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The smart home movement has shown the variety of ways technology can empower greater convenience, efficiency, and security in our living spaces. From smart speakers that connect us to voice assistants to smart appliances that let us know when it’s time to go grocery shopping, technology has transformed our homes and improved our standard of living by providing a range of intelligent solutions for homeowners.
The next frontier when it comes to intelligent home devices is heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), with innovative companies around the world applying the latest technological advances in ways that are transforming HVAC monitoring and maintenance. As a result, HVAC systems are poised to ascend to new levels of efficiency and reliability.
“The HVAC industry has certainly reached an inflection point,” says Kevin Weaver, Chief Engineering and Product Officer at SmartAC.com. “Software and technology are enabling visibility and data transparency at all levels. The latest innovations are transforming customer expectations in areas such as maintenance tracking, digital service scheduling, system performance data, reliability, and contractor communication.”
SmartAC.com is a technology enablement company that helps the HVAC industry offer next-level service with a more proactive approach to HVAC and plumbing. Its technology solutions provide a “check engine light” for residential systems, pairing smart sensors with data analytics to provide data-driven HVAC health.
Using advanced software to empower proactive care
The Internet of Things (IoT) has played a key role in the smart home movement. IoT sensors act as intelligent eyes and ears in the home, sensing situations that require a response. As data is passed from those sensors to remote platforms, it provides alerts or, where appropriate, triggers an automated response.
Advanced software lies at the heart of these innovative systems, converting IoT data into informed decision-making.
“Artificial intelligence and machine learning are at the forefront of advanced analytics and service in today’s HVAC space,” shares Weaver. “Today’s leading companies are already developing advanced solutions that leverage AI, including fully-automated customer support. Some of the powerful machine learning models being developed can detect very subtle changes in AC performance that can trigger proactive maintenance. Ultimately, these tools could provide near fail-proof performance and intelligent preventative service.”
Streamlined customer scheduling is a simple way advanced software can empower convenient HVAC maintenance. Chatbots empowered by generative AI can provide a satisfying experience for customers who need assistance. By leveraging AI, HVAC companies can guarantee 24/7 support while eliminating the expense associated with staffing human customer support agents around the clock.
Advanced software combined with IoT sensors can also empower automated notifications for customers when issues arise. Providing those notifications allows systems to help prevent a maintenance need from becoming a repair need.
“Remote systems analyzing data from onsite sensors can detect issues that could result in a loss of comfort,” Weaver explains. “By leveraging AI, those systems can inform the customer, allow them to make decisions, and lead to a service visit from an HVAC company without requiring interaction with a customer service representative. It inspires proactive care that increases the efficiency and the lifespan of HVAC equipment.”
Using advanced software to increase consistency of care
Advanced software solutions also boost efficiency by empowering greater consistency of HVAC care. When homeowners switch maintenance providers — which happens more often in today’s world of sponsored ads prompted by online searches — efficiency declines. New companies taking over maintenance of an old system lack the knowledge of past maintenance that can be used to proactively identify problems and provide targeted care.
Consistency of care also allows users to establish trust and rapport with technicians. With an existing relationship, users can feel more comfortable communicating their concerns and are often less likely to question the diagnosis given or the course of action prescribed.
The remote monitoring systems empowered by today’s advanced software support long-term relationships with service providers. The IoT sensors placed in homes allow for constant, ongoing monitoring of system performance and proactive engagement from the company when issues arise.
“Moving to a more proactive engagement model means service providers retain customers across the lifecycle of the HVAC system and beyond,” Weaver says. He also points out that moving from reactive to proactive engagement also adds efficiency to the processes HVAC companies use to attract and retain customers, leading to more profitable operations.
“Historically, the HVAC industry has relied on reacting to inbound customer requests,” Weaver explains. “Recently, overall customer engagement and retention has been trending downward, which means companies must spend large amounts of money on advertising to get in front of new customers. Today’s proactive maintenance systems make it much easier for companies to retain customers as maintenance and other needs arise.”
The latest software advances give the business world greater access to valuable data and a greater capacity for understanding and leveraging that data. In the HVAC industry, those advances mean companies can provide more proactive and consistent care, leading to greater efficiency and cost savings for both users and maintenance providers.
