Potential added value of the research project for key target groups
Industrial companies
SmartLivingNEXT offers industrial companies the opportunity to use standardized, interoperable interfaces and connectors in the future. This would reduce development costs and make it easier to integrate products into a comprehensive system. The project is also investigating how shared data spaces can be used responsibly to develop new AI-based services. Industry partners could thus benefit from greater planning security and long-term scalability. The focus on open standards would strengthen the exportability of products and create more innovation-friendly framework conditions.
A company develops heat pumps. In the past, employees knew little about their customers’ user behavior. Since connecting their products to the SmartLivingNEXT data room, they now see anonymized data from real households, such as how often the heat pump starts up, which settings users prefer in which living situation and in which building types and weather conditions it runs particularly efficiently.
The company recognizes potential for improvement, develops new product generations in a targeted manner and launches a heat pump on the market that functions optimally, resulting in market leadership in the “old building efficiency” segment.
Benefit:
- Real usage data for the company’s research and development department
- Shorter innovation cycles
- Differentiation through digital added value
- Basis for data-based services, such as remote maintenance
A German company produces electronic components for building technology, such as sensors, lighting controls and heating controllers. In the past, the manufacturer had the same problem as many other companies in its sector: every tradesman had to painstakingly familiarize themselves with different systems, the training required was enormous, especially if the system was also to communicate with other systems in the building or the customer had special requests that first had to be laboriously programmed. That made the whole thing expensive. In the end, customers often opted for cheap systems.
Today, the company is connected to the SmartLivingNEXT data room. And that changes everything:
- Consumers recognize that this device also works with devices from other manufacturers and other systems in terms of data exchange. There are plenty of apps for the SmartLivingNEXT data room that are not available for low-cost providers.
- Craftsmen no longer need complex specialist knowledge, everything is installed quickly and works immediately. Customers’ special requests can be fulfilled quickly using suitable apps, which are now widely available on the market. This means that many more customers can be served in the same amount of time.
- Building planners prefer to integrate SmartLivingNEXT, as there are fewer queries and complaints when using several different system worlds.
By using basic AI services from the SmartLivingNEXT data room, the German manufacturer is far ahead of the competition. The manufacturer has not only made itself popular with existing customers, but has also established a unique selling point compared to non-European competitors: SmartLivingNEXT stands for security, data protection, interoperability and European values. Consumers feel safe. Installers save time. Architects specifically recommend components from this manufacturer. And the company is becoming the market leader because it simply works and it decided to do so very early on.
Result:
- More trust in the market
- Clear differentiation from the competition
- Standardization without frictional losses
- Demand is increasing, also in the project business
A regional energy supplier is battling against stiff competition from low-cost providers. These entice customers with short-term low tariffs, but without service, transparency or sustainability. The company is taking a different approach: with the SmartLivingNEXT app, which is based on the shared data room, it offers its customers real added value. As soon as a household registers, the electricity provider can temporarily access the data of the devices in the house, anonymized and GDPR-compliant, with consent.
This allows the energy supplier to analyze electricity consumption down to device level, recognize whether a PV system is economically viable, create individual consumption plans, for example when washing, charging or heating is particularly cheap and display real-time data on the origin of electricity.
With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), the customer automatically receives suggestions, such as the following:
- “Your dryer costs you 140 euros a year. Replacing it saves 60 euros. PV use between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. is optimal.”
- “Today, the CO₂ footprint per kWh is particularly low, ideal for washing machines or electric cars.”
After the initial analysis, the customer can deactivate data evaluation at any time. Consumption optimization without monitoring.
Result:
- More customer loyalty through real added value
- Trust through transparency and data sovereignty
- Differentiation from low-cost providers
- New business models: tariffs with consulting option, PV service, smart tariff for e-mobility
SmartLivingNEXT thus turns a supplier into a genuine energy partner.
Application developers (software)
The project offers software developers a platform for testing an open development concept. The aim is to reduce technical fragmentation and facilitate the integration of applications. In the future, developers could benefit from defined connectors, test environments and shared data models. This facilitates innovation and reduces development costs. The research project could also lead to new partnerships that promote a broader market reach.
A Berlin start-up is developing a clever app for tenants. It can be used to save heating profiles, analyze electricity consumption or allow care services, tradesmen and parcel services into the home safely – without the young company having to produce its own sensors or actuators.
That would have been a problem in the past:
- Each quarter had different systems: from manufacturer A, manufacturer B or manufacturer C.
- There were no standardized interfaces.
