From productivity, communication, and security, discover how home automation can support working from home now more than ever.
The pandemic has brought monumental changes in the way we work and live, forcing many people to stay at home and figure out how to adapt to new rules and guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid19. Because of the persistent risk of infection, work-from-home is still common in many parts of the world.
Working from home comes with a unique set of challenges, but the right tools and technology can help you get the job done. Home automation is one way to help you maintain stability, stay comfortable, and be more productive when working from home.
How do Smart Homes come into play?
The rise in the WFH workforce has paved the way for the development of smart home automation. While the terms “smart home” and “automation” once related to central control of building-wide systems used mostly with commercial buildings and expensive homes, today, affordable technology has been developed that can be used in most homes without costly remodeling.
In the past, the concept of home automation typically involved only lighting, heating, and cooling systems. It rarely provided more than the basic control, monitoring, and scheduling functions. It was also only accessible only from specific control points within the building itself. With the rise of IoT, today’s automation has taken a giant leap forward. Almost anything that has an assigned IP address and can be monitored and accessed remotely.
Breaking down the Communication Barriers
When working from home, you are expected to meet the same results you used to achieve in your office. This is only possible when you have access to the same tools, and more importantly, have an easy communication platform to collaborate and exchange information. Unified Communications as a Service allows communication between remote teams anywhere anytime, making it easier to collaborate and make crucial decisions.
With many businesses switching to hybrid workspaces, the right mix of automation and collaboration tools in your home is great asset for you to support your way of working from home. Working from your living room or setting up your own home office with a smart and efficient video conferencing system is also part of developing your smart home that can help advance the way you work from home.
Beyond communication barriers, what are the 3 major points that smart homes can improve in WFH setup?
Energy Management
When it comes to energy management, home automation systems have an unmatched potential for energy savings. Flexible systems and electrical outlets, including individual devices, can be programmed to follow a set schedule. The cloud connectivity features of the smart home devices give you central control of the entire home system. You can enjoy the energy-saving benefits by creating the perfect mood or scene using any source of light and climate control options for all kinds of HVAC equipment.
Home automation helps you control and monitor the usage of lighting, security systems, cooling systems, and audio-video devices, including other electrical outlets — all through your smartphone. This way, you can manage everything even when you are busy working from home or when you are out of your house.
Network and Home Security
One of the most important components of a work-from-home setup is Wi-Fi. Having a secure network is an especially critical aspect when working from home. If it’s digital, it’s hackable. Some smart devices aren’t developed with security in mind, and many don’t come with reminders to change default settings and passwords. Enabling your smart home with a secure network helps you provide the same sense of network security available to you at the office.
At a basic level, security means the doors and windows and environmental devices (thermostats, smoke detectors, and carbon dioxide sensors) that keep you safe and comfortable. Luckily, many aspects of a smart home and smart security systems can help you maximize efficiency and productivity while you work from home.
One of the most valuable aspects of a smart home is convenience. While you work from home, you can be distracted by various activities around the house, such as a knock at the door from an unexpected visitor. But with a home security system that includes a doorbell camera and a mobile app, it’s simple to see who’s there and even speak to them.
Productivity
Productivity is a primary concern for managers who have their teams working from home. As an employee, staying focused on the task at hand is a significant concern. But in a study by Stanford found that teams who work from home see a 13% increase in productivity.
However, not everyone has the natural self-discipline to work remotely. Home automation can help teams maximize productivity too. Automation can help with workflows, collaboration, and even set up auto alerts synced to your work calendar to let you know when a task needs your attention.
Smart homes also provide
Comfort
Smart home automation helps in creating a comfortable atmosphere around a home. It offers intelligent and adaptive solutions that increase growth opportunities and help you work comfortably with ease.
Control
The home automation market has advanced with the help of IoT, allowing every device connected to the network to communicate with each other allowing them to be controlled remotely with just a smartphone and WIFI providing you with the centralized control for your smart home.
Savings
Smart lights, sensor-based lighting, and intelligent thermostats help save energy and cut utility costs over time. You can even make use of home automation technologies that are also important for water-saving measures.
Is your work-from-home setup sorely lacking in home automation technology? Consider installing high-quality devices and security systems to give you the peace of mind and convenience that results in high-quality work. These factors make automation an essential part of your WFH success. When one’s typical working days may face turbulence, automation remains a constant.
