Potential added value of the research project for key target groups
Industrial companies
SmartLivingNEXT offers industrial companies the opportunity to utilize standardized, interoperable interfaces or connectors in the future. This would reduce development costs and facilitate the integration of products into overarching systems. The project also explores how shared data spaces can be used responsibly to develop new AI-based services. In this way, industrial partners could benefit from greater planning certainty and long-term scalability. A focus on open standards would boost the export potential of products and create a more innovation-friendly environment.
A company develops heat pumps. Previously, employees knew little about their customers’ usage habits. Since connecting their products to the SmartLivingNEXT data space, they can view anonymized data from real households—such as how often the heat pump activates, which settings users prefer in specific life situations, and in which building types and weather conditions the unit operates most efficiently.
In this way, the company identifies opportunities for improvement, develops new product generations in a targeted manner, and launches a heat pump that performs optimally—resulting in market leadership in the “existing building efficiency” segment.
Benefits:
- 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 manufactures electronic components for building technology, such as sensors, lighting controls, and heating controllers. In the past, the manufacturer faced the same problem as many other firms in the industry: tradespeople had to grapple with a variety of different systems, and the training required was immense—especially when a system needed to communicate with other systems in the building or when a customer had special requirements that demanded complex programming. This made the entire process expensive. Ultimately, customers often opted for cheaper systems instead.
Today, the company is connected to the SmartLivingNEXT data space. And that changes everything:
- Consumers recognize that this device also works with devices from other manufacturers and other systems when it comes to data exchange. There are numerous apps for the SmartLivingNEXT data space that are not available for low-cost providers.
- Tradespeople no longer require complex, specialized knowledge; everything is quick to install and works immediately. Special customer requests can be rapidly met using suitable apps, which are now widely available on the market. This allows far more customers to 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 utilizing AI-based services from the SmartLivingNEXT data space, the German manufacturer has gained a significant lead over the competition. In doing so, the manufacturer has not only endeared itself to existing customers but also established a unique selling point vis-à-vis non-European rivals: SmartLivingNEXT stands for security, data protection, interoperability, and European values. Consumers feel secure. Installers save time. Architects specifically recommend this manufacturer’s components. And the company is becoming a market leader because the system simply works—and because it made the strategic decision to adopt this approach at an early stage.
Results:
- 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 provider is contending with stiff competition from low-cost suppliers. These competitors lure customers with temporarily low rates but offer no service, transparency, or sustainability. The company, however, is taking a different approach: through the SmartLivingNEXT app—which relies on a shared data space—it offers its customers genuine added value. Once a household registers and provides consent, the energy provider can temporarily access data from the devices within the home—in an anonymized and GDPR-compliant manner.
This enables the energy provider to analyze electricity consumption down to the device level, determine the economic viability of a PV system, create personalized consumption schedules (such as identifying the most cost-effective times for washing, charging, or heating), and display real-time data on the source of the electricity.
Using 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.
Results:
- 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
In doing so, SmartLivingNEXT transforms a utility provider into a genuine energy partner.
Application Developers (Software)
For software developers, the project offers a platform to test an open development concept. The goal is to reduce technical fragmentation and facilitate the integration of applications. Looking ahead, developers could benefit from standardized connectors, testing environments, and shared data models. This fosters innovation and lowers development costs. Furthermore, the research project could lead to new partnerships that drive broader market reach.
A Berlin-based start-up is developing a smart app for tenants. It allows users to save heating profiles, analyze electricity consumption, or securely grant access to the building for care services, tradespeople, and parcel delivery services—all without the young company manufacturing its own sensors or actuators.
In the past, that would have been a problem:
- Each quarter had different systems: from manufacturer A, manufacturer B or manufacturer C.
- There were no standardized interfaces.
- The start-up’s employees would have had to rebuild the app for each system or even provide their own hardware. That is expensive and unattractive for housing companies.
Today, the start-up uses the SmartLivingNEXT data space 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.
- Rapid proof-of-concept: The start-up was able to run a pilot in three residential neighborhoods without installing a single box.
Benefits 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 value, rather than integration effort.
SmartLivingNEXT creates a level playing field for small development teams, putting them on equal footing with large providers. What used to be possible only for corporations with their own infrastructure can now be achieved with just three laptops and a good idea.
Housing industry
The housing industry could benefit in the long term from a unified system that interconnects all building-related smart living components and data. In this context, SmartLivingNEXT examines the prerequisites for efficient digital building management, automated maintenance, and the monitoring of compliance with ESG requirements. Future applications could lead to lower operating and energy costs, improved tenant communication, and the sustainable use of existing properties. SmartLivingNEXT focuses not only on new builds but also considers the feasibility of retrofitting existing homes.
Wohnbau Rhein-Süd GmbH* manages around 500 apartment buildings, ranging from unrenovated Wilhelminian-style structures to new smart-home developments. Each apartment features different technology: heating thermostats from manufacturer A, door sensors from manufacturer B, lighting controls from manufacturer C. And they all operate 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 rely on Excel spreadsheets, emails, and telephone calls, which is inefficient and prone to errors.
