In the ever-evolving world of technology, the hospitality industry has seen significant advancements, particularly in automation and smart devices. However, this progress has largely been limited to upscale urban hotels and renowned chains, leaving smaller establishments, especially in rural areas, lagging. Our customer, a leader in home automation product design and manufacturing, recognized this gap and set out to address it with an innovative IoT-based solution tailored for hotels and lodges in rural and local urban areas.

The Current Scenario

Small hotels and lodges, particularly those in rural regions, often face a unique set of challenges when it comes to managing electrical consumption. A common issue is that guests frequently leave lights and other electrical devices on when they vacate their rooms. In an industry where operational costs are already tight, this unnecessary energy consumption adds up, creating a significant burden for hotel owners.

Moreover, in these establishments, all electrical equipment is typically operated manually, which is not only inefficient but also inconvenient for guests who are increasingly accustomed to the seamless automation found in larger, more modern hotels.

The Challenge

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive solution, our customer embarked on developing an IoT-based product specifically for this market segment. However, the challenge was not just in creating the hardware but also in finding a technology partner capable of managing the cloud infrastructure and developing a scalable application. The solution needed to be cost-effective and robust enough to handle multiple hotel on-boardings, while also ensuring security and ease of use for guests.

The customer’s firm had the expertise to develop the hardware, but they needed a reliable partner on the software side—someone who could optimize cloud costs, design an intuitive application, and build a secure backend infrastructure.

The Problem

The primary problem our customer aimed to solve was the lack of automation in small hotels and lodges. In these establishments, guests would only have temporary access to room devices during their stay. The solution needed to ensure that once a guest checked out, their access to the room's devices would be revoked, maintaining security and preventing unauthorized control. Additionally, the system had to prevent guests from controlling devices in other rooms, thereby eliminating potential security breaches.

The Solution

We stepped in as their technology partner, taking on the challenge of building a comprehensive application that would meet all these requirements. Leveraging Flutter, we developed a cross-platform solution that works seamlessly on Android, iOS, and web browsers. This versatility ensures that guests can control room devices from their smartphones or, if they prefer, via a simple web link—no need to download an app for a short stay.

The application is designed with user convenience in mind. Guests receive temporary access to the room's devices, which automatically deactivates upon checkout, ensuring that no unauthorized access is possible. To further enhance energy efficiency, the system is integrated with sensors that detect whether a guest has left the room. If no movement is detected for a specified period, the system automatically turns off lights and other electrical devices, significantly reducing energy wastage.

Additional Features

To address the security concerns, we implemented a robust encryption protocol to safeguard guest data and ensure that device controls are only accessible to authorized users. The backend infrastructure is built on a scalable cloud platform, optimized to keep costs low while maintaining high performance. Moreover, the application is designed to be easily scalable, allowing new hotels to be onboarded with minimal effort.

With this solution, small hotel owners can now offer a level of convenience and efficiency previously reserved for larger establishments, all while reducing operational costs and enhancing guest satisfaction.

Conclusion

Our partnership with the home automation firm has resulted in a revolutionary IoT solution that is set to transform the hospitality landscape in rural and local hotels. By bridging the gap between hardware and software, we have created a seamless, secure, and cost-effective system that not only meets the current needs of hotel owners but also sets the stage for future advancements in smart hotel technology. As the industry continues to evolve, we are proud to be at the forefront, driving innovation that benefits both businesses and their customers.

This project underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems, making everyday life simpler, more efficient, and more secure.

Schedule a call with us, if you would like to know how we can work together to build a solution for your use case.