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As real estate technology continues to evolve, every tenant, property manager or visitor to a building faces a new challenge: smart home fatigue. Smart home fatigue (similar in many ways to digital fatigue) refers to the exhaustion and frustration people experience when managing multiple apps to control smart devices and systems, all in the name of convenience.
As the real estate market continues to adopt large amounts of new technology, it’s crucial to make smart choices to prevent overwhelming your tenants and your property management team.
In this article, we’ll discuss what to look for in your property’s technology and how to avoid contributing to the growing feeling of smart home fatigue.
Meeting Tenant Needs
First things first, any new technology introduced to a property with tenants as the users must enhance tenants' lives. Technology should be intuitive and convenient, not an added burden. Systems used by tenants should work seamlessly without tenants having to navigate between several apps, and without having to spend a long time learning a new system. For most properties, there will be a broad range of ages and abilities amongst the tenants, making inclusive ease of use crucial.
Take an access system, for example, tenants want easy, reliable access from the front door, into the elevator, to storage rooms and beyond. Navigating between multiple apps could disrupt that convenience. When selecting new technology for your property, prioritize the usability and convenience for tenants.
In a survey from 2023, Deloitte found that “79 percent of users think interoperability is very or somewhat important.”
Reusing Existing Technology
In the rush to upgrade properties with the latest technology, it can be easy to overlook the environmental impact of discarding perfectly good, functioning systems. Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing global concerns, and the technology boom over the past decades has contributed significantly to this problem. Reusing existing technology wherever possible can reduce waste and lower costs, benefiting both the planet and your bottom line.
When looking for new technology, try to find opportunities to continue using older systems that are still functional and supplementing those with new technology that works alongside it.
For example, if part of your HVAC system has stopped working, but the sensors and thermometers are still functioning, try to find a new HVAC system that allows you to repurpose these pieces of equipment. This approach reduces waste and makes the transition easier for tenants, as they are already familiar with the existing technology. Keeping technology and systems familiar minimizes disruption and helps tenants adapt more smoothly to upgrades.
According to the United Nations Institute for training and research, “62 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was produced in 2022, Up 82% from 2010”.
Integrations
The best smart home systems are those that work seamlessly with what’s already in place. Integrating smart technology with elevators, lighting, or even security systems can provide tenants with a smoother, more intuitive experience.
At Defigo, we recognized early on how important it is to integrate with existing access systems. For instance, with our Salto integration, properties that already use Salto card readers can integrate Defigo with those readers, so tenants can use the same app, cards and fobs for both systems, and property managers can use the same online access management system. This reduces the need for additional devices and apps, allowing tenants to stick with what they know and is familiar to them.
We also prioritized integrating Defigo with elevators and other building systems. For example, Defigo can be integrated with elevators in several ways so that tenants can either control which floor they need to go to in the Defigo app, or time the elevator for a visitor’s arrival after receiving their call through the Intercom. This kind of flexibility is key to avoiding the frustration that leads to smart home fatigue.
The key takeaway when choosing new technology for your property is simplicity. Focus on systems that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure and minimize the number of apps tenants need to use. By making smart choices, you can improve tenant satisfaction, reduce waste, and keep your property ahead of the curve in the age of digital fatigue.
How does Defigo help minimize smart home fatigue?
Meeting tenant needs: Defigo is an intuitive and simple to use access solution. With no learning curve required for Defigo, tenants of all ages and abilities are able to easily use Defigo. Once the tenant has their login details, they are good to go.
Reusing existing technology: Defigo makes use of technology already being used by tenants in the property. For the majority of tenants, their cell phone becomes their key and visitor answering device, and if the tenant does not have a cell phone, they can use their landline phone to answer the door to visitors. Tenants do not have to learn new technology, they can simply use what they already have.
Integrations: As mentioned above, Defigo can be integrated with elevators, garages and existing access systems like Salto or ARX. This makes for a fully connected building that can be controlled just from one app, making the navigation of the property seamless, and avoids the fatigue of navigating multiple apps.
