According to a study published on Business Insider in 2016, the average cell phone user touches his or her phone 2,617 times each day. The modern individual’s reliance on technology stems further than just mobile devices. Everything from our cars to our watches and cell phones have an operating system today. So, what does an operating system look like in a smart apartment?

It’s no secret that the smart home revolution is upon us. From the smart lock on the door to Wi-Fi thermostats, residents in smart homes and apartments are be able to customize their living spaces far beyond paintings hung on the walls or carpet on the floor. Home automation is used to describe devices that utilize connectivity and embedded sensors to complete common household tasks. With the implementation of home automation, a single-family resident is able to enter a personal pin code for their smart lock that opens the front door, which then triggers their music of choice to play on speakers, while the lights adjust to a relaxing preset, and the oven preheats for that night’s meal.

The advent of the smart home has been made possible through the Internet of Things (IoT), which allows everyday objects to send and receive data, making home automation and related products easier to use and more affordable for the average renter. But it’s not just the desire of being on the cutting edge of technology and having the highest end amenities that attracts renters, owners and property managers to smart technology for the home. In 2016, average utility bills ranked in the top three or four expenses at any property in the U.S., according to the National Apartment Association’s Annual Income and Expense Survey. Now, smart apartment renters can track and control utilities via an automated system, which can translate into big savings. For example, controlling utilities through an automated system allows renters to set the thermostat from another location to save energy and money if they aren’t in the unit.

Smart apartment renters are not the only ones affected daily by home automation and connected devices. Another benefit of smart apartments caters to property owners and managers. Since an integrated access control system has the ability to automatically log credentials of those who enter and exit a property, running an immediate audit when issues arise for lost or stolen items becomes much simpler. Additionally, property managers and owners are able to turn over apartments for new residents seamlessly and within a short amount of time through the use of an integrated access control system. And if a renter loses their credential, property managers can easily update and revoke access in case the key fob falls into the wrong hands.

By analyzing property needs and implementing the correct integrated systems for a given property, renters, property managers and owners alike will enter into a long-term relationship with a connected device partner who has a proven history of successful service.