Haier Europe presents an interactive journey showcasing connected home ecosystems
At IFA 2024 Haier Europe, part of Haier Smart Home, invites you to discover an interactive journey that brings to life the Internet of Things (IoT) concept applied to connected and interconnected home ecosystems, that can be customized to the desires and habits of each individual.
2024 is an important year both for the event, which celebrates its 100th anniversary, and for Haier Europe, marking its first 10 years of history, projects, and records in the IoT field. From 2014, when the Company launched the first range of connected appliances in Europe, to 2020, when the hOn app was launched to the management of all Haier Europe branded appliances, marking the beginning of new integrated business models – such as the highly popular Washpass, the ultra-technical washing machine available on subscription, which can be fully guided by Artificial Intelligence. Today, after ten years Haier Europe maintains the leadership in the sector with millions of connected users thanks to continuous innovation and the selection of top-level partners in the ecosystem field.
At IFA, Haier Europe presents the hOn SMART HOME ecosystem concept, which integrates connected appliances, energy management devices, complementary solutions and services, including product maintenance and international partnerships that allow to have access to exclusive energy supply contracts and dedicated shopping services. All orchestrated by the hOn app. Partners include energy companies such as Regalgrid, Ostrom, Edison Energia, and Tate; food & beverage e-commerce such as Vino.com; home automation providers like SmartDHOME and home security like Yale; and mobility solutions such as Free2Move eSolutions, exploring advanced electric charging scenarios. The goal is to offer tailor-made solutions that improve both energy management and the quality of daily life, creating an interconnected and sustainable home environment that combines efficiency, innovation and respect for the planet.
Haier Europe aims to build a Home-Energy-Ecosystem able to manage energy of the entire home according to smart grid. The connected home ecosystem becomes a true partner in everyday life, anticipating, advising and guiding towards greater sustainability and considerable energy savings. Technology, innovation and Artificial Intelligence come together in the idea of the Internet of Beings, placed at the heart of the company’s ‘Zero Distance to Consumer’ strategy. As pioneers in the IoT world, Haier Europe is dedicated to the creation of home environments where connected ecosystems develop a platform of integrated and all-encompassing services, while becoming the main tool to streamline energy efficiency at home.
This is perfectly in line with commitment to the pivotal integration of sustainability into its business. Haier Europe has set emissions reduction targets by adopting a scientific and calculated approach through the Science Based Targets Initiative, a global body dedicated to enabling businesses setting ambitious emissions reductions goals in line with latest climate science findings. Haier Europe’s sustainable growth path revolves around developing innovative, energy-saving and resource efficient solutions, increasing the durability of products through artificial intelligence, IoT and connectivity for preventative maintenance and efficient troubleshooting, while educating consumers on how to use appliances in a more sustainable and efficient manner.
The Berlin exhibition is an opportunity to discover an additional piece of Haier Europe’s innovation journey: Full Smart Energy Management. The one and only fully proprietary solar energy management system connected to home devices and paired with top-tier energy partners, allowing functional management of appliance operations based on hourly energy costs with dynamic rate contracts: another important milestone of the Group. A contemporary Smart Home where connected solutions use Artificial Intelligence and innovative features enhanced by the hOn app, capable of guaranteeing flexible and customizable management of different scenarios: users can decide whether to delegate choices completely or take advantage of the support provided by these tools.
The booth takes visitors on a journey through the connected home, already available and constantly evolving, with stops marked by interactive and engaging installations that clearly and effectively demonstrate the ecosystem of products, accessories, and services designed by Haier Europe, that always keeps at the centre the consumer’s needs and desires. Solutions that do not replace the user but stand by their side to enhance the home management experience.
