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Tag: Dhruv Patel

  • Smart Node – World Class Home Automation Solutions Made in India

    The way we live is changing, moving from traditional to digital, thanks to Electronics and IT. Watches have become Smartwatches, cars are becoming Smart Vehicles, and TVs are becoming Smart TVs. Our houses can now be smart! Globally, the concept of smart houses is gaining popularity.

    India is quickly following suit with this trend. It came in third place in the world among smart houses in 2020. Dhruv Patel and Parth Shah developed Smart Node in 2015 as a direct response to the growing need for smart living in India. Smart Node is introducing cutting-edge products that are creating waves in the Indian home automation sector. All of this is a part of the amazing adventure that Dhruv Patel and Parth Shah started, where technology works nonstop to improve and simplify daily living.

    Let’s dive into the article to know all about Smart Node, its Startup Story, Business and Revenue Model, Competitors, and more.

    Smart Node – Company Highlights

    STARTUP NAME SMART NODE
    Headquarters Vadodara, Gujrat, India
    Sector Home Automation
    Founder Dhruv Patel and Parth Shah
    Founded 2015
    Website smartnode.in

    Smart Node – About
    Smart Node – Industry
    Smart Node – Founders and Team
    Smart Node – Startup Story
    Smart Node – Mission and Vision
    Smart Node – Name, Tagline, and Logo
    Smart Node – User Acquisition
    Smart Node – Business Model
    Smart Node – USPs
    Smart Node – Revenue Model
    Smart Node – Growth
    Smart Node – Awards and Achievements
    Smart Node – Competitors
    Smart Node – Future Plans

    Smart Node – About

    SmartNode offers a wide range of products that can convert any existing and new home into a smart home. The products are designed not just to add convenience and comfort to the lives of the users, but also to conserve energy.

    Some facilities you can expect in a Smart Home designed by Smart Node are, the curtains/lights can turn on sunrise using the sunrise/sunset feature. Using the Human-centric features, the tuning of light takes place according to the natural lights having a tremendous impact on human health. By geofencing, automatic gates can open when we are near our home. Smart Node has a lot to offer for making your home a smart home.

    In retrofit home automation solutions, Smart Node’s different solutions include:

    • Lighting Automation Controllers
    • Curtain Controller
    • IR Blaster (a universal remote which replaces all your remotes, so that you can control all your devices using your mobile or simply via voice commands)
    • RGB Automation (lets you lighten up your home as per your mood)
    • Scene Controllers (lets you set the lighting, music, and entertainment devices in your home as per your wish with a single tap)
    • Door Lock controllers

    The appliances connected to Smart Node hardware can be operated via Smart Node application, Alexa, Google Home, and remote. In Touch, Smart Node has different materials like glass, acrylic, marble, and veneer. The color and icons can be customized as per the actual load.

    Smart Node also supports IFTT and NFC Tags and has drivers developed for integration with wired controllers like Control4, Elan, and Creston.

    Smart Node – Industry

    The Indian smart home market is likely to increase significantly, with a projected revenue of US $6.5 billion in 2024, according to a Statista analysis. The market, which has a projected 9.14% annual growth rate (CAGR 2024–2028), is ready for significant expansion. By 2028, this remarkable development is expected to reach a projected market volume of US $9.2 billion, demonstrating a growing trend in the nation’s adoption of smart home technologies.

    These figures demonstrate the growing significance and demand for smart home solutions in India, which is indicative of a growing trend among consumers to use technology to improve and simplify their daily lives.

    Smart Node – Founders and Team

    Smart Node was founded by Dhruv Patel and Parth Shah.

    Dhruv Patel

    Smart Node Co-Founder Dhruv Patel

    Dhruv Patel, the Co-Founder, COO, and Chief Decision Maker at Smart Node, is a visionary leader with over 9 years of experience in smart living solutions. Since the establishment of Smart Node, Dhruv has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s innovative approach to smart living.

    Before he also served as the Co-Founder and Software Developer, specializing in Cloud and Mobile App development in Smart Node. His earlier professional journey included valuable experience as an Assistant System Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services.

    Dhruv graduated from GCET with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Electrical Engineering. Having a wide range of experiences—including working as a freelance software consultant—he has made a substantial contribution to Smart Node’s achievement in revolutionizing the smart home automation sector.

