“Alexa, Earl Grey, hot.” While this might not be the most important request you make of your Alexa device today, her answer of “Unable to comply; replicators are off line…” is sure to be a disappointment.

 

From charming pop-culture Easter eggs to advanced home automation functionality, Alexa-enabled devices have become a staple in smart homes around the world. Featuring an ever-evolving list of skills, people have fallen in love with the convenience of Alexa. So, if you’re planning on picking up an Alexa device on Prime Day this year, Schlage would like to remind you of all the great things you can expect.

 

Managing your thermostat. Controlling your home’s lighting. Locking your front door. Whatever you’re looking to control, Alexa can take home automation voice technology to the next level. Better yet, Alexa is not alone. Many of today’s most respected and innovative brands –Schlage, GE, Phillips, Ring, Nest and others – are supporting smart -home technologies with products that were literally once the stuff of science fiction.

“Alexa, what can you show me?”

Alexa-enabled devices are designed to work with a range of brands innovating in the home automation space.

 

Alexa can control the volume of your Sonos wireless speakers. Phillips Hue lighting can be turned on and off or dimmed, just by asking. Your front door can be locked with your voice and you can monitor many of the safety systems in your home, including video doorbells and security cameras. This is just scratching the surface. If you’ve been considering adding home automation technology into your life, now is the perfect time to get started.

“Alexa, lock the front door.”

It’s no surprise that Schlage is among the leading companies innovating for the smart home of today (and tomorrow). In 1909, Schlage’s founder, Walter Schlage, received his first patent for an electronic door lock that could also turn the lights on and off. Now, more than 100 years later, the company he founded is expanding its innovation footprint by introducing a whole family of smart locks that can be accessed from your smartphone or from your Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.

 

With the Schlage Connect™ Smart Deadbolt, Amazon Echo users can lock their doors with their voice, and with the Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt, and Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt, you can also unlock the door via voice and a unique PIN. Convenience and peace of mind are just a voice command away and represent but a fraction of what voice-activated home automation promises to bring to you and your family.

“Alexa, play Holst Jupiter on Spotify”

There are a wide range of Amazon Alexa-enabled devices for you to consider, each sporting its own particular set of features tailored to your preferences and the specifics of your home automation system. From the Echo Plus smart speaker, to the compact Echo Dot, to the video-enabled Echo Show, there are plenty of options to match your needs. Pick your favorite and then sit back and enjoy, as a whole world of possibilities in home automation open up for you.

“Alexa, what’s the date?”

With all home automation devices, a little research and preparation can go a long way in making sure all of the products you pair with your system are compatible and will work properly. You’ll be well on your way to making yours one of the more than 5 million smart homes in America today.

 

By 2025, it is estimated that there will be more than 41 billion connected devices in our homes, cars and more. Since you can get started exploring the Internet of Things for as little as $500, when you consider the convenience, safety, security – and fun – connected technologies can bring you, it’s certainly worth looking into.

 

And there's no better time to start than right now.

 

It was little more than two years ago that Amazon’s Echo took the holiday shopping season by storm and Google Home’s voice-activated speaker brought Google Assistant from the phone to the living room. They were taking the baton passed by assistants like Siri and Cortana who, as far back as 2011, began replacing phone apps in the search for everything from good pizza to directions to Mozart’s birthday.

 

Google Assistant is now available on more than 400 million devices, close to 95% of all Android devices, worldwide. Looking ahead, comScore predicts that half of all searches will be done via voice by 2020 with a sizeable percentage of those on a device like a voice-activated speaker – in other words, on devices without screens. From turning down the volume on your stereo to dimming your lights to locking your front door, these technologies and their application in the smart home are fast becoming the rule rather than the exception.

 

Rob Martens, President of Allegion Ventures and futurist for Allegion and their lock-manufacturing division, Schlage, looks ahead to where it’s all going. No stranger to innovation and the implementation of emerging tech, Martens has both insight and strong opinions on the rapidly evolving industry. He is responsible for identifying those mega-trends in technology that will best serve Schlage’s customers and then bringing them to life with products such as the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt and the Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt.

