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26 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON
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who can’t.”
Before we know it, the IoT will become
the new normal. 20 years ago it was
uncommon to see someone with a mobile
phone, now almost everyone owns not
just a mobile but a smart phone. Soon
enough, the IoT will be ingrained in
everything. Everything we buy, produce
or install will be IoT-enabled.
RESIDENTIAL
As the role of the IoT in the
residential electrical industry expands,
knowledgeable contractors are well
positioned to take full advantage of
this growing market. But in order to
leverage this effectively, a thorough
understanding of the IoT and the
technologies that underpin its operation
is of paramount importance.
Effective installation of an IoT
framework hinges on a reliable network
built with quality hardware. Unlike the
network types most people are familiar
with, such as Ethernet and WiFi, many of
the major IoT players use either ZigBee
or Z-Wave networks for their wireless
devices. It’s the implementation of
these networks contractors who are
interested in working in the IoT space
should become accustomed to.
Indeed, a comprehensive
understanding of networks is a
fundamental requirement when
implementing IoT technology. According
to Ryan, if a contractor can’t deliver
on the network hardware and setup
then they won’t be able to deliver an
IoT solution.
“We certainly wouldn’t consider
touching an IoT install unless we were
wholly responsible for the design
and implementation of all network
hardware. When something falls over,
the last thing the client needs is two
contractors warring over where the
fault lies – and it can get quite grey with
networks. The best thing a contractor
can do for a client is take complete
ownership of the network when the
provided solution relies on it.”
As the number of consumers familiar
with the IoT increases exponentially, so
too should business opportunities for
electrical contractors.
“We are finding customer awareness
of the IoT is rapidly gaining traction.
People are starting to ask more about
what their houses are capable of.
This isn’t just the young tech savvy
demographic either, we find baby
boomers are now becoming very
interested in what they can do with their
new favourite, easy to use toy – the
iPad,” says Ryan.
Even contractors who decide that
providing the IoT and network solutions
isn’t for them should make sure they are
running hardwired data infrastructure
to anywhere they have installed fixed
devices and ensure they allow adequate
connections for wireless access points.
“With the likes of Samsung and Apple
behind it, the IoT isn’t a flash in the pan;
estimates on what the industry is worth
globally in the next 10 years are well
into the trillions. If it was my business, I
would want a slice of that pie!”
COMMERCIAL
In addition to being a rapidly growing
market within the residential electrical
sector, connected devices are becoming
big business for electrical suppliers and
commercial contractors.
”Over the coming years, products
that are incapable of communicating,
acting on information transmitted to
them or being remotely actuated will
be the exception. This is set to change
the landscape for electrical contractors,
creating massive opportunities for
those who position themselves
cleverly,” says Legrand Australia chief
executive Tony Berland.
Tony cites the
Australian IoT @ Home
Market Study
undertaken by Telsyte
that forecasts spending on IoT home
products and services in Australia will
grow from $289 million in 2015 to $3.2
billion in 2019; an 11-fold increase.
Possibly one of the largest areas in
the commercial market to be affected
by the IoT is emergency lighting and
energy efficiency.
The IoT will make monitoring and
communicating with emergency lighting
much more efficient. It is a requirement
for businesses to keep records of testing
of emergency lighting as per AS2293
and, according to Legrand, the IoT
will provide significant advantages by
Before we know it, the IoT will become the new normal. 20 years ago it was uncommon
to see someone with a mobile phone, now almost everyone owns a smart phone.