The effort involved is enormous. Administration is costly. Team frustration is high. The turning point comes with the SmartLivingNEXT data space. Here, technical components are read out via the shared data space, independently 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 diversity of technologies and finally makes management controllable.
*Name invented by the editors.
Tenants, apartment and house owners
In the future, end users could benefit from a simple, secure, and data-sovereign living environment. SmartLivingNEXT aims to establish standards that simplify the use of smart features and allow for customization to individual needs. Tenants and homeowners should also retain control over their data. Transparent energy data and automated control systems could lead to increased comfort, energy savings, and security in the future.
Leo Müller* lives with his family in a large residential complex. Previously, he had little insight into how much electricity his appliances consumed, whether his heating was running efficiently, or when building maintenance was due. He relied on utility bills, paper notices in the stairwell, and a vague gut feeling regarding his heating habits. Since his residential complex was connected to the SmartLivingNEXT data space, Leo has all his devices available in an app—presented clearly, understandably, and in real time.
Energy consumption per device:
Leo can see at a glance how much electricity each device is currently consuming, from the laptop to the washing machine. A warning icon alerts him: “The old lamp in the living room is consuming an above-average amount of electricity.”
Heating status:
The app displays the current room temperatures in his apartment and makes automatic suggestions for saving energy: “Automatically lowering the temperature to 18°C at night saves 12 percent on heating costs.”
Maintenance information:
Leo receives push notifications regarding upcoming maintenance in the building: “The inspection of the ventilation system is due soon. Please provide access.”
Everything runs transparently, automatically, and in a user-friendly way—without paperwork or 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 invented by the editors.
Mr. Hausmann* is a classic small-scale landlord: through family inheritances, he owns several rental properties spread across Germany—each with its own history, technical systems, and point of contact.
The challenge:
- 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 is missing is a centralized overview. With the SmartLivingNEXT data space, this dream becomes achievable:
- All buildings, regardless of age and technology, send standardized data to a common platform.
- Mr. Hausmann views consumption figures, technical faults, maintenance deadlines, and outstanding tasks in an app—regardless of the city.
- A central property management company at his place of residence can manage all properties digitally via defined roles.
- There is no need to fly in an expensive specialist to deal with problems involving individual systems. The platform creates transparency and comparability.
- Particularly convenient: Mr. Hausmann was able to select the exact app that met his needs from a catalog of vetted 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
This is how even small-scale landlords become digital portfolio managers—with the help of SmartLivingNEXT.
*Name invented by the editors.
People with physical or mental impairments
SmartLivingNEXT explores how accessibility and assistive systems can be better integrated into smart living environments. The focus is on technologies that support independent living, such as voice control, automated processes, and emergency mechanisms. The platform is designed to allow systems to be individually adapted to diverse needs, with the aim of significantly improving social participation and quality of life in everyday life.
Ms. Becker*, 83, lives alone. The SmartLivingNEXT data space allows the care service to unobtrusively monitor behavioral patterns without the need for additional equipment installations or any action required on Ms. Becker’s part. When she fails to get up at her usual time one morning—an event detected by the AI because the bathroom light was not switched on—a message is automatically sent out. It turned out to be just a minor infection, but everyone is relieved that someone is keeping an eye on things.
Benefits:
- Gentle monitoring without cameras
- Privacy-friendly and dignified
- Relief for relatives and caregivers
- Early detection of health risks
*Name invented by the editors.
Craft
In the medium to long term, the skilled trades sector could benefit from clearly defined interfaces—or connectors—and standardized installation processes. The goal is to reduce complexity, which could ultimately lead to simpler training concepts for skilled workers. Looking ahead, this could cut installation and commissioning times for electrical contractors. In the future, smart technologies could support skilled workers with diagnostic and monitoring tools that identify faults early on, thereby minimizing maintenance requirements (predictive maintenance).
Mr. Becker*, an experienced tradesman, used to find his work a real struggle. Whenever something in a modern home malfunctioned—such as the bathroom lighting or the ventilation in a child’s room—he would first have to spend hours figuring out the root cause.
The heat pump came from Manufacturer A, the lighting system from Manufacturer B, and the ventilation from Manufacturer C—and none of the systems were compatible with one another. He would spend his time tinkering, reading manuals, and making phone calls, all while losing both time and patience.
Things are different today. Thanks to the SmartLivingNEXT data space, all systems are networked using standardized protocols. Using an app, Mr. Becker can access the customer’s authorized system data and see at a glance: “Ah, the light isn’t working because the central control unit isn’t receiving a signal from the sensor. Cause: a firmware error known to the manufacturer.”
He simply navigates through the system overview—no more guesswork. The fault is identified within 15 minutes and quickly resolved.
Nutzen:
- Reduced diagnosis times
- Uniform access to different systems
- Greater customer satisfaction thanks to fast solutions
- Saving time means more assignments means more sales
*Name invented by the editors.
Tabular overview
| Target audience | Potential benefits of SmartLivingNEXT | Differentiation from existing 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
