PlumChoice - Experts & Thought Leaders

The Z-Wave Alliance, a global membership organization dedicated to advancing the popular Z-Wave wireless smart home protocol, will host the Z-Wave Pavilion at ISC West 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada with member companies in home security. In its fourth year at ISC West, the Z-Wave Pavilion will feature a variety of member companies who will exhibit their smart home solutions and products, focusing specifically on the smart home security space. The Alliance is also announcing a unique partnership with PlumChoice, providing specialized technical support services, to offer the ConnectedHome Expert program for members. The program will allow members to gain access to PlumChoice support for their smart home customers. Membership For Smart Solutions Featured Pavilion members include: Aeotec, a creator of Z-Wave compatible IoT and smart home devices, will display their series of products suited specifically for Z-Wave security systems will introduce their Z-Wave and Homekit compatible gateway as well as their intelligent video IoT/IPCAM gateway, iBox. Alpha Networks, a manufacturer and supplier of networking equipment. CTS / SIMPNIC will showcase their new gateway, S1, that is catered towards smart building applications focusing on security, safety and comfort. Leedarson, will display their impressive suite of home automation solutions, specifically their Z-Wave compatible security devices. PlumChoice, will be in the Pavilion to discuss the new ConnectedHome Expert program in partnership with the Z-Wave Alliance. SecureNet will showcase their Z-Wave platform that expands the capabilities of central monitoring stations and alarm systems dealers. Vision will exhibit their collection of Z-Wave compatible sensors that can be implemented into home automation security solutions. Ensuring Cybersecurity “Z-Wave is at the core of almost every major residential security solution and our momentum in the market with over 100 million devices in circulation is unmatched,” commented Mitchell Klein, Executive Director of Z-Wave Alliance. “Our members are embracing our new Z-Wave S2 Security framework to make the entire ecosystem even stronger and more protected from cyber intrusion and consumers have more choice than ever when it comes to building their smart home security systems.”

The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies deploying Z-Wave, is announcing a new program with IoT services provider, PlumChoice to deliver an exclusive level of support options for Alliance members. The program will give members access to US-based trained and certified technicians who can assist their customers with the integration, installation and support of their smart home products. The ConnectedHome Expert program for Z-Wave Alliance members delivers an exclusive choice of three-level support options ConnectedHome The ConnectedHome Expert program for Z-Wave Alliance members delivers an exclusive choice of three-level support options, including benefits such as access to technicians who can understand and fix issues remotely, connectivity options to fit unique customer needs and weekly or monthly standardized reports. According to a 2018 consumer study by iQor, one in three consumers experience issues setting up or operating their connected devices. This program will help manufacturers assist their customers with troubleshooting and general product setup, resulting in an improved overall customer experience, reduced risk for customer attrition and increased brand loyalty. “One of our biggest goals as a member organization is to provide resources to help our ecosystem succeed in its markets,” stated Mitchell Klein, Z-Wave Alliance Executive Director, “This new effort with PlumChoice will give our members access to something the entire smart home industry needs more of: technical support for our end users.” The team at PlumChoice has the ability to deliver multi-lingual support by certified technicians with 24x7 support Smart Home And IoT Support The team at PlumChoice has the ability to deliver multi-lingual support by certified technicians with 24x7 support available to any smart home provider. Their approach enables experts to resolve end user issues by providing advice, step-by-step guidance, or complete assistance including explanations that make sense for customers with solutions that work. PlumChoice has a history of providing first rate IoT technical support services on behalf of leading brands” “PlumChoice has a history of providing first rate IoT technical support services on behalf of leading brands,” said David Shimoni, PlumChoice President and CEO, “With the ConnectedHome Expert program, the combination of PlumChoice and the Z-Wave Alliance will provide the highest level of quality care available for their smart home and business application partners.” This program is available to Z-Wave Alliance members only; to learn more about the benefits associated with the ConnectedHome Expert Program, visit z-wavealliance.org/connectedhome-expert or contact Greg Galat at ggalat@plumchoice.com, or in the Z-Wave Alliance Pavilion, booth #30078 at ISC West. A special introductory meeting for this program will be held for Alliance members who will be attending the ISC West event in Las Vegas, April 11-13.

The report highlights the need for companies to provide consumers a seamless user experience Consumers see more clearly how smart home devices can directly benefit their lives, and are planning to purchase more smart home devices in the future. Those are the key insights from a consumer survey commissioned by PlumChoice, Inc., a provider of premium technical services for IoT and cloud brands, and the Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of companies deploying Z-Wave. Benefits Of Smart Home Devices The second annual consumer benchmark survey, titled, ‘2016: Year of the Smart Device,’ also highlights the need for companies to provide consumers a user experience that allows their smart home devices to fit easily into their lives. The report helps device makers and their partners understand current connected and smart home device ownership, interest in future purchases, and perceived smart home device benefits. In addition, it outlines the services that brands can tie to these products to drive more revenue and consumer loyalty. Key Findings Other key findings from PlumChoice and the Z-Wave Alliance’s report, ‘2016: Year of the Smart Device’ include: 52% of all respondents plan to buy a smart device in the next two years Of those who own smart devices, 84% said they may make another smart purchase in the next two years A majority of consumers report owning a total of four to six smart home devices and 61% have interconnected some of those devices. Interoperability becomes a key factor as consumers add more connected devices Smart appliances (smart refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc.) and smart smoke detectors are among the smart home products with the highest year-over-year growth, with 267% and 250% respectively All types of services and support expected from brands increased since 2015, with installation support listed as a top need (68%) “The smart home industry is thriving, and many companies are recognizing that their success is dependent on a seamless consumer user experience” The survey also examined consumer behavior—including purchase drivers and rate of adoption—of homeowners compared to renters, along with comparisons between age, gender, and current device owners. Seamless Consumer User Experience“The smart home industry is thriving, and many companies are recognizing that their success is dependent on a seamless consumer user experience,” said Noelani McGadden, Vice President of IoT at PlumChoice. “Last year was a pivotal year for the smart home industry, with the number of people who own a smart device increasing by a staggering 259 percent. As smart home device adoption continues to grow, brands must cater to consumers who are expecting support services as part of their purchase, and at the very least provide installation support.” “It’s clear from our data that not only has the smart home arrived, but the benefits of adding connectivity to the things in our home are finally being realized,” said Mitchell Klein, Executive Director of the Z-Wave Alliance. “It’s exciting to finally see consumers understanding the value of connecting multiple devices together and to see categories like smart security, thermostats and safety grow year over year.”