FEATURE
HEATING &
CLIMATE CONTROLS
“More sophisticated controls also place
greater responsibility on the installer –
both when setting up the controls and
then educating the customer”
Is user experience redefining
electric heating appliances?
Christian Hadley, head of product marketing at Glen Dimplex Heating and Ventilation,
examines how user experience has become a key component of electric heating and the
opportunities this presents for installers.
For many of us, user experience
conjures up images of tech-savvy
whizz kids tapping away on their
laptops, or perhaps Steve Jobs,
the founding father of tech giant Apple,
waxing lyrical on the latest features of the
new iPhone. What it actually refers to is
the overall experience of a person using a
product, especially in terms of how easy or
pleasing it is to use.
Where in the past a timer button to set
your heating was regarded as the pinnacle
of interactive design, companies today are
embracing the concept of user experience
by creating devices that not only cater to
a customer’s needs without fuss or bother,
but are also considered a joy to use.
Inevitably, given the almost universal
adoption of smartphones over the past
decade, ease of use is now at the forefront
of consumer’s minds, extending its reach
beyond traditional consumer electronics
to a range of products including electric
heating appliances.
In response, driven by growing demand,
improving technology and tighter EU
legislation, electric heating has evolved
to produce modern appliances that are
intelligent, efficient and easy to operate.
A LOT 20 TO CONSIDER
A recent driving force behind improving
the user experience of electric heating
appliances has been the introduction
of Lot 20 of the EU’s Energy Efficiency
Directive.
The legislation, which came into force
in January, means all local space heaters
manufactured for sale into the EU must
now comply with a specified minimum
energy efficiency level. This will largely
be realised through regulating their use
via intelligent timers and controls. As
such, many products are being redesigned
to include more advanced controls with
smart features such as temperature
control via open window detection,
distance control via an app, and even
With a backlit LCD display and touch-sensitive
capacitive buttons, the Dimplex PXLE 100E leads the
way in user experience in electric heating appliances
adaptive start control to suit the individual
requirements of the user.
The end result is a superior user
experience for consumers, supported
through easy to use smart technologies
that can help keep running costs to a
minimum.
SETUP AND INSTALLATION
For installers, the advantages of these
greater capabilities for user experience
are two-fold; ease and consistency of set
up, while offering better quality products
for their customers.
When it comes to the set-up of devices
at the point of installation, while initially
there will be an element of time involved
here, investing this time now will certainly
pay dividends in the long run.
ADD VALUE TO SPECIFICATION
More sophisticated controls also place
greater responsibility on the installer –
both when setting up the controls and
then educating the customer. However, it
is not a responsibility you should dread.
For installers, it’s their chance to boost
sales by adding value to installation and,
more than anything else, spend time with
customers.
The time can be used to emphasise the
benefits of Lot 20 from a user experience
point of view and explain the advantages
to the customer of their new appliance
with intelligent controls.
Intelligent controls with added features
such as adaptive start can (and should) be
set up at the point of installation to meet
specific usage requirements, with greater
individuality than ever before.
If set up correctly and matched to the
lifestyle of the specific user, features like
this can result in better user experience
and lower costs – the two most commonly
identified factors that people are looking
for from an electric heating system.
POSTINSTALLATION SUPPORT
Another component of user experience
set to be enhanced by intelligent controls
is the ongoing repair and maintenance of
electric heating appliances. For electric
heating products which offer the potential
for wireless connectivity, these smart
devices can be connected to each other
and to a central monitoring device.
This offers installers the potential
for remote diagnostics and monitoring
capabilities, thus saving time and money
by identifying and analysing faults via
sophisticated data records.
BECOME THE GOTO INSTALLER
While it has always been important for
customers to use a trusted installer, they
are now worth their weight in gold since
Lot 20 came into force.
This presents a great opportunity to
not only advise on the best products
compliant with the latest legislation,
but also puts installers in a fantastic
position to add value and stand out from
competitors by demonstrating knowledge
and understanding.
Above all else, it’s a chance to become
the go-to installer by demonstrating
expertise about the rising appetite for a
modern, engaging user experience, and
how the latest changes in EU legislation
are helping manufacturers to achieve this.
ENQUIRY NUMBER 123
62 Heating & Plumbing Monthly | JUNE 2018 | www.hpmmag.com
/www.hpmmag.com