    Parth Shah

    Smart Node Co-founder Parth Shah
    Smart Node Co-founder Parth Shah

    Parth Shah, the Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder of Smart Node, graduated from G.H. Patel College of Engineering and Technology with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering. He started his career with Diamond Infosystem Ltd. as a business development executive. After thereafter, Parth moved to Vertical Dots Technologies to take on a crucial position as Partner.

    Smart Node has a team of 11–50 employees.

    Smart Node – Startup Story

    Before starting the current venture, Dhruv served TCS, and Parth had served a local cable industry for ten months. After that, they developed an IOT product for the cable industry to enhance its production capacity. For this, the duo also got the Best Start-up award at Switch Global Expo in Vadodara. This changed the direction of the company.

    During this time, Dhruv and Parth saw that the internet was getting cheaper and quickly available, and the disposable income of the Indians was increasing. So, to tap this opportunity, they shifted their experience to bring IoT to the home and developed home automation products.

    After crafting the beta version, they tested its stability in their homes and those of friends and relatives. Following numerous iterations for refinement, Smart Node confidently launched its product in the market. In the early stages, they provided direct installation and services to clients in Vadodara, gaining valuable insights into user experiences.

    Smart Node – Mission and Vision

    SmartNode’s vision in venturing into the Retrofit Home Automation field is to enhance and simplify people’s lives, making them better and smarter. The mission is to become a major force in the Internet of Things (IoT)-based electrical sector, setting the standard for innovation and technical progress.

    Smart Node Logo
    Smart Node Logo

    The brand name is ‘Smart Node’.

    The company’s tagline reads, “Discover the Joy of Smart Living.“

    Smart Node – User Acquisition

    Most of Smart Node’s initial orders were from well-wishers and personal contacts. They designed pamphlets that were marketed through the newspaper. They also went on to run small digital marketing campaigns targeting the probable customers just within their area to gain initial traction. Door-to-door demos to new homeowners, builders, and architects were another strategy adopted by the company.

    To gain the confidence of the architects in their products, Smart Node started offering free demos of their products to the architects. Gradually, the company started receiving good responses from the market, and after six months of beginning, they started to develop channel partners in Vadodara and nearby regions.

    Smart Node – Business Model

    In the IoT-based electrical industry, Smart Node functions on a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) paradigm, bridging the gap between the two types of interactions. At the heart of its business, Smart Node caters mostly to residential homeowners looking for cutting-edge home automation solutions. The core of the company’s value proposition is its cutting-edge technology, which prioritizes improved customer ease and safety while enabling seamless control and monitoring of home devices.

    In order to increase its market share, Smart Node actively works with channel partners. The implementation of digital marketing campaigns is crucial in establishing brand recognition and expanding the reach of smart home solutions’ advantages. Direct involvement during the installation process, ongoing product innovation based on user feedback, and free product demonstrations for architects are some of the ways the company cultivates its customer ties.

    Smart Node – USPs

    In the growing home automation segment, the USPs that keep Smart Node ahead of its competitors are:

    • Smart Node’s adaptability to new technologies in the market, leads to timely upgradation of the products to keep up with the latest trends.
    • Customization of the touch panels with quick delivery
    • Smart and sleek hardware
    • Amazing application features
    • Compatibility with different platforms in the industry

    Smart Node also counts on its vibrant team and effective sales model as its major strengths that help the company face the competition better.

    Smart Node – Revenue Model

    Some of the prominent ways Smart Node makes revenue are:

    Direct Sales:

    Smart Node makes money by selling its state-of-the-art home automation devices directly to consumers.

    Service Fees:

    To improve the entire customer experience, the company offers professional service for price.

    Channel Partnerships:

    To increase its market presence, Smart Node carefully collaborates with distributors to build a network of dealers. Sales produced by this distributor network provide revenue.

    Smart Node – Growth

    Over the course of its five-year, successful journey in the industry, Smart Node has demonstrated creativity and adaptability. The company’s product line is notable for its ability to be customized, providing customers with a wide choice of smart home options that are catered to their specific requirements.