“This exhibition helps us to concretely demonstrate our ongoing and ever-evolving project,” says Piergiorgio Bonfiglioli, IoT Product Marketing Director at Haier Europe. “IFA allows us to showcase not only the potential of the connected and integrated solutions with Artificial Intelligence developed by Haier Europe but also the Group’s commitment to innovation, ensuring efficiency and energy savings thanks to new collaborations and integrated services that go beyond the home environment, and have a positive impact. We can describe this as great value both for the customers and for the entire community. The path we are showing here is part of a broader and diversified strategy that includes numerous activities related to energy management, the well-being of people and the planet.”
Thanks to the IoT Wall, where an animated graphics comes to life, the entire connected ecosystem is clearly shown with particular emphasis on the advantages in terms of efficiency, sustainability, product durability, personalised experiences, and excellent results for the consumer. The protagonists are, of course, all the elements on which Haier Europe works with a leader vision: connected appliances; accessories that enhance performance and durability; complementary offers and partnerships with leading companies; up to the integration of the Smart Solar Energy System. Everything is controlled by the hOn app, which, using Artificial Intelligence, not only allows the remote management of products and services but also offers advices, usage statistics, maximises the performance of connected appliances, and enables a detailed customisation of the ecosystem by learning from each user’s habits – also through compatibility with the most important home automation tools.
Furthermore, a virtual avatar proactively guides and interacts with visitors in discovering the Group’s Smart Home vision, answering their questions, and illustrating the commitment to improving consumers’ daily lives through complete and innovative solutions, reducing environmental impact, and offering unprecedented comfort.
The IFA journey continues with the immersion in a home that is as virtual as it is real, where Haier Europe’s technologies come alive, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in everyday scenarios enhanced by tailor-made smart solutions. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, the hOn ecosystem, the integration of intelligent solar energy management, and features developed with partners in various European countries, it is possible to manage different scenarios – from shopping and reordering services to food preservation and automatic cooking; from washing and starting programmes at the most convenient times; to monitoring consumption, proper maintenance management, and remote support if needed. All this demonstrates how it is now possible to meet all particular needs while simultaneously reducing consumption, cutting waste, and thus reducing environmental impact. This represents the hOn One Smart Home realised in Brugherio (Milan, Italy): the fully connected apartment that combines technology and innovation to offer the Smart Living experience envisioned by Haier Europe. In this showroom, it will also be possible to understand a new vision of well-being, care, and hospitality that anticipates the consumer’s desires, learning from their habits and preferences. For example, it is possible to synchronise the washing machine and dryer for maximum care of garments; manage the refrigerator inventory and restart in case of a power outage; set the ventilation parameters based on the people present and the activities taking place at home, while the hOn app can also monitor sleep and environmental conditions to ensure the best comfort.
The exhibition area also develops into themed zones dedicated to the Group’s main brands – Candy, Hoover, and Haier – where the presence of hOn stations allows an in-depth exploration of how Haier Europe’s application can amplify the user experience of each product by offering additional features, services, and content that make the user experience extraordinary and maximise energy-saving possibilities.
Among the concrete examples of connected ecosystems are those dedicated to the world of wine, care and maintenance of the home and connected products. The wine coolers of the Group’s brands ensure excellent conservation results and long-term efficiency thanks to the combination of technological innovation and interaction with the hOn app. It is possible to obtain the best conservation of bottles and, through the dedicated widget on the platform, remotely monitor the appliance and maintenance needs; create your virtual wine cellar; manage and expand your collection by purchasing desired references and the most suitable care products; as well as consult the latest news and dedicated content. The experience is further completed and amplified by wine tasting and conservation accessories. Moreover, Care+Protect, a Haier Europe brand, offers a range of universal and professional solutions designed for care, protection, and maintenance of the home and appliances, ensuring maximum durability.
In recent years, Haier Europe’s innovation journey has extended the network of connected ecosystems beyond consumers’ homes to include the surrounding environment. The Group is focusing on projects that optimise the management of daily activities through integrated and complete smart service platforms, to improve home energy efficiency and promote greater well-being by enhancing the intelligent management of the connected home.
