Course Outline

Smart Homes & Smart Office Service and Sales Training Outline

Course Title: Smart Homes & Smart Office Service and Sales

Duration: 2 Weeks (10 Days)

Target Audience: Aspiring technicians, sales consultants, installers, and entrepreneurs in the smart home/office sector in Nigeria.

Overall Goal: To equip participants with the foundational knowledge of smart home/office technologies and the practical skills required to effectively sell, install basic systems, and provide customer service.

Week 1: Foundations of Smart Home & Office Technology

  • Day 1: Introduction to the Smart World
    • Morning:
      • Course Introduction: Objectives, Schedule, Expectations.
      • What are Smart Homes & Smart Offices? Defining the concepts.
      • Benefits & Value Proposition: Convenience, Security, Energy Savings, Comfort, Productivity.
      • Market Overview: Global trends and the growing Nigerian market landscape (Abuja focus).
    • Afternoon:
      • Core Concepts: Internet of Things (IoT), Automation, Connectivity, Ecosystems, User Interfaces.
      • Major Categories of Smart Devices:
        • Home: Lighting, Security (Cameras, Sensors, Locks), Climate (Thermostats, AC Controllers), Entertainment (Speakers, TVs), Appliances, Energy Management.
        • Office: Smart Lighting, Access Control, Meeting Room Management, Environmental Monitoring, Smart Displays.
      • Activity: Group discussion on current smart devices participants use or know.
  • Day 2: Key Components & Hardware
    • Morning:
      • Sensors Deep Dive: Motion, Door/Window, Temperature/Humidity, Light, Smoke/CO, Water Leak.
      • Actuators Deep Dive: Smart Plugs, Smart Switches/Dimmers, Smart Locks, Motorized Blinds/Curtains, Smart Valves.
    • Afternoon:
      • Controllers & Hubs: Smart Speakers (Google Nest, Amazon Echo), Dedicated Hubs (SmartThings, Hubitat), Gateways. Importance of a central brain.
      • User Interfaces: Mobile Apps, Voice Assistants, Touch Panels, Remote Controls.
      • Practical Session: Identifying and handling different types of smart devices.
  • Day 3: Connectivity & Communication Protocols
    • Morning:
      • The Role of the Network: IP Basics, Routers, Switches.
      • Wi-Fi Essentials for Smart Devices: 2.4GHz vs 5GHz, Coverage issues, Mesh Networks.
    • Afternoon:
      • Wireless IoT Protocols:
        • Zigbee: Mesh networking, low power, common uses.
        • Z-Wave: Mesh networking, reliability, common uses.
        • Bluetooth & BLE: Short-range communication, beacons.
      • Wired vs. Wireless: Pros and Cons, Retrofit vs. New Build considerations.
      • Basic Network Security for IoT: Importance of strong passwords, separate networks (optional).
  • Day 4: Major Ecosystems & Platforms
    • Morning:
      • Consumer Platforms Overview:
        • Google Home / Assistant Ecosystem.
        • Amazon Alexa / Echo Ecosystem.
        • Apple HomeKit Ecosystem.
      • Features: Voice Control, Routines/Automations, App Interfaces.
    • Afternoon:
      • Other Key Platforms: Samsung SmartThings (Hub-based flexibility).
      • Introduction to Professional Systems (Briefly): Control4, Crestron, KNX (Awareness of high-end market).
      • Interoperability & The Future: IFTTT, Matter protocol explained.
      • Activity: Comparing the features and device compatibility of major platforms.
  • Day 5: Basic Installation, Setup & Safety
    • Morning:
      • Safety First: Basic electrical safety principles (Working with switches/outlets – awareness, not certification), ladder safety. When to call a professional electrician.
      • Tools of the Trade: Basic hand tools, testers, smartphone/tablet.
    • Afternoon:
      • Hands-On Lab 1: Setting up a smart plug and smart bulb using a mobile app (e.g., Tuya Smart Life, Google Home).
      • Hands-On Lab 2: Pairing a Zigbee/Z-Wave sensor to a compatible hub (if hardware available).
      • Creating Simple Automations: “If This, Then That” logic (e.g., “If motion detected, turn on light”). Using Alexa/Google Home routines.
      • Week 1 Review & Q&A.

Week 2: Sales, Service & Business Application

  • Day 6: The Sales Process & Customer Consultation
    • Morning:
      • Understanding the Sales Cycle for Smart Solutions.
      • Identifying Target Customers: Homeowners, Renters, Small Businesses, Property Developers in Nigeria.
      • Needs Assessment Part 1: Active Listening, asking probing questions (Lifestyle, problems, budget, tech comfort level).
    • Afternoon:
      • Needs Assessment Part 2: Site Surveys (Checklist for Wi-Fi strength, existing wiring, physical limitations). Virtual vs. In-Person surveys.
      • Translating Needs into Opportunities: Identifying specific smart solutions for common problems (e.g., security concerns, energy waste, convenience).
      • Role-Playing: Initial customer consultation practice.
  • Day 7: Designing Solutions & Crafting Proposals
    • Morning:
      • Solution Design Basics: Choosing the right ecosystem, protocols, and devices based on needs assessment and budget.
      • Scalability & Future-Proofing: Planning for expansion.
      • Creating a Bill of Materials (BoM): Listing required hardware accurately.
    • Afternoon:
      • Proposal Writing: Key elements (Scope of Work, Proposed Solution, Benefits, BoM, Pricing, Terms & Conditions, Warranty).
      • Pricing Strategy: Hardware markup, installation labour, programming time, potential recurring fees (monitoring, maintenance).
      • Activity: Designing a simple smart solution for a given scenario (e.g., smart lighting for a living room, basic security for a small office).
  • Day 8: Effective Sales Techniques & Handling Objections
    • Morning:
      • Presenting Your Proposal: Focusing on value and benefits, not just features.
      • Live Demonstrations: Setting up a simple demo kit. The power of showing vs. telling.
      • Building Trust & Rapport.
    • Afternoon:
      • Common Objections & How to Handle Them: Cost (“It’s too expensive”), Complexity (“It seems complicated”), Privacy/Security Concerns, Reliability (“What if the internet is down?”).
      • Closing the Sale: Recognizing buying signals, asking for the business, follow-up strategies.
      • Role-Playing: Sales presentation and objection handling practice.
  • Day 9: Customer Service, Troubleshooting & Basic Maintenance
    • Morning:
      • Post-Installation Handover: Educating the client on how to use their new system. Providing basic documentation.
      • Setting Service Expectations: Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for businesses, response times.
      • Common User Issues: Device offline, automation not working, voice command failures, app glitches.
    • Afternoon:
      • Basic Troubleshooting Workflow: Isolate the problem (device, network, platform?), check power, check connectivity, reboot devices (router, hub, smart device), check app/platform status, re-pair device.
      • When to Escalate: Recognizing hardware failures vs. configuration issues. Contacting manufacturer support.
      • Offering Maintenance Packages: Proactive checks, firmware updates, battery replacements.
  • Day 10: Business Considerations & Course Wrap-up
    • Morning:
      • The Nigerian Context: Sourcing equipment (local distributors vs. online), power considerations (UPS/inverters), internet reliability challenges.
      • Building Your Brand: Online presence, partnerships (electricians, interior designers), gathering testimonials.
      • Legal & Ethical Considerations: Contracts, warranties, data privacy.
    • Afternoon:
      • Future Trends in Smart Technology: AI integration, deeper automation, energy harvesting, evolving standards.
      • Final Project/Presentation (Optional): Participants present a solution proposal for a case study.
      • Course Review, Final Q&A, Feedback Collection.
      • Certification/Next Steps.