    Based on this basis, Smart Node has developed strong bonds and mutual trust with its channel partners. The company’s remarkable statistics of more than 250 channel partners and more than 5,000 automated homes attest to its commitment to broad market penetration. Furthermore, the fact that more than 15,000 people use the app shows how useful Smart Node’s features are. With its smart home solutions, the company, which operates in more than 20 states, has made a significant impact on households.

    Smart Node – Awards and Achievements

    Smart Node has been recognized for the high-quality solutions the company is offering.

    In 2019, the company got recognition from the Government of India in the Start-up India program( recognition number is DIPP32339). In that very year, Smart Node was also awarded the “the most promising home automation startup award” by Silicon India.

    Smart Node – Competitors

    Smart Node categorizes its competitors into three types:

    1. Electrical like GoldMedal, GM, Legrand, Norisys

    2. Chinese make products available online.

    3. Wired Automation companies like Control4, ELAN, Creston

    Smart Node – Future Plans

    Team Smart Node is dedicated to creating the best user experience for its customers by bringing in the best of technology. In the future, the company is planning to bring dimmable drivers for lights, sensors, and KNX actuators, which will ensure that homes become smarter as per news report of October 2022.

    FAQs

    What is Smart Node ?

    Smart Node offers home automation solutions that make your home more comfortable and secure. From mood lighting, curtain controllers, door lock controllers, and more, it offers smart home solutions customized to your needs.

    Who founded Smart Node?

    Batch mates turned friends Dhruv Patel and Parth Shah founded Smart Node in 2015.

    Where is Smart Node Headquartered?

    Smart Node is headquartered in Vadodra, Gujrat.

  • The Art of Cold Emailing: Strategies That Boost Response Rates by 50+%

    This article has been contributed by Dhruv Patel, Co-founder, Saleshandy.

    Does your job involve reaching out to total strangers through cold emails? If so, deafening silence and frustration would be your constant companions.

    We know how it feels.

    Does that mean you should give up on cold emails? Definitely not.

    It would be foolish to expect everyone to respond to cold emails, but it would be even more so to assume that no one would.

    In addition to having a great product or service, what you need is the right cold emailing strategies to get a response from your target audience.

    In this article, we’ll go through cold emailing strategies that could turn the tables in your favor, increasing your response by up to 50%!

    Let’s get right into it.

    What is a Favorable Cold Email Response Rate?
    7 Rockstar Strategies to Increase Your Cold Email Response Rate

    1. Write a Well-Crafted Subject Line
    2. Use the Company’s Email Address
    3. Go For a Personalized Approach
    4. Have a Clear Call to Action (CTA)
    5. Avoid Spam Folders
    6. Perform A/B Testing
    7. Send It at an Optimal Time

    What is a Favorable Cold Email Response Rate?

    Before understanding what a good cold email response rate is, let’s first understand what a cold email response rate is. It’s basically the percentage of recipients that open and respond to your cold emails.

    The cold email response rate is a crucial metric for assessing how well your cold email campaigns are working.

    So, what is a good response rate? Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all, as it varies depending on your target audience and industry.

    However, a study by Backlinko shows that 8.5% of cold emails receive responses, while the vast majority of cold emails are ignored or deleted. In simple terms, a response rate between 1% to 10% is considered favorable.

    Now that we know what we’re aiming for, let’s understand how we can get there.

    7 Rockstar Strategies to Increase Your Cold Email Response Rate

    Cold emailing is a goldmine, but to dig the gold out of it, you must get your emails opened. The following strategies go a long way toward it:

    1. Write a Well-Crafted Subject Line

    The subject line is the face of your cold email. It’s the first thing that will decide whether your email should be opened or left hanging in the cold.

    In the world of emails, a weak subject line could be the ticket to the dreaded bin. So, if you want a golden ticket to getting your email opened, you must craft a compelling subject line that grabs the eyeballs at first sight.

    A great subject line is the perfect blend of intrigue and relevance. It should be relevant, ignite curiosity, and leave the recipient eager to explore what lies within. In other words, you must make the reader feel like they’re about to uncover something truly special. A bit of personalization can be the icing on the cake.

    Let us give you some examples to get your brain cells moving.

    • Hey [Name], Check this out!
    • A [better, smarter, more effective] way to [reach a specific goal]
    • [Name] looking forward to seeing you at a [event name]
    • Are you prepared to overcome [any specific challenge]
    • You missed it, [Name]
    💡

    Pro-Tip: Use action-oriented language to create a sense of urgency among the recipients.

