Home Automation – a growing market

The latest market report from AMA Research – ‘Home Automation Market Report – UK 2019-2023 addresses the market for home automation products, which is a rapidly growing market and has benefited from the spread of wireless and app based technologies. The report includes up to date information on recent trends and issues that are likely to impact on the market going forward over the next 5 years.

Although home automation systems have been available in the UK for many years, it is in recent years they have expanded from an upper market niche into a more mainstream market. This crossover to the mainstream is a key development that is changing the structure of the market with a large variety of entry level and lower cost home automation products having been made available at very competitive prices in the past 2-3 years.

Technological advances driving the home automation market include the progress of wireless controls and “app” or application programme-driven control interfaces, which emphasize user-friendliness. Remote control of the system has meant that the consumer is increasingly able to control all aspects of the connected home from within the home, whilst travelling, at work or even abroad via smartphones, tablets and PCs. Take up of wireless routers/Internet has also benefited the home automation market, with increasing numbers of suppliers offering wireless systems based around the home Wi-Fi network. Growth of wireless systems has also resulted in lower installation costs and less complexity of the installation.

A modular approach

The offering of modular systems which enable future expansion has also driven growth, and in addition, the development of systems aimed at self-installation has expanded significantly helping to substantially reduce costs and make systems more affordable to a wider market. Greater interest and purchase of home security systems and devices has been encouraged by the wider availability of smartphone app controlled devices that are now more affordable and enable greater monitoring and control of security devices: access, CCTV, motion and smoke, water detectors and other devices.

With the rapid increase of availability of home automation products, manufacturers are addressing this situation by making 2nd and 3rd generation devices with a broader range of connectivity options and protocols. Medium-term prospects for home automation remain positive. Recent growth of intelligent heating controls is likely to continue into the medium-term, with rapid innovation likely to be the key driver.

Scolmore – getting smarter

Having enjoyed many years of success with its smart wiring accessories range, Scolmore Group has now developed a brand new and comprehensive range of smart products under the Click Smart+ brand that takes its provision of smart home solutions to a whole new level.

Designed to simplify and streamline connected home products – lighting controls, smart sockets, security cameras and sensors - the Click Smart+ range utilises Zigbee technology – one of the most widely adopted smart home technologies.  Zigbee certified devices require the Click Smart+ Hub and communicate with each other using a mesh network which creates multiple pathways for the connection of multiple smart home devices without compromising signal and communication range. A key benefit of Zigbee and the new Click Smart+ range is that there is no requirement for a signal repeater, as all wired Zigbee devices have repeaters built in.

Delivering a complete connected home experience

Renowned for its innovative and intuitive solutions in lighting and wiring accessories, Scolmore’s Click Smart+ range will assist installers looking to boost their business with an enhanced smart home offer that will deliver a complete connected home experience to householders.   

Click Smart+ has at its core accessibility and simplicity for the installer and end user and is designed to bring convenience, comfort, security, energy saving and ultimately more control in the home. Installation is simple and flexible, with no additional cables or wall cutting required, making it ideal for existing or newly constructed buildings. 

The bespoke Click Smart+ App gives householders ultimate control of the smart devices, which can also be operated through voice control in conjunction with a smart speaker.

The Click Smart+ connected home products range currently comprises the Smart Gateway Hub – the control centre of all devices – 1 and 2-gang smart sockets, a plug-in smart socket, switching and dimming receivers, camera, PIR sensor, window, and door sensor, plus a temperature and humidity sensor.

The Smart Gateway Hub is the control centre and communicates with all other smart products within the home via the Zigbee Protocol. Even if the WIFI is interrupted, the smart devices will still be able to function normally.

13A 1 and 2-gang switches socket outlets allow the control of any appliance that is plugged in – home appliances, lamps, heaters etc. They can be controlled manually, via the app, or with voice control. The power to the socket can be locked on or off using the app, preventing manual switching. They also feature the 3-pin safety shutter – the shutter will only open once all three plug pins are inserted.

The 13A smart plug-in WIFI socket can be plugged into an existing socket outlet for the control of home appliances, lamps etc via the existing WIFI network, and can be controlled via the app.

Smart switching and dimming receivers provide full control of the lighting and appliances in the home from anywhere in the world. All receivers are supplied with a removable bracket, which can be used to mount the receiver in a back box if installed directly behind the switch or the light source. The bracket also features a DIN rail clip, allowing it to be installed in the consumer unit.  

The Smart camera - for indoor use (IP20) – is compact and easy to install. It offers smart motion detection, automatic image capture and alarm functions.  When an object or person moves in the detection field the App will send an alarm and capture images in real time. Install a micro SD card to record and playback footage.

PIR Sensor – for indoor use (IP20) - senses motion and will trigger an automated device set within the app. It offers detection up to 7 metres, with a 170⁰ angle.

Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor – for indoor use (IP20) - allows control of the temperature and humidity in a room. Once installed and set to the desired comfort level on the app, install the smart socket and set automations via the app. Whenever the sensor identifies that the temperature or humidity is outside the defined zone, the heater or other device plugged into the smart socket will be automatically activated.

Smart Window and Door Sensor – for indoor use (IP20) - provides real time monitoring of window and door status, sending a notification via the app whenever a door or window is opened or closed. It can also be used for automatic light switch-on when a door is opened, when paired with a switching receiver within the app. 

Helping you get up to speed

Scolmore will be making available some CPD training, which will be accessible on request and aimed at wholesalers, contractors, and specifiers. It will cover an overview of smart systems, the advantages, green credentials and details on communication protocols and mesh networks.   

A series of ‘How To’ videos has also been developed and these are now being released on YouTube and are being promoted across Scolmore’s social media channels. 

Full details of the new Click Smart+ range and its applications are available to view on the dedicated Click Smart website – www.click-smart.com/home – where visitors can access a suite of technical specification sheets for each product.  Scolmore’s experienced inhouse technical team is also on hand to answer any questions.