London-based Smart Home Startup, Rithum recently announced the launch of Rithum Switch, their third-generation smart home control device that replaces an existing light switch and is also a thermostat. The new Rithum Switch gives Installers and System Integrators an alternative option to a full-control system, offering a scalable and cost-effective solution that provides control of the essentials, aimed at unlocking the underserved mid-market. Rithum recently showcased its innovative range of switches at ISE in Barcelona.
The Rithum also won two Top New Technology (TNT) awards at this year’s Integrated Systems Europe Expo in Barcelona. Both for Residential Application, they received awards for Best Control Panel and Best HVAC Thermostat. Ryan Ovens, Rithum CEO, says, “It’s great to win these awards and for the team to receive some recognition for all the hard work they’ve put in. We’d also like to thank all our integration partners, distributors and investors for helping us on our journey. The support has been amazing. Over the coming months, the Rithum team plans to focus on developing their software plugin offering to broaden the systems they integrate with. It’s shaping up to be a great year for Rithum.”
Though initially designed for residential applications, they have also seen wide interest from hospitality, hotels, and beyond. By providing integrators with a cost-effective and rapidly deployed control solution, integrators can focus on delivering better solutions for their clients, such as using budget on light fixtures or AV instead of a bulky control system.
The touchscreen device replaces an existing light switch or lighting keypad and offers control of third-party systems such as Sonos, BluOS, Rako, FIBARO and HDANYWHERE, to name a few. The new product now includes an ambient light and proximity sensor and a temperature sensor which means it can act as a thermostat out of the box. Each Rithum Switch is smart in its own right; with no Rithum processor required just the system it is controlling, it is cost-effective and simple, but still effective.
While Rithum currently has one hardware product, they also have a suite of plugins that facilitate the various integrations. Some plugins are Premium and some of them are Pro, with the latter only available via installers. This plugin system means that the product is adaptable to each project in the relevant sector without carrying the price tag of a full control system.
Ryan Ovens further elaborates, “We think there is great power in having a product that can be repurposed for different sectors and segments using software enhancements. Rather than have 101 hardware SKUs or multiple brands, we are focused on getting as much as possible out of a few well-designed hardware products and providing our customers the means to monetise software enhancements alongside their own services.”
