Alarm.com VP Talks Opportunities for Security Dealers to Offer Smart Home Services

Alarm.com Vice President of Marketing Jay Kenny discusses why security dealers are in a good position to offer homeowners a fully integrated package of smart home services.

Security Sales & sister publication, CE Pro, talked with Jay Kenny, vice president of marketing for Alarm.com, who says security dealers are in a good position to offer homeowners a fully integrated package of smart home services.

Why are smart thermostats gaining momentum, and what is the best way for dealers to present these products to consumers?

Jay Kenny: Smart Thermostats have become one of the most talked about devices in the Internet of Things conversation and Parks Associates forecasts smart thermostat sales to double over the next two years alone. In addition to this growing consumer awareness, new technology and real practical value delivered by the service are driving interest in a smart thermostat solution. 

New smart home technology has made the use and control of the thermostat much easier than before. With the mobile app-it is simple to use-adjust and program your thermostat from wherever you are. Unlike the old programmable thermostat that you had to check the manual to learn how to operate, the mobile app is intuitive and requires little to no training. This is making it easy for consumers to switch to new smart thermostats because they are so simple to use.

The smart thermostat becomes even more valuable when it’s integrated into an interactive security system and the rest of the home. The home sends temperature alerts, saves energy automatically based on security system arming and shuts down the HVAC in case of a fire. It’s these kinds of direct, easy to understand benefits that are driving momentum for the Smart Home.

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With all the new consumer interest, installation and support remain one of the biggest barriers to consumer adoption and the security dealer is best positioned to solve that problem for the consumer. Security dealers who integrate the smart thermostat into their standard offering will have a great advantage in meeting the growing consumer demand for these services.

Alarm.com has announced a new smart thermostat; what is different about this product?

Kenny: The Alarm.com Smart Thermostat is the first thermostat design for the multi-device smart home. Unlike any other thermostat on the market, it offers a multi-sensor learning, room-by-room temperature control, location-based automation, instant alerts and responsive saving based on external weather in one solution. Designed specifically for the smart home it combines sleek hardware, sophisticated cloud services and an ecosystem of connected devices for an uncompromising energy management solution.

One of the things that really sets the new thermostat apart is that is has been created with the professional channel in mind. Dealers have a strategic market advantage around installation and support services, so we built the device to provide exceptional service to the dealer. We created a ‘soft installation’ process through our installer mobile app. Once the thermostat is wired, the app configures the device to the home’s HVAC system. We also made all the device settings adjustable through our AirFX tools so troubleshooting and support can be done quickly and remotely. It greatly reduces the need to roll a truck back to a house when issues can be diagnosed and often fixed remotely.

As I mentioned earlier, reducing energy waste and saving money are the core value proposition for any smart thermostat. But it has to be really easy for the consumer, so we’ve developed a set of features that we call ‘responsive savings.’ The thermostat automatically saves energy around the home’s activity patterns and it responds in real-time when those patterns change. The user goes about their day and Alarm.com takes care of the savings and comfort for them.

In addition to the company’s thermostat products, the company offers a complete line of security solutions, including monitoring. What makes these products unique?

Kenny: We offer the full suite of smart home services including security, energy management, video, access control and wellness. These are enabled through a large ecosystem of connected devices so our dealers can choose from hardware options and deliver a wide range of home automation solutions – and it’s all built around home security services.

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