4.8. Benefits of the integrated home system file

It will be clear that the production of a professional integrated home system file will take some time. However, this time pays dividends during installation on site. We try to set out a number of the benefits below:

• Saves time on the site. The entire integrated home system file is produced such that as few questions as possible have to be resolved on the site. After all, everything has been set out on paper and the people only have to follow the file. No worrying about how many mounting boxes have to be fitted at a certain operating point, or how many pushbuttons have to be fitted.
• Saves time during programming. As the function of every pushbutton or sensor has already been noted in the file, people can concentrate fully on the software when programming.
• Orderliness: people can proceed in an orderly manner using the printouts. All details can be found easily.
• The file can be easily modified. Small or larger changes to the installation can be quickly incorporated in the diagrams and tables.
• Up-to-date information. Any changes and modifications agreed on always have to be incorporated in the diagrams and tables, such that you always have the very latest information. It is thus a good idea to put a date on the diagrams and tables indicating when the last change was made.
• The employees who do the installation have full instructions in the integrated home system file. Mistakes are almost ruled out.
• Neatness. Proceeding neatly has more positive side effects. People will more readily gain confidence in a person who can present a neat file. People’s opinion of you will change. You are regarded as somebody who will deliver quality.
• Saves time in the after-sales service. If modifications have to be made after the installation, you can fall back on a complete file in which everything can be easily found.
• We are assuming that the customer is given a copy of the file upon acceptance. If something happens to the initial installer, the customer can still bring in another installer. The integrated home system file will mean that he does not first have to figure everything out (which pushbutton is connected to which input, which consumer is connected to which output, etc).