutely different needs and requirements. For example, some users need to have the possibility to switch off alarms remotely.
• Remote climate management. Digital home thermostats powered by sensors can also become a part of a connected smart home system. They not only ensure comfort at home but also help save money and energy. According to some studies, thanks to remote temperature management and the overall automation of these systems, they can reduce cooling and heating costs by up to 23%.
• Remote control. Smart home management solutions can provide full remote access to all the connected devices/gadgets, from switching on music to unlocking the door to let the dog out.

The Internet of Things is one of the most commonly applied technologies for building systems for smart homes. But what advantages can users leverage thanks to it?

• Better protection of properties.

 A smart security system will always notify you, as well as relevant authorities or organizations, if any unauthorized entry is detected. Moreover, thanks to surveillance cameras, you can always monitor what is happening at home even when you are far away from it.

• Savings. 

Though the implementation of a home automation system requires investments from the side of users, in the future, they can save money thanks to lower amounts indicated in their bills. How is it possible? Our smart homes can efficiently control our consumption of energy, electricity, water, and other resources. For example, if the light is on but there is nobody at home, the system can switch it off or you can check whether you haven’t forgotten to switch off a TV set and do it remotely.

• Flexibility. 

IoT-powered solutions for home automation ensure enough space for scalability and flexibility for its users. It means that you can always add and integrate new devices and expand the functionality of your system in accordance with the latest trends in technology development and your individual needs.

One of the most crucial points to pay attention to when you are building a smart home solution is its security. At the moment, IoT systems, as well as other cloud software products, remain rather vulnerable to breaches and hacks. In the case of smart home solutions, the privacy of users is under threat. 

Security breaches are likely to happen when solution providers skip steps such as:

• sufficient password requirements
• sensitive data encryption
• two-factor authentication 

Without strong security protection, hackers can easily gain access to sensitive data stored in the cloud or locally and later demand a payout. Sometimes people become victims of hackers not because of low protection but because of unnoticed bugs in the solution.

For example, in January 2021, the experts managed to detect that the Neighbors app owned by Amazon had a bug that exposed precise home addresses and locations of users. Luckily, the bug was said to be fixed rather quickly. 

But that wasn’t the only problem with this app. Earlier, hackers had broken into users’ accounts, and more than 1,500 account passwords were later found on the darknet. After that, it was decided to make two-factor authentication mandatory for all users.

In 2019, a user filed a class-action lawsuit against Ring for failure to ensure sufficient security.

ADT is another company that faced class-action lawsuits, after it was revealed that an employee had been watching security cameras for about 7 years.

Of course, this is far from a full list of such cases.

At Cogniteq, we make security a top priority in all of our IoT solutions. We devote a lot of time and effort to software testing and debugging before the release, to protect the reputation of our clients and the privacy of end-users.

Before launching your own smart home solution, we highly recommend a careful analysis of the market and the latest trends in the implementation of smart home technology. It will help you define the most important requirements and expectations of today’s customers, as well as the latest tech trends that will allow your system to meet industry standards.

We’ve gathered a couple of the most popular technology trends which are expected to remain at the forefront for the next couple of years.

• Touchless tech

Though this trend gained particular popularity amid the coronavirus pandemic for solutions built for public places, it has entered the segment of smart home solutions as well. The main reason is the convenience offered by touchless interaction with devices. We can name as some examples of this technology trend touchless doorbells and touchless control over various home devices, executed via mobile applications. 

• AI tools

Voice assistants today are well-known and widely used. Such functionality can be added to your smart home management solutions. A home assistant allows users to switch on devices, turn lights on and off, and lock and unlock doors, all via voice commands. Thanks to its functionality, this home assistant can be also very helpful for seniors and people with disabilities.

• Enhanced privacy and security features

As we’ve already noted, security issues remain rather pressing for smart home systems and other solutions that are powered by cloud technology. That’s why developers of such home automation solutions now actively implement various tools to minimize the threat of a breach. AI-powered biometric authentication and secure routers protected from cyber-attacks are good examples of the measures being implemented.

• Smart lighting

This functionality is among those highest in demand for smart home automation systems. The range of available automation options is quite wide. Different lighting variations can be scheduled, turned on by voice commands, or changed via a mobile app. Moreover, special sensors can evaluate natural lighting and switch on the lamps in the room when it is required.

• Healthier environment

As many people are very attentive to their health, companies offer tech automation solutions to help ensure well-being at home. Smart thermostats and smart humidity controls are popular among health-conscious homeowners.

At Cogniteq, we have rich expertise in building software for home automation devices and do our best to stay attuned to all the latest tech trends and industry standards. This approach allows us to create solutions that bring value to their owners and users. If you are interested in home control software development services, we will be happy to help you! Contact us via our web page, and our seasoned experts will offer the best solution based on your requirements.