Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2019 50 I 've said it before and I'm sure you have, too – the smart home has moved out of the Jetsons era and into the world of every- day reality. Never was this more clear than on a recent business trip when, in the midst of a meeting, I got an odd alert on my phone. It wasn't a chime I was used to hearing, so I took notice and was shocked to see that one of my water leak detectors had gone off. Hmm, I thought, is it real or just a false alarm? Then panic set in. "I'm hundreds of miles away! What can I do?" Thankfully, I didn't have to do anything, because my leak detector took over and turned off the water to the appliance in question. As my blood pressure came down, it hit me powerfully – automation had just saved me hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars, plus the countless hours I would have spent cleaning up the mess, haggling with insurance companies, and repairing the damage. My next thought: "Hey, the Jetsons have nothing on me!" It got me thinking about the industry I'm in, and how the experience was a fulfillment of something many of us have been telling our customers for years – that automation can and will change their lives in ways they might never know. Leak-detection technology has been around for years, but like most new technologies it could be expensive and out of reach for many consumers. Unlike fire and burglar alarms, leak detection isn't something everyone thinks about. Yet unlike fire and theft, leaks are something you can now hand off to the monitor to detect and correct. Imagine you're on vacation and the washer line springs a leak. If you'll be away for even an hour, the water may ruin floors, walls, electrical, and more. A smart-home leak detection system will sense the presence of moisture and turn off the water to the specific appliance, heater or sink, or shut off the water to the entire property at the valve in the utility closet. Many leak detection systems can work within the smart-home ecosystem and let other devices know that something went wrong. In my case, the LeakSmart system notified the Nest products, including the Nest app which notified me on my phone. Leak detection isn't new, but it has come a long way in cost, convenience and availability. It has made the Jetsons-style connected home a reality, with all the benefits, including a heightened sense of security. If you don't have leak detection in your CI or retail offering, why not look at adding it today for your clients' peace of mind. Hank Alexander Consumer Electronic Trends Hank Alexander Director HTSN - Home Technology Specialists Nationwide Nationwide Marketing Group HOW LEAK DETECTION CAN SAVE THE DAY RO

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