Q&A with Rob Martens

Q. What was your first indication that home integration was somewhere that Schlage had to be?

A. “My focus, my responsibility, is on anything that could have a meaningful impact on our customers and our business. Anything that can significantly improve our customers’ experience with our products is something we’re going to be interested in. We first started exploring connected door hardware in 2008 and we’ve escalated our own efforts as the technologies have improved and been increasingly accepted. Schlage’s first patent was for a door lock that also turned on your lights. That was in 1909. So, I guess you could say it’s in our DNA.”

Q. So, the smart home is here to stay?

A. “I think that the adoption of the technology, and the technology itself, is so significant, I foresee a time in the very near future we’re not even calling it a “smart home” any more – just a “home.” It’s going to go from something new to something we all accept as the way things are. Our job is to make these new technologies accessible and relevant so that we remove any intimidation factor that may exist. Once we do that, you’re looking at an idea whose time has come and, indeed, is here to stay.”

Q. How has Schlage’s technology addressed this “intimidation factor” and what have you done to make your connected technologies more user friendly, particularly for voice?”

A. “Believe it or not, the way you make the technology better is by not worrying about the technology but rather what the user wants to accomplish with it. We know things are constantly changing and technology should continue to evolve with the ever-changing needs of our customers. Our focus is on applying these technologies in such a way that our customers, regardless of what system they choose for their home automation, only need one lock that works, is easy to use, is secure, and can evolve with their needs. Ideally, we’d provide one lock you didn’t need to change because of obsolescence. It’s all about our ability to continue to meet their needs whether they’re locking their door with a keypad, their smartphone or with a voice prompt. It shouldn’t matter. We need to give them a good experience, whatever their preferences. It’s not technology for technology’s sake, it has to meet a defined need.”

Q. You’re in the security business. How do you provide connectivity and convenience as well as security?

A. “That is the single most important factor we look at – for today and tomorrow – when it comes to all Schlage products. Privacy. Security. Peace of mind. That’s our job. That’s what a lock does. We start with the fact that we are in the life safety business, and we ask ourselves – especially with the integration of new technologies like voice activation – if what’s happening when you ask Alexa to lock your door is exactly what you want to happen. That’s why, for instance, you can’t ask Alexa to unlock your door without providing a security code. So, again, you take the actual technology out of it, you look at who you’re serving and what they need, and you work from there to build the technologies and products that meet those needs. Not the other way around.”

Q. That’s an interesting point of view, coming from a futurist at a company that prides itself on technological innovation.

A. “When you get right down to it, our customers don’t really care about the details – about the features and functions and bells and whistles. Does it work? Is it secure? Is it easy to use? Does it add value? We have to start there. If not, then we’re not doing our jobs. We solve for that, and then we can focus on convenience features and – also extremely important to our customers – style. So much of what happens with your home starts at the front door. It’s the ultimate first impression. We work really hard to make it a good one, and to bring our customers the security they demand, the style that reflects who they are and a great user experience.”

Q. What’s next?

A. “My job is to look at products, services and technologies that are proving disruptive in other industries – the Internet of Things and voice-activated home automation technologies are a good example of that – and then see how we can apply those disruptive elements and what they represent to our products. For us, it’s going to be the evolution of home automation tech, biometrics, face recognition and machine learning that continue to make our products relevant and current without losing sight of what our core mission is. We need to continue to listen to our customers and then safely apply appropriate technologies to our products based on what they’re asking for. We don’t try to do everything on our own. We are working with Apple, Amazon, Google and other emerging tech companies to help identify what’s next and then bring value to their technologies, all in service to our shared customers.”

According to Martens, that combination of thinking ahead and applying technology responsibly leads to important insights. For example, connecting a garage door opener to a fire alarm in a home automation system.

 

“The last thing you’d want to happen in a home fire,” says Martens, “ is for your alarm system to automatically open your garage door. While, at first blush, it would seem logical to provide such an escape route, this actually creates a rush of oxygen that can fuel the fire and make it worse. These are the kinds of problems, these unintended consequences, to which Schlage’s expertise in fire and life safety can offer solutions. We need to have the capacity to think through such issues in developing connected technologies.”