- Employees of the start-up would have had to build the app from scratch for each system or even provide their own hardware. This is expensive and unattractive for housing companies.
Today, the start-up uses the SmartLivingNEXT data room as an interoperability platform. This means
- Developed once, runs everywhere: The app talks to all systems that supply data to the shared data room.
- No separate hardware required: the data from the buildings, such as temperature, door status or energy consumption, comes via the shared data room.
- GDPR-compliant and therefore secure: trust from the housing industry and end customers.
- Fast proof of concept: the start-up was able to pilot in three residential areas without installing a single box.
Advantages for start-ups:
- Scalability right from the start
- No investment in hardware or building technology required
- Fast market access to the housing industry
- Focus on software, user experience (UX) and benefits and not on integration effort
SmartLivingNEXT creates the same starting conditions for small development teams as for large providers. What was previously only possible for corporations with their own infrastructure is now also possible with three laptops and a good idea.
Housing industry
In the long term, the housing industry could benefit from a standardized system that connects all building-relevant smart living components and data. SmartLivingNEXT is investigating the prerequisites for efficient digital building management, automated maintenance and monitoring compliance with ESG requirements. Future applications could lead to lower operating and energy consumption costs, better tenant communication and sustainable use of existing properties. SmartLivingNEXT is not only researching new buildings, but is also considering retrofitting in existing homes.
Wohnbau Rhein-Süd GmbH* manages around 500 apartment buildings: from unrenovated Gründerzeit buildings to new smart home buildings. There is different technology in every apartment: heating thermostats from manufacturer A, door sensors from manufacturer B, lighting control from manufacturer C. And everything works differently. The result:
- Janitors change frequently and everyone needs weeks to familiarize themselves with the technology of the buildings.
- Craftsmen are difficult to find and often only know individual systems.
- Defects remain undetected for a long time or are reported twice.
- The data from the systems cannot be integrated into the CRM system.
- Many processes run via Excel lists, e-mails and telephone, which is inefficient and error-prone.
The effort is enormous. The administration is expensive. The frustration in the team is high. The turning point comes with the SmartLivingNEXT data room. Here, technical components are read out via the shared data room regardless of the manufacturer. Wohnbau Rhein-Süd GmbH can now:
- Automatically retrieve inventory data and device statuses into the system
- Detect and bundle defects across systems
- Equip janitors and tradespeople with a standardized app
- View energy consumption, maintenance requirements and device statuses directly in the CRM
- Mapping processes digitally without media discontinuity
The result:
- Less training required for staff
- Faster repairs
- Significantly lower administrative costs
SmartLivingNEXT brings order to the variety of technology and finally makes management controllable.
*Name freely invented by the editors.
Tenants, apartment and house owners
In future, end users could benefit from simple, secure and data-sovereign use of their living environment. SmartLivingNEXT aims to create standards that can simplify the use of smart functions and can be adapted to individual needs. Tenants and owners should also be able to retain control over their data. Transparent energy data and automated control systems could increase comfort, energy savings and security in the future.
Leo Müller* lives with his family in a large residential area. He used to have little overview of how much electricity his appliances were using, whether his heating was running efficiently or when maintenance was due in the building. He was dependent on utility bills, slips of paper in the stairwell and a vague gut feeling about his heating behavior. Since his residential quarter has been connected to the SmartLivingNEXT data room, Leo has all his appliances in one app, clearly laid out, easy to understand and in real time.
Energy consumption per appliance:
Leo can see at a glance how much electricity each appliance is currently consuming, from laptops to washing machines. A warning symbol alerts him: “The old lamp in the living room consumes an above-average amount of electricity.”
Heating status:
The app shows him the current room temperatures in his home and makes automatic savings suggestions: “Automatically lower the temperature to 18 °C at night saves 12 percent on heating costs.”
Maintenance information:
Leo receives push notifications about upcoming maintenance work in the building: “The ventilation system is due to be checked soon. Please allow access.”
Everything is transparent, automated and user-friendly, without paper and guesswork.
Benefits for tenants:
- Clarity on electricity and heating consumption
- Concrete savings tips and convenience functions
- Automatic information on maintenance
- Feeling of control and security in everyday life
*Name freely invented by the editors.
Mr. Hausmann* is a classic small landlord: through family inheritance, he owns several rental properties spread all over Germany. Each with its own history, its own technology, its own contact person.
