Easy IoT networks for the future of housing
The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and nobody sets out to build a tangled system with fragmented data.
Sadly, this is a reality that many housing providers find themselves dealing with when complications creep into their technology infrastructure. However, a solution does exist, offering easy integrations and a comprehensive view of properties.
More than just an IoT platform, HappyIoT is delivered as a complete survey, installation and hosting service. From assessing properties and selecting the best devices, to installing and maintaining them, this solution ensures housing providers have everything they need for a reliable, integrated IoT ecosystem.
Tailored to the needs of the housing sector, say ‘hello’ to HappyIoT.
Things fall apart
Many housing providers began digitising decades ago, often adding specialised point solutions to fix their immediate problems. Over time, these solutions became deeply embedded, expensive to replace and ill-suited to new integrations.
At the same time, budget pressures and short-term goals can push housing providers towards tactical decision-making over long-term planning; while these solutions make sense in isolation, they rarely add up to an effective whole.
Housing providers can find themselves in a state of paralysis, chained to legacy infrastructures, unable to integrate new solutions and stuck with siloed information where systems can’t communicate effectively.
Borrowed time for legacy infrastructure
One additional and frequently discussed point to consider is the PSTN switch-off. For organisations struggling to keep track of their systems and devices, the PSTN switch-off could provide an unpleasant surprise once analogue connections are severed.
While the transition to digital infrastructures poses a logistical headache for many organisations, the disconnection of analogue lines presents a unique opportunity to rethink system architectures. This allows housing providers to leave their old, ineffective systems behind, providing they take a strategic view and avoid repeating their previous mistakes.
Furthermore, recent regulations, such as Awaab’s Law, Tenant Satisfaction Measures and the Social Housing Regulation Act, require housing providers to be better aware of property conditions. This necessitates new approaches to property management, data integration and reporting.
Integration & interoperability
Housing providers are now recognising the value offered by IoT devices when it comes to effective property management. However, different communication protocols, data formats and vendor ecosystems all introduce new complications for IoT integration. This could manifest as devices not communicating with one another, having to manage multiple dashboards or incompatible datasets. In some cases, this can lead to the same data silos that IoT solutions aim to remove.
Housing providers need IoT devices that work together. For example, when smart heating systems and environmental sensors share data, heating changes can be automated to prevent the development of damp or mould. If these devices can’t communicate then manual interventions are required, removing the major advantages that IoT networks offer.
HappyIoT removes the roadblocks for organisations wanting to implement IoT solutions. Completely brand-neutral, the HappyIoT platform allows integration with virtually any device with connectivity. This allows organisations to mix-and-match devices, such as Aico, TP-Link, Unifi, Zigbee and many more, getting the best tool for each job with none of the complications.
Furthermore, as a modular solution, you can use as much or as little of the HappyIoT platform as desired, implemented across as many sites as you require.
Insight and reporting
Developed for the housing sector, HappyIoT connects and displays all of your IoT devices on a single dashboard. This allows housing providers to get a comprehensive view of property conditions without having to check across multiple sources.
With the ability to check the status of properties at a glance, the HappyIoT dashboard goes beyond being a simple data repository and becomes a useful tool for housing providers to identify trends, track compliance and detect anomalies. By recognising wider patterns in property conditions, housing providers can detect problems before they develop, allowing for proactive decision-making and repairs.
Comparing data across properties also allows housing providers to benchmark performances and spot underperforming assets. This could include comparisons of energy efficiency, maintenance demand, environmental conditions and more, providing a useful metric to help diagnose and remedy issues across homes.
Benchmarking across properties doesn’t just flag underperformance; it creates clear, data-backed targets for improvement. By setting measurable goals for energy efficiency, maintenance turnaround or environmental quality, HappyIoT enables housing providers to track their progress over time and demonstrate the effect of new initiatives and programmes.
Not only does HappyIoT ensure information is shared between devices, it aggregates data into a single location for more effective, insightful reports. Centralised reporting keeps information unified and accessible, preventing data silos and keeping everybody on the same page.
Control and resilience
With HappyIoT, data processing happens locally for better system resilience. This means that even if an internet connection is temporarily lost, HappyIoT will continue recording and reporting.
The HappyIoT platform doesn’t just monitor devices, it also allows administrators to control them directly. This could mean better energy management and damp prevention through the control of smart heating, granting temporary access to properties through door-entry controls or compliance testing for fire alarms and smoke detectors.
Additionally, many aspects of properties can be retrofitted for IoT compatibility. For example, the introduction of smart radiator valves enables remote control through the HappyIoT platform.
With support for CCTV and live viewing, HappyIoT allows you to watch security footage in real time and download snapshots, while its Logbook feature records sensor and CCTV activity, keeping you updated.
To prevent access by any bad faith actors, multi-factor authentication is available for the HappyIoT dashboard.
The last word in IoT
No housing provider should have to make do with tangled systems and disconnected data. HappyIoT offers a clean slate – one platform, bringing all of your devices together on one screen, regardless of brand. With streamlined, centralised reporting, it turns fragmented data into a single unified asset.
The result is more efficient housing teams, safer homes and better resident experiences. Book a live demo with Social Telecoms today to see the difference a truly connected approach could make for your organisation.
John Clarke is the managing director of Social Telecoms.