    2. Use the Company’s Email Address

    When it comes to sending cold emails, it’s preferable to use the company’s email address.

    Why?

    Think about it: If you were in the “user’s shoes,” would you open the email sent to you by a complete stranger? No, right?

    When an email comes from a business email ID, it establishes credibility and tips the trust factor in your favor.

    Additionally, people who have already dealt with the company or are familiar with it may be intrigued and recognize it, making them more responsive and engaging with the email content.

    💡

    Pro-Tip: Increase the chances of engagement by using your business email.

    3. Go For a Personalized Approach

    According to statistics, personalized emails can increase open rates by as much as 29% and response rates by as much as 50%. Personalizing your emails demonstrates your concern and effort to get to know your recipients.

    Your goal is to make them feel as though your email was written especially for them by utilizing their name, mentioning their business or sector, and speaking directly to their requirements.

    Personalization doesn’t have to be limited by the name, let’s go through some personalization strategies that work like a charm:

    • You can tell them about your thoughts on a post they have made.
    • You can mention the podcast they were on or the event you saw them at. Be as detailed as possible.
    • Compliment their work.
    • Recommend an article you think they would love to read.
    💡

    Pro-Tip: Establish stronger connections by giving a personal touch.

    4. Have a Clear Call to Action (CTA)

    After reading your email, the recipients might require some direction on what to do next. Without a clear call to action, people can be left wondering, “Well, everything’s good, but what do you need from me? Why are you sending this to me?”

    According to a study, 70% of small B2B companies don’t include a CTA in their emails. So, by crafting a compelling CTA, you can seize this opportunity to captivate your audience’s attention and stand out in the competition.

    Examples:

    • Take the First Step – Book Your Free Consultation
    • Don’t Miss Out – Let’s Get on a Call This Week
    • Click Here to Schedule Your Call or Simply Reply to This Email!
    💡

    Pro Tip: Be confident but not overly pushy about what you are asking them to do.

    5. Avoid Spam Folders

    When deciding whether to mark an email as spam, email service providers consider a variety of factors. These include spam-triggering terms, domain reputation, and excessive HTML.

    Tensed? Don’t worry, we have some tips for you. By following these, you can easily avoid having your emails go into your recipients’ spam folders.

    • Avoid using spammy words like free, guarantee, buy, as seen on, etc.
    • Make sure to check the reputation of the IP address from which you are sending your email.
    • Don’t write words or sentences in ALL CAPS.
    • Don’t send any links or images in your email because this comes across as spammy to email providers.
    • Don’t send more than 30 to 40 emails per email account per day. If you send more emails, you are likely to be spammed.
    • You can warm up your IP address by sending a low volume of emails and gradually increasing the volume per day.
    💡

    Pro-Tip: Ditch the spam folders and make your way into the inbox by mastering these tricks.

    6. Perform A/B Testing

    A/B testing simply means testing variations of cold emails to figure out which works the best.

    You can A/B test subject lines, length of emails, CTAs, frequency, or timing of emails when it comes to cold emails to identify the most effective approach. It’s all about optimizing and figuring out what makes your outreach the most effective.

    You can gain insightful information to optimize your email marketing by regularly monitoring metrics like open, click, and conversion rates.

    💡

    Pro-Tip: Track your KPIs and observe patterns to find out what worked and what didn’t.

    7. Send It at an Optimal Time

    The success of your cold email marketing is greatly influenced by the time your recipients receive your email.

    During the working days, Monday to Friday, the hours between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. are particularly favorable for grabbing attention and substantially increasing response rates. This time coincides with the beginning of the working day when receivers are more open to checking their mailbox.

    💡

    Pro-Tip: Send your email during the time when they’re most likely to be checking their mail.

    Final Words

    By implementing the strategies outlined in this article, you can craft a highly successful cold email campaign and achieve your desired results. With a well-designed and thoughtful approach, your cold email marketing can generate leads and drive sales effectively.

    Cold email campaigns are not a quick fix. It takes commitment, time, and effort to develop and carry out a well-thought-out strategy if you want to achieve the desired outcomes. It’s not time to give up, rather, give it all in!

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