Innovation is at the heart of Legrand’s culture and development.
Alongside acquisitions, it is one of Legrand’s two growth drivers.
Innovation and new technologies
Innovation is at the heart Legrand’s culture and development
Key Figures
4.8% of 2019 sales invested in R&D
€819 million in connected product sales in 2019
Over 2,600 employees worked in R&D in 2019
Between 2010 and 2019, the number of R&D staff members assigned to software rose by a factor of almost 5
New products with greater value-in-use
Legrand’s innovative drive is backed by the entire Group—from development to design and marketing. It designs new products constantly, creating all-new functionalities and offering innovative services with increased benefits for individual and professional users alike.
Drivia with Netatmo: Legrand’s first smart electrical panel
Developed in 2019, Drivia with Netatmo is Legrand’s first smart electrical panel, consisting of a range of smart modules installed directly in the panel. It complements and is fully compatible with Legrand’s connected user interfaces, enabling users to track and control energy consumption from day to day. In 2020, this innovative product won CES Innovation Awards in two categories: Tech for a Better World and Sustainability, Eco-Design & Smart Energy.
Smarther with Netatmo: A