We could talk all day about the benefits of home automation and integrating your audio, video, lighting, security, smart appliance, and other technology. And, while it is certainly a huge advantage in residential applications, it is also extremely beneficial in commercial applications. There are many different ways to automate common business operations which improves ease of use and efficiency.
Business Audio Automation
Regardless of whether you have a small or large business, audio automation offers many advantages. You can automate music to play in different ‘zones,’ use your audio automation to send company-wide pages, make announcements, and more.
Business Lighting Automation
Different lighting ‘scenes’ can be created so that, at the touch of a button, lighting is perfectly set for your retail space, conference room, office or other business space. You can set the lights to automatically dim or turn off if no motion is sensed, and control lighting remotely as needed.
Business Video & Teleconferencing Automation
Business video conference and teleconferencing is becoming more and more common as more people telecommute or need to communicate with other offices in other states or around the world. Automated teleconferencing and video conferencing can enhance productivity, improve the video and audio quality, and eliminate confusion.
Motorized Window Treatments
If you work in a large business and have a lot of windows it is not very practical to have traditional window treatments that are not motorized. But, even if you have installed motorized window treatments it is not practical to have hundreds of remotes floating around that control individual shades. With business window treatment automation you can control all the windows from one device, have different settings for different times during the day, and make controlling window treatments as simple as the push of a single button.
Business Media Automation
Many businesses today integrate media into their workspace or retail space. It is not practical or aesthetically pleasing to have different boxes and controls at each television or monitor so media automation is ideal. You can easily distribute video and audio media to one screen, multiple screens, or all screens at the touch of a button. You can also distribute different sources to different screens as needed.
Optimizing home security is an important safety concern for many homeowners. There are many advantages to installing surveillance cameras inside and outside of your home. Surveillance cameras can be used to monitor both when outside individuals visit your home and also to keep track of where your family members are inside and outside of your home if needed. Many people think you just need a couple security cameras around the perimeter of your home’s exterior but it is actually a good idea to install different surveillance cameras with different capabilities in different areas of your home.
Professionally installed surveillance cameras can be networked together into your home automation system so that you can easily view whichever camera you want whenever you want. But, when installing different types of surveillance cameras it can be challenging to network them all together which is why it is particularly important to invest in professional home automation.
Outside the home surveillance cameras should be placed at the front entry points. If you have a gate it is a good idea to have a camera there as well as at your front door. Additionally, it is a good idea to have cameras placed around the perimeter of your home so that you can view the entirety of your property. How many cameras you need will depend on the types of cameras you choose. Some cameras are stationary while others can pivot. Some have a wide-angle camera or enhanced nighttime capabilities (infrared) and may be able to cover more area. Some cameras are motion activated and will only record if they sense motion while others can provide a 24 hour livestream if needed. It can be easier to place more cameras along the exterior if you choose wireless but wired options tend to be higher quality and a better investment.
In the interior of your home security cameras are very useful for not only security should a break-in happen but for everyday life. If you have young children or elderly individuals living in your household it can be helpful to be able to monitor them, particularly in the evening. Security cameras can be used as part of your home automation just like a baby monitor would be used, only more sophisticated. Consult an experienced professional to determine what types of security cameras you need, where they should be placed, and how to integrate them into your home automation.
In today’s modern world we want to be able to access WiFi anywhere and everywhere. It is no longer a luxury it is simply a necessity of today’s technology-driven world. When you are home you may notice that your WiFi signal is weak in certain areas of your home or when you are outside. But, it does not have to be that way. You can actually extend your WiFi range by implementing indoor and outdoor access points at strategic locations.
Choosing the right location for your router and access points can be challenging because there are variety of factors that go into strategic placement. The best way to optimize your WiFi range with indoor and outdoor access points is to have them professionally installed by an experienced technician. While one would logically assume that if you place a router or access point in the middle of your home, it should be able to send its signal in all directions within the home, providing WiFi access throughout. But, things like walls, furniture and other large barriers can impact the quality of the signal. For this reason, it may be best to place access points at strategic locations in multiple places within your home as part of a larger home WiFi network.
And, if you want to extend your WiFi signal outside so that you can work or have optimal connection for your outdoor smart devices and smart enabled outdoor features you may run into further barriers. CNet elaborates on how to extend your WiFi network outdoors safely and effectively to maximize connectivity, “With the increasing number of outdoor smart devices like lighting, security cameras and garage door openers, you need to be able to extend your Wi-Fi beyond your home’s exterior walls. It can be tricky, but with the right hardware, you’ll be streaming video by the pool and posting pics to social media in the yard in no time…An outdoor Wi-Fi extender, sometimes called a wireless access point or wireless repeater, is perhaps the most straightforward option, since it’s the only solution that involves installing hardware outside…These devices are made to be exposed to the elements year round and have hardware capable of communicating with your router wirelessly in order to give you great Wi-Fi coverage outside your home.”
Today’s modern technology demands reliable and safe power supply. You are not going to go to your local store and pick up a cheap power strip to power robust technology or you will end up paying the price. Commercial-grade power strips are important for all commercial applications and even many residential applications. High-performance IT and audio/video technology uses a lot of power. Commercial applications, in particular, demand uptime but without a safe and adequate power supply, uptime may be compromised. To protect against power surges that could destroy IT and audio/video components and lead to downtime, commercial-grade power strips are the answer.
There are many potential power hazards including noise, surges, sags and swells that can lead to damage and other power problems. Commercial-grade power strips are specifically designed to handle commercial applications that may include industrial facilities and commercial buildings but they are also ideal for residential applications in which high power IT and audio/video equipment is in use. Today’s modern household uses a lot of power and technology and demands more reliable power now more than ever before. It is always important that a power strip, whether standard or commercial-grade, is not overloaded. This protects safety on many levels.
When choosing a commercial-grade power strip you want to ensure that the total watts do not exceed the rated capacity of the power strip itself. Your commercial-grade power strip should have an internal circuit breaker and should be UL or ETL certified. Additionally, there are GFCI models that are best for use in applications where water may be present. Consult an experienced IT or audio/video professional that understands how to best maximize power without jeopardizing safety.