How to Optimize Your Smart Home with Alexa-Enabled Devices

In the modern era, a smart home is not just a wish, it is a need. Today, there is no better way to regulate and automate the functions of your home with appliances powered by voice assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa. Alexa-enabled appliances are changing the way we approach our home — they make it more convenient, easy, and efficient with the swipe of a finger. 

But how do you make the most of these gadgets and make the most of your smart home? 

We at Xcessories Hub know that you don’t want to leave your home in any doubt, you want it to be smart and easy to operate. Here is a blog series about how you can optimize your home with Alexa enabled devices. For anyone new to Alexa or if you’ve been using Alexa for a while, this entire guide will help you make the most of your smart home. 

1.  Get Started with the Right Alexa-Ready Devices. 

When deciding which Alexa devices to invest in for your smart home, it is the very first step. There are lots of smart items you can integrate with Alexa, from voice-activated speakers to smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, even kitchen appliances. 

Some of the most popular Alexa devices are: 

• Amazon Echo Speakers: They are the Alexa hub and they have three types of models, Echo Dot, Echo Show, and Echo Studio. Echo Show for example has a screen which can be used for video calls and shows smart home feeds. 

• Smart Lights: Brands such as Philips Hue and LIFX make smart bulbs that Alexa can program to turn on, off, change the color, and timer. 

• Smart Thermostats: A Nest Thermostat or Ecobee will pair with Alexa to manage your temperature inside your home — both cost effectively and comfortable. 

• Smart Plugs: These little devices convert your ordinary appliances into smart ones by connecting them to Alexa remotely. 

• Smart Security Cameras & Doorbells: You can link Ring or Arlo doorbells to Alexa for security at home so you can access your home from any device. 

Start with these and you will have the perfect start to your Alexa home. 

2.  Establish a Reliable Wi-Fi Connection Network. 

It’s essential that you have a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection if Alexa devices are to work properly. Smart gadgets rely on the internet to function properly and an insecure Wi-Fi connection will mean unresponsive devices or slow response. You might not be able to use your Alexa devices at all because you have a crowded network or poor Wi-Fi connection in certain parts of your house. 

If you’d like your smart home to be even more advanced, try these tips: 

• Upgrade to a Mesh Wi-Fi Solution: If you have a bigger home, then a mesh Wi-Fi solution will help keep Alexa enabled devices connected all over your house. 

• Place Your Router In The Centre: Put your router in the center of your house so you don’t have dead zones and all devices are connected. 

3.  Create Smart Home Routines  

This is one of the most powerful aspects of Alexa-equipped devices: routines. Routines can help you automate day-to-day work to save you time and energy. You could have a routine that lights up, sets the thermostat, and plays your favorite music at a specific time every morning. 

Routines can be set up with the Alexa app on your smartphone or voice command. 

To create a routine:  

• Open the Alexa app.  

• Click "More" at the bottom right. 

• Choose "Routines" from the menu.  

• Click on "Create Routine" and configure triggers (eg, daytime or voice) and actions (eg, turning on lights or playing music). 

Some common routines to introduce are: 

• Routine for Morning: Open your lights, read the news, and warm up according to your liking. 

• Good Night’s Work: Turn off lights, lock doors, turn on locks. 

Making these habits is the best way to drastically cut your life and make your house efficient. 

4.  Connect Alexa to Smart Home Hubs 

If you have many smart devices from different brands, it’s hard to keep track of them all. But Alexa can make things easier if you hook up to smart home hubs such as SmartThings or Wink Hub. With these hubs, you can control different brands with the same app or voice. 

You can connect these hubs to Alexa so that you can control your lights, locks, thermostats, etc., from one place. Pairing with Alexa also makes complicated setups easy to keep track of if you’re planning a multi-room smart home. 

5.  Set Alexa Skills To Be Enhanced For Even More Features. 

Alexa skills are Amazon's versions of Alexa apps, which can provide you with even more functionality in your smart home. You have thousands of skills you can customize for Alexa — everything from controlling appliances to entertainment devices. 

Some popular Alexa skills include:  

• Smart Home Features: Build your home automation with third-party compatibility with air purifiers, smart locks, and more. 

• Entertainment Functions: Alexa lets you control your TV or Roku or Fire TV or smart TV. 

• Fitness Skills: Save your workout history, create fitness goals, even execute exercise plans by turning on fitness skills like "MyFitnessPal" or "Seven." 

To enable Alexa skills, open the Alexa app, click on "Skills & Games," and tap the skill that you want to enable. With these abilities you can tailor your Alexa experience to make it more tailored and comprehensive. 

6.  Alexa Home Security and Home Surveillance

Even Alexa enabled products can help keep your home safe. Video doorbells and cameras: you can integrate Alexa into your security solution for even more convenience and peace of mind. 

Voici quelques-unes security devices you can deploy: 

• Amazon Ring Doorbell: Video Doorbell where you can watch and hear people at your door with Alexa enabled devices. 

• Alarms: Cameras such as Arlo or Blink, and connected to Alexa to track your home’s in and out. 

• Smart Locks: You can set Alexa to operate smart locks which let you lock and unlock doors via the internet or with a voice command. 

You can pair Alexa with your security systems to watch your home from anywhere, and get notified if you notice unusual activity. 

7.  Maximize Voice Control for Convenience  

Voice control is one of the biggest advantages of Alexa enabled appliances. Voice control from lights and thermostats to home theater and security systems. This makes it simple to update without touching devices. 

To optimize voice control:  

• Make sure your Alexa device is in a room where it can hear you clearly. 

• Speak clearly and in a few words to get your answers faster. 

• Test Alexa’s functionality and have her do something like setting timers, sending a message or controlling smart devices. 

The more you use Alexa, the more productive and convenient your smart home will be. 

8.  Maintain Your Smart Home Setup  

Your smart home, like any other home system, needs to be kept in good working order at least once a year. This includes updating the software on your Alexa devices, verifying they’re connected to your Wi-Fi network, and troubleshooting if anything goes wrong. 

To keep your smart home up and running: 

• Check your Alexa devices for firmware updates often. 

• Wipe the appliances of dust or other items. 

• Check that all of your devices are connected to your Alexa app. 

If you keep your smart home system in good repair, it will work reliably, safely, and intuitively for many years to come. 

Convenience, security and efficiency come with optimizing your smart home with Alexa enabled appliances. With these hacks and the right equipment, you can turn your home into a smart home where you can be everything you want. Whether it’s lighting control, security monitoring or even entertainment control, Alexa can be your one-stop shop to get your day done. Learn more about Alexa products and how they can help your home life at Xcessories Hub. Get the integration and automation that comes with building a smart home today!