Q&A: SmartThings and ABB on Delivering Simple Smart Home Solutions

What do SmartThings and our partners have in common? We use automation to create a more sustainable, efficient future. 

For us and our partner ABB, this future starts at the smart home. Since 1891, ABB has led the way in developing technological innovations in automation, and now offers you solutions connecting devices and appliances, regardless of brand.

Users can control their devices from different manufacturers via the ABB-free@home® automation app, which is integrated into  SmartThings seamlessly and sustainably with SmartThings Energy, a comprehensive energy management solution in our app.

In our latest LinkedIn Q&A, we chatted with ABB to discuss our partnership, how their products work with SmartThings, and more. Browse the highlights below or keep reading for the full conversation. 

The Highlights

SmartThings: Walk us through a case study or example of how your products work with SmartThings.

ABB: Absolutely! In practice, in a residential apartment setting, residents can now holistically manage appliances and devices from different manufacturers via a single home automation app for seamless and complete home management. It’s effortless. It can all be done from intuitive wall panels, laptops, or smartphones. The first-of-a-kind integrated system covers residents’ every need: lighting, blinds, door entry, energy flows, EV charging, smart sockets, appliances, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), home entertainment, and load management.

SmartThings: Sustainability is a very important topic for both SmartThings and Samsung through SmartThings Energy and programs like Flex Connect. How can residents take their energy consumption into their own hands with ABB? 

ABB: Homeowners want to save energy, but they also need ease of use when it comes to technology to simply enjoy the best of seamless, connected, and holistic modern living. That means addressing their needs at the most basic level with one manufacturer-agnostic interface. Together with SmartThings, we help residents make a home their own in terms of customization and convenience, but also energy management. Through the central management of solar energy generated, battery storage, and EV chargers, energy consumption can be optimized accordingly – thus improving their impact on the planet.

SmartThings: We are all about keeping it simple! And speaking of devices talking to each other, how does ABB-free@home® work with Matter? And why does Matter matter?

ABB: People are adopting smart home technology at lightning speed. To keep pace, we, as industry players, need to consider things like standardization. ABB is a leading player in the cross-manufacturer connection standard Matter and the network protocol Thread. Boasting support from industry giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung, Matter, for example, signifies a crucial step towards ‘interoperability,’ allowing diverse devices and systems to communicate effortlessly. ABB acquired Eve Systems in June of last year. Based on Matter, Eve Energy, Eve Motion, and Eve Door & Window devices are already part of the SmartThings ecosystem.

SmartThings: A big misconception is the time and energy it takes to get started and set up a smart home. Is all this new technology reserved for people in newer or very modern homes? 

ABB: No! ABB’s retrofitting abilities are propelling us, along with SmartThings, into a new era where residents can manage energy and their surroundings with unprecedented convenience and safety. The strategic move to integrate Matter and Thread smart buildings technology through Eve’s plug-in, interoperable devices enables the rapid transformation of existing homes into smart spaces. This extends the benefits of cutting-edge technology and flawless integration to a broader spectrum of customers than ever before. And we have a question for you! How do new or existing SmartThings users go about setting up an ABB-free@home®?

Our full conversation with ABB

SmartThings: Hey, ABB! Thank you for joining us for a Q&A today. For those who are new to your brand, what is ABB, and what makes ABB home automation products different? 

ABB: Hey, SmartThings! Thank you for having us! We win awards for elements like design and innovation, but what is most relevant here is ABB’s commitment to open systems and interoperable technology. In other words, smart home technology that can “interconnect.” This is so important because homeowners want smart home solutions that link all the devices in their homes, whether they are from Samsung, ABB, or other brands. 

SmartThings: How do your products work with SmartThings?

ABB: The ABB-free@home® automation app is already integrated into the SmartThings platform, so the vision of all home devices and appliances talking to each other through one centralized system to effortlessly save money, time, energy, and hassle is now becoming a reality. 

SmartThings: Walk us through a case study or example of how that works.

ABB: Absolutely! In practice, in a residential apartment setting, residents can now holistically manage appliances and devices from different manufacturers via a single home automation app for seamless and complete home management. It’s effortless. It can all be done from intuitive wall panels, laptops, or smartphones. The first-of-a-kind integrated system covers residents’ every need: lighting, blinds, door entry, energy flows, EV charging, smart sockets, appliances, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), home entertainment, and load management.

SmartThings: Sustainability is a very important topic for both SmartThings and Samsung through SmartThings Energy and programs like Flex Connect. How can residents take their energy consumption into their own hands with ABB? 

ABB: Homeowners want to save energy, but they also need ease of use when it comes to technology to simply enjoy the best of seamless, connected, and holistic modern living. That means addressing their needs at the most basic level with one manufacturer-agnostic interface. Together with SmartThings, we help residents make a home their own in terms of customization and convenience, but also energy management. Through the central management of solar energy generated, battery storage, and EV chargers, energy consumption can be optimized accordingly – thus improving their impact on the planet.

SmartThings: We are all about keeping it simple! And speaking of devices talking to each other, how does ABB-free@home® work with Matter? And why does Matter matter? 

ABB: People are adopting smart home technology at lightning speed. To keep pace, we, as industry players, need to consider things like standardization. ABB is a leading player in the cross-manufacturer connection standard Matter and the network protocol Thread. Boasting support from industry giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung, Matter, for example, signifies a crucial step towards ‘interoperability,’ allowing diverse devices and systems to communicate effortlessly. ABB acquired Eve Systems in June of last year. Based on Matter, Eve Energy, Eve Motion, and Eve Door & Window devices are already part of the SmartThings ecosystem.

SmartThings: A big misconception is the time and energy it takes to get started and set up a smart home. Is all this new technology reserved for people in newer or very modern homes? 

ABB: No! ABB’s retrofitting abilities are propelling us, along with SmartThings, into a new era where residents can manage energy and their surroundings with unprecedented convenience and safety. The strategic move to integrate Matter and Thread smart buildings technology through Eve’s plug-in, interoperable devices enable the rapid transformation of existing homes into smart spaces. This extends the benefits of cutting-edge technology and flawless integration to a broader spectrum of customers than ever before. And we have a question for you! How do new or existing SmartThings users go about setting up an ABB-free@home®?

SmartThings:  That is a great question to close out our Q&A! It’s a 7-step process!

• Open the SmartThings App 
• Click on ‘devices’ and on ‘+’ 
• Click on ‘add’ under ‘partner devices’ 
• Select ‘ABB’ 
• Login to ABB myBuildings portal 
• Success, click on ‘Done’ 
• See all your ABB-free@home® devices and functions in Samsung’s SmartThings App 

You can also watch this video on how to set up ABB-free@home® in the SmartThings app.

Well, that was very informative. Thank you to our partners at ABB for chatting with us today! It was great learning more about your technology and the solutions you provide to consumers and property teams and owners. Want to know more? #DoTheSmartThings and make sure you are following @SmartThings and @ABB on our social media channels, and stay tuned for a blog post recapping this Q&A. 

ABB: Thank you for having us, SmartThings!