 

Connected technologies provide an opportunity for companies like Schlage to create tailored experiences for their customers. Two-thirds of smart home speaker users conduct local searches for products, services or local business at least once a week. More than half search daily and nearly one-third of them will visit the website of a local business after conducting their search. What’s more, 60 percent of them just started doing so in the last year!

 

When you factor in the rapid adoption of home automation, it’s clear that these technologies are going to continue to play an increasing role in our daily lives. Companies like Amazon, Apple, Google and Schlage – and influencers like Allegion’s Rob Martens – are going to continue to define what’s next and develop technologies, products and services that definitively answer that question.

 

Look for more from Schlage, Rob Martens and other key influencers at Schlage.com.

The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt is now part of the Plays with Yonomi device family. The Schlage Sense lock joins over 130 connected products, including the Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt, Philips Hue, Honeywell, LIFX, Nest, ecobee, and more. Schlage Sense smart locks are compatible with new or existing Routines on your Yonomi account and add new levels of automation to your devices. Bring your home to life with these beautifully crafted designer locks from Schlage.

Convenience, security, and a design that makes sense

The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt is among the strongest, most intelligent Bluetooth® enabled locks, with the highest industry rating for security and durability. The Schlage Sense lock is compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, Homekit, and now, plays seamlessly with Yonomi. The new integration allows users to control their locks as part of Routines with other smart home products within their connected homes.

 

With the Schlage Sense deadbolt, you can:
 

• Create up to 30 unique access codes so trusted friends and family can enter using their code at the lock’s touchscreen
• Schedule access codes so guests can only enter when you want them to
• Use the Wi-Fi Adapter to check on the lock’s status from anywhere, so you never have to wonder if the front door was left unlocked
• View past activity to see which codes have been used and when

Adding your Schlage Sense smart lock to Yonomi Routines

Adding your Schlage Sense locks is easy and works by either adding your locks to existing routines or creating brand new ones. Here’s how to connect your lock to a new routine:

 

1. Launch Yonomi, tap on the Routines tab and select +

2. Tap Add Event + and select Location, swipe right to select I leave home

3. Tap Add Action + and select the action you'd like executed first

4. Customize your action by swiping it to predefined options or tapping the text to edit notifications

5. Continue to add actions in the sequence you'd like them executed

6. You can also add conditions if you'd like your Routine to run only under certain circumstances (e.g., time of day)

7. Once you're complete, tap Save in the upper right-hand corner

 

Ready to get started? Have Alexa lend you a hand by setting up a Dinner Party Routine.

Dinner party routines with Yonomi

Take advantage of Yonomi’s new “Routines within Routines” feature to create the perfect setting for your next dinner party.

 

1. Create a  “Dinner Party Lights” Routine:

      a. LIFX lights turn warm for all living room lights

      b. Philips Hue outdoor lights turn on patio lighting to bright

      c. Philips Hue turn on garden spotlights

2. Create a “Dinner Party” Routine:

      a. Lights are adjusted for Dinner Party Lights routine

      b. Nest adjusts the temperature to 72 degrees

      c. Sonos turns on your favorite party playlist

      d. Front door Schlage Sense deadbolt is unlocked

 

Still chopping vegetables in the kitchen when the first guests arrive? Just tell Alexa or Google Assistant to “turn on Dinner Party” and Yonomi will take care of the rest!

Technology has been a big driver behind the 26% year-over-year growth of the home-hosting industry in the US. App-driven technologies from platforms like Airbnb are powering this segment of the gig economy. Smart-home technologies are giving hosts control over home automation, management and security. And projected industry revenue of nearly $170 billion is attracting more potential hosts to the category than ever before. According to the 2017 Global Hotel Trends Report published by Tourico, more new hosting properties have been added than new hotel beds in the last year.

 

Managing home security and protecting one’s personal property – and personal space – is an important consideration for a prospective home host. Ted Roberts, the Style and Design Chief at Allegion, shares some insights into the home hosting phenomenon and Schlage’s role in providing door hardware like the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt and Schlage Connect™ Smart Deadbolt. These technologies make security management convenient, affordable and smart.

Q&A with Ted Roberts

Q. What are the key factors propelling the home-hosting phenomenon?

A. “Like so much in our changing culture, a lot is built upon rapidly evolving technologies. From a security standpoint, we’re talking an evolution of such things as security cameras, changeable lock codes, programmable security systems – a lot of which can be easily and securely controlled from your smart phone. So much of this simply couldn’t have happened before the technology caught up with the need. All the more important since the category has evolved to be so focused on personal fulfillment and satisfaction.

“We’re not just talking about renting a room. Hosts are sharing their homes and belongings, sharing meals, socializing with their guests and sharing themselves in ways we’ve never seen before. Our new smart lock technologies really assure a high level of control, trust and peace of mind.”

Q. What are some general security tips you can provide a prospective host?

A. “Hosts need to think of their homes both holistically, in terms of overall security, but also in sectors. You’re bringing people into your home. First and foremost is general house access, and a programmable electronic lock or a smart lock are ideal for exterior doors. Think of this simply as providing the convenience of an easily changeable and assignable code versus providing a key. With smart locks, you’re providing the added benefits of managing home access using your smartphone.

 

For adapting interior doors to your specific needs, there’s Schlage Custom™ which facilitates a custom designer look, while adding the flexibility of switching a non-locking door to one that locks in a matter of seconds.

 

“You’ll also want to think about access throughout the home. Are there areas that need to be secured – like a home office or utility closet or family area? Many of these rooms are ones you don’t normally think about locking up. In a home-hosting situation, it’s important to really think through how you would like manage your whole-home access.” In cases such as these, a product designed for use on exterior doors, may also have an application inside.

Q. What about the specific advantages of Schlage door hardware?

A. “In addition to the benefits I’ve already outlined, something else to think about is aesthetics. With Schlage door hardware, hosts don’t need to sacrifice style for convenience and performance. In much the same way our products add to the curb appeal of a home that’s being sold, the style of Schlage products provides an appealing point of difference for host rental properties as well. We give hosts the opportunity to incorporate door hardware more beautifully, as well as providing security and practicality. What’s going to make your house, your property and the experience you provide stand out? We see that as part of our job.”

Q. How do I know if hosting is right for me?

A. “Are you a people person? As a host, you’re not just giving people a place to sleep or renting a room. You’re giving your time, your patience, your hospitality. Prepare to adjust to your guests’ specific needs to provide the best possible experience. How flexible are you? What about your schedule? You’ll want to be prepared for any eventuality, whether it be providing directions, lending your guests a bicycle or your car or something as mundane as having an extra toothbrush or some toothpaste handy. Don’t forget, you’re competing against hotels, so you’ll want to be prepared to truly share of your home and of yourself. If that’s you, then welcome to home hosting.”

Q. How do I know if my house is right for hosting?

A. “So much depends on whether you’ll be sharing your home while your guests are there or are planning to be away. But in general, the ideal host home will have extra bedrooms and bathrooms, it’ll either be a private home or a dedicated apartment or condo and it’ll be conveniently located near area attractions, transportation and etc. It’ll have all the amenities a guest would look for in a hotel – from cable to internet to clean towels and bedding. Is there something unique about your residence – is it historic, famous or haunted? Is your home a place you’d want to know about if you were travelling elsewhere? If so, you’ve got yourself a great home hosting prospect.”

Q. Any other general tips?

A. “Expect the unexpected. Really try to anticipate those things you may not have thought about. Are there any legal restrictions (Does your mortgage and insurance agreements allow you to host? Do you have the right kind of homeowner’s insurance? Does your HOA or lease allow you to host?) These types of considerations are just the beginning. Are you prepared to have things break, be it appliances or personal items? What if a guest gets ill? Do you have any home safety concerns that could pose a liability? Finally, again, will your guests feel secure in your home? That’s our focus, and it has been for almost 100 years. Make sure your guests know that and give them every reason to come back again or recommend you to friends and family.”

If you’re thinking about opening your home to guests, carefully weigh the pros and cons. Think it through from every angle. And prepare yourself and your home for the tremendous responsibility you’re taking on, as well as for the tremendous opportunity. Take advantage of the latest smart home technologies to assure a great experience for you and your guests. And look to Schlage to provide the style, simplicity and security you’ll need plus the peace of mind that can only come from a brand that’s this experienced and trusted.