A look into Alexa Smart Properties

Over the past ten years, the world has recognized the value of Amazon’s Echo voice assistant, more commonly known as Alexa. In addition to being a great virtual companion and entertainment device, Alexa has gained popularity as a tool for our aging population. Many residents in Senior Living are getting Alexa - as a gift from their family or on their own.

The challenge is helping them manage their Alexa device, set it up, program it for their preferences, etc. And, as more features become available, a community is more likely to want to provide these devices directly to keep residents informed and engaged. But that means if you have 100 residents, you’re managing 100 Amazon accounts.

Introducing Alexa Smart Properties (ASP)

A group within Amazon offering fleet management for various Echo and smart home devices, including Echo Shows and Dots. Fleet management enables companies to set up, deploy, and manage Alexa devices at scale. Managing 1000+ Amazon accounts is an unmanageable task.

In ASP, you can view hundreds, even thousands, of devices across your entire community from one portal. You can modify device settings such as wake words, speed, language, and timezone for one or all devices. Plus, you can easily reach all those devices by sending an announcement, whether for an emergency or simply sharing an upcoming community event to their screens.

Privacy is a key consideration in implementing a system like this. Residents are concerned about maintaining their privacy, especially with big marketing company like Amazon. We’ve all experienced how Alexa suddenly displays an ad or suggestion for a movie we discussed earlier that day. To eliminate this concern, ASP offers a secure and anonymous experience, eliminating the need for individual Amazon accounts and deleting any resident interactions shortly after they happen. Any concerns related to privacy or liability are addressed, and Amazon has a ton of lawyers to speak with if you need them. 

About the SP in ASP

If that sounds good, it gets better. Alexa Smart Properties offers a robust set of tools that allow solution partners like Speak2 to develop an immersive and integrated multi-modal experience. So this means the community itself can determine what content is available, what is shown on the screen, and how the device is used.

Some examples below:

• Residents can ask for help, and Alexa can route the request to the appropriate person. Save valuable time for your busy staff and creates two-way communication so residents feel connected and informed about their status.
• Display the menu and calendar activities for the day on screen and allow residents to ask questions about the various happenings in the community.
• Residents can sign up for things, order food, ask for assistance, and get in touch with staff, family, and friends just by talking.
• A daily routine can interact with the resident and inform them of their appointments, get messages from family, set reminders, turn lights on or off, and start their day fully informed with some positive messaging on top of that.
• Care staff and families can set reminders and notifications, send messages, and make video calls back and forth, all through a mobile app! So, while the residents use Alexa, which is easiest for them, the rest of the ecosystem can use their regular phones with an app.

Alexa is not just an entertainment device. It’s a tool for staying connected, informed, empowered, and independent. It’s a personal companion and kiosk in the resident apartment, available any time to get help, order services, or ask questions.