The smart home industry has long been fragmented by proprietary protocols and competing ecosystems. Enter Matter — a groundbreaking connectivity standard that promises to transform how our smart devices communicate and work together. In this post, we’ll explore what Matter is and why Matter capability is becoming crucial for smart home hubs.
What is Matter?
Matter is an open-source connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance in collaboration with tech giants including Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung. Launched in late 2022, Matter aims to create a unified protocol that allows smart home devices to communicate seamlessly, regardless of their manufacturer.
Think of Matter as a universal language that smart devices can use to talk to each other. Just as USB has become the standard for connecting peripherals to computers, Matter aims to standardize smart home device connectivity.
Key Features of Matter
- Platform Independence: Matter-certified devices work across major platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.
- Local Control: Devices communicate locally within your home network, reducing cloud dependency and improving response times.
- Enhanced Security: Built with robust security protocols, including blockchain-based commissioning and AES encryption.
- Multi-admin Control: Devices can be controlled by multiple platforms simultaneously, offering unprecedented flexibility.
Benefits of Matter Protocol for Property Management
Unit Turnover Management
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- Quick and secure reset of smart devices between tenants
- Automated device provisioning for new residents
- Simplified transfer of device control during move-in/move-out
- Reduced time and labor costs during unit transitions
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Security and Access Control
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- Centralized management of smart locks and security systems
- Secure visitor access management
- Emergency access protocols for maintenance and security
- Integration with property management software for automated access control
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Benefits of Matter Protocol for Renters
Seamless Smart Home Integration
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- Residents can use their preferred smart home platform (Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa)
- Easy integration of personal smart devices with property-provided systems
- Consistent user experience across all smart home features
- Freedom to add their own Matter-certified devices without compatibility issues
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Property Value and Marketing
Competitive Advantage
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- Modern, tech-forward property positioning
- Attractive features for tech-savvy residents
- Increased property valuation through smart infrastructure
- Future-proofed technology investment
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Sustainability
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- Better energy management through integrated systems
- Enhanced monitoring and control of utility usage
- Support for green building initiatives
- Improved environmental reporting capabilities
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Why Matter Capability is Essential for Smart Home Hubs
Matter represents more than just another smart home standard — it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach home automation. For hubs, Matter capability is becoming a crucial feature that will determine their relevance and functionality in the evolving smart home landscape. As the industry continues to grow, Matter support will likely become as essential for smart home hubs as Wi-Fi capability is for modern electronics.
Unified Device Management: Smart home hubs with Matter support can control any Matter-certified device, eliminating the need for multiple hubs or bridges. This simplification reduces costs and complexity for consumers while streamlining the smart home experience.
Future-Proofing: As Matter adoption grows, hubs without Matter support risk becoming obsolete. Matter-capable hubs are positioned to support the next generation of smart devices, making them a more sustainable investment for consumers.
Enhanced Interoperability: Matter-enabled hubs can create more sophisticated automations by combining devices from different manufacturers. This interoperability opens up new possibilities for smart home scenarios that were previously difficult or impossible to achieve.
Improved Reliability: By supporting local control through Matter, hubs can maintain device functionality even when internet connectivity is lost. This creates a more reliable smart home system that homeowners can depend on.
Better User Experience: With Matter, users can set up devices more quickly with a standardized commissioning process. It is also easier to move devices between different ecosystems without complex reconfigurations.
Looking Ahead
The smart home industry is rapidly embracing Matter, with major manufacturers releasing Matter-certified products and updating existing devices to support the standard. For hub manufacturers and consumers alike, Matter capability is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity.
As we move forward, Matter-enabled hubs will play a central role in creating more integrated, reliable, and user-friendly smart homes. Whether you’re building a new smart home system or upgrading an existing one, choosing a Matter-capable hub is increasingly becoming the smart choice for future-proofed home automation.
The Rently Hub 4 and and future generations of our hub will be Matter-compatible, bringing a more convenient experience to property management and resident experience.
Want to learn more about Rently’s Smart Home solutions? Schedule a demo today!