The problem:
- A different property management company works in every city
- Every building has different components: from old oil heating systems to modern smart meters
- Communication takes place via e-mail, phone calls, sometimes even by post
- Mr. Hausmann has to take care of everything himself from a distance
What it lacks is a central overview. The SmartLivingNEXT data room makes this dream a reality:
- All buildings, regardless of age and technology, send standardized data to a common platform.
- Mr. Hausmann sees consumption values, technical faults, maintenance deadlines and open tasks in an app. No matter in which city.
- A central property management company at his place of residence can manage all properties digitally via defined roles.
- If there are problems with individual systems, there is no need to fly in an expensive specialist. The platform creates transparency and comparability.
- Particularly practical: Mr. Hausmann was able to select exactly the app that met his requirements from a catalog of tested applications. Simple, clear and senior-friendly.
The result:
- Fewer calls, fewer Excel spreadsheets, less uncertainty
- Full control over all objects with just a few clicks
- Lower administrative costs and therefore more time for the essentials
In this way, even small landlords can become digital portfolio managers. With the help of SmartLivingNEXT.
*Name freely invented by the editors.
People with physical or mental disabilities
SmartLivingNEXT researches how accessibility and assistance systems can be better integrated into smart living environments. The focus is on technologies that support self-determined living, such as voice control, automatic processes and emergency mechanisms. The platform is to be designed in such a way that systems can be individually adapted to different needs. The aim is to significantly improve participation and quality of life in everyday life.
83-year-old Mrs. Becker* lives alone. Using the SmartLivingNEXT data room, the care service can unobtrusively record behavioral patterns without having to install any additional devices or operate any equipment. When she doesn’t get up one morning as usual, the AI recognizes that no light has been switched on in the bathroom and automatically sends a message. It was just a minor infection, but everyone is relieved that someone is paying attention.
Benefit:
- Gentle monitoring without cameras
- Privacy-friendly and dignified
- Relief for relatives and caregivers
- Early detection of health risks
*Name freely invented by the editors.
Craft
In the medium to long term, the trade could benefit from clearly defined interfaces or connectors and standardized installation processes. The aim is to reduce complexity – this could result in simpler training concepts for skilled workers. This could reduce installation and commissioning times for electricians in the future. Smart technologies could later support specialists with diagnostic and monitoring tools that identify faults at an early stage and thus minimize maintenance costs (predictive maintenance).
In the past, the life of Mr. Becker*, an experienced craftsman, was often tedious. If something didn’t work in a modern house, such as the light in the bathroom or the ventilation in the children’s room, he had to spend hours finding out what the problem was.
The heat pump was from manufacturer A, the lighting system from manufacturer B, the ventilation from manufacturer C. And none of the systems were compatible with each other. So he tinkered, read instructions, made phone calls and lost time and nerves in the process.
Things are different today. Thanks to the SmartLivingNEXT data room, all systems are networked in a standardized way. Using an app, Mr. Becker can access the customer’s approved system data and see at a glance: “Ah, the light isn’t working because the central control unit isn’t getting any feedback from the sensor. Cause: firmware error, known from the manufacturer.”
He clicks through the system overview, no more puzzling around. The error is found after 15 minutes and quickly solved.
Benefit:
- Reduced diagnosis times
- Uniform access to different systems
- Greater customer satisfaction thanks to fast solutions
- Saving time means more assignments means more sales
*Name freely invented by the editors.
Tabular overview
| Target group | Potential benefits of SmartLivingNEXT | Differentiation from previous solutions |
| Industrial companies | Interoperability, reduced development costs, data rooms for innovative applications, greater customer reach | No brand or system-specific silos, simple scalability |
| Software development | Standardized APIs and connectors, test environments, open platform architecture, basic AI services | Reduction of complexity through standardization, arbitrary scalability of applications |
| Housing industry | Lower costs, ESG implementation, better fulfillment of tenants’ needs, efficiency gains in the areas of energy, maintenance and administration | Can be retrofitted across manufacturers, standardized applications for any size of building portfolio |
| Tenants/owners and owners | Comfort, security, energy cost reduction, data sovereignty and support for home care | Customization, transparency and control |
| Craft | Easy installation, simple training, new services, predictive maintenance processes | Predictability and integration instead of isolated solutions, long-lasting concepts |
| People with disabilities | Accessibility, assistance, emergency functions, reduction of complexity | Integration into the overall architecture instead of a plethora of additional modules |
SmartLivingNEXT project office
Want to learn more? Contact our project office at
E-mail: projektbuero@smartlivingnext.de
Phone: +49 (0)151 14 34 14 17
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