Gone are the days of paper invoicing and technicians carrying pagers. Today, savvy contracting owners are implementing the use of intelligent products to simplify daily operations both in the field and the office.

There are a lot of variables that make it impossible to say there’s one product that’s better than all the rest in every situation; however, everyone has their favorite.

And the reason for all the hype is that the Daikin Fit does exactly what it says: It fits the comfort needs, budget barriers, and space constraints of homeowners who are looking to upgrade their HVAC systems without breaking the bank.

It’s a well-known fact that HVAC — the smart thermostat — is the first point of entry into smart-home sales. And with more than half of U.S. households predicted to own a smart speaker by 2022, according to a late 2017 study by Juniper Research, it’s a prime opportunity for HVAC contractors.

One of the most obvious effects of commercial IoT, in terms of HVAC systems, is convergence of technology: bringing different systems within the building together into one ecosystem.

It started with smart thermostats. Now, in today’s world of smartphones, smart speakers, and Wi-Fi connections in 89 percent of U.S. households (as of 2017), smart homes are expanding in scope beyond heating and cooling controls — the first major foray into the smart-home concept — as manufacturers work to keep up with customer demand for continuous connection.

Now in its 15th year, the contest features 39 new and innovative products across 13 categories. The categories span an assortment of critical HVACR aspects, such as residential controls, ventilation products, refrigeration, components and accessories, and more.

The 2018 Dealer Design Awards (DDA) contest featured a wide-array of contractor-oriented HVACR products with features that assist in installation, maintenance, and service. These products showcase the best that HVAC has to offer and include everything from large-scale commercial rooftop units to hand tools.

If the right business model is deployed, a connected home division can be extremely lucrative. It offers the equivalent of mailbox money or insurance residual income for HVAC contractors. Even better, the revenue will only grow over time and is unrelated to seasonal demand.

Smart tools continue to grow in the HVACR industry, spurring manufacturers to create connected, digital devices that will make work in the field less manual and more automatic.