A key advantage of smart technology is its inherent flexibility, with some solutions offering businesses an affordable way to upgrade existing hardware and software, even if those systems aren't currently designed for connectivity. By enabling ordinary devices such as televisions, lighting, alarm systems, and door locks with IoT capabilities, properties can easily integrate intelligent features like remote monitoring, energy efficiency, and personalized user experiences, all without the higher costs typically associated with completely replacing existing infrastructure.
Making a Smarter Switch to Intelligent Lighting
One of the most beneficial and arguably easiest smart technology upgrades for any type of building to make is to its room lighting fixtures. For hotels, apartments, student housing locations and more, market-tailored smart lighting solutions are widely available that avoid the need to install additional wiring. Existing ceiling lights can often easily be paired with customizable touch keypads offering various features- from color changing and light brightness to implementing preset environmental mood options.
Both smart ceiling lights and lamps can further be paired with in-room sensors which often require minimal setting up while taking comfort, convenience and cost-saving efficiency to new heights. Examples include leveraging sensor integrations to automatically adjust lighting settings based on real-time occupancy, time of day, natural light conditions, or an occupant’s own personal preferences. With a straightforward installation, more properties are making an easy switch to smart lighting and are benefitting from as much as 90 percent in energy consumption.
Keeping Pace With Smart TV Trends
For hotels, student housing and other types of accommodation-based facilities, the need to keep up with modern content entertainment preferences is essential but potentially costly if it involves purchasing new televisions each time that technology evolves. Fortunately, standard televisions can now be enhanced with smart TV capabilities using plug and play casting devices or set-top boxes.
While most smart TVs are designed for consumer home environments, industry-tailored set-top boxes and casting solutions are notably designed for largescale environments to minimize the potential for service disruption or risks to privacy and security. In addition to minimizing purchase costs, these solutions also provide opportunities to enhance user experiences and business revenue with add-on features such as the ability to order room service or make reservations via TV remote control.
Maximizing the ROI of Smart Thermostats
While HVAC cooling and heating systems are often essential to maintaining a comfortable building environment, the energy costs are substantial and can frequently represent up to 40 percent of a property’s daily consumption. Smart thermostats have increasingly become a mainstream fixture in consumer homes and large buildings alike because of the impressive energy savings that the technology provides.
Importantly for businesses trying to manage a tight budget, commercial smart thermostats are available that can easily integrate with existing third-party HVAC units and energy management systems. Once enabled, smart thermostats can be effortlessly programmed to prioritize low energy consumption while still ensuring comfort for building occupants. When combined with in-room motion sensors, the technology can automatically adjust temperature based on real-time occupancy to maximize energy savings without risking a reduction in satisfaction rates.
Giving Window Drapes & Blinds an Intelligence Makeover
While a window’s drapes or blinds are often just an afterthought for in-room décor, smart technology now provides an opportunity to amaze and leave a lasting impression. Properties aren’t even required to replace existing drapes and blinds and can instead simply attach motors that are enabled with smart technology capabilities.
When combined with in-room touch keypads or sensors, smart tech-enabled drapes and blinds can be effortlessly opened or closed with the press of a button, when a person enters a room, or can be pre-programmed to adjust depending on the time of day. For those seeking maximum utility savings, integrating motorized drapes or blinds into an energy management system can also reduce HVAC cooling use by as much as 20 percent.
Going Mobile With Smart Door Locks
Properties are frequently challenged with trying to find the right balance between building security and visitor or staff convenience when accessing onsite areas. Electronic door locks that are compatible with personal mobile devices have become a popular solution able to effectively address this issue. RFID and/or NFC-supported door locks designed by reputable solution providers are notably able to be upgraded to support mobile device-based digital keys without requiring an extensive replacement of existing hardware.
Often as easy as activating a license or attaching a separate reader, properties can provide instant and secure entry to building entrances, rooms, elevators, parking garages and more- avoiding the need for waiting in line at a front desk to receive a physical key while eliminating the risk of lost or stolen keys from being used by unauthorized individuals. Properties can make the solution available via mobile app or by being compatible with a user’s digital wallet.
Moving Towards a More Connected World
Transforming existing property devices and systems into smart, IoT-connected solutions is not only feasible but increasingly vital to ensuring sustainable business growth. By leveraging existing infrastructure and employing intelligent upgrades, property managers and building owners can significantly elevate occupant experiences, streamline operations, enhance security, and optimize energy usage—all without the substantial expense or disruption typically associated with full hardware replacements. In today's increasingly connected world, making the shift to smart IoT technology isn't just innovative; it's essential for properties aiming to gain a competitive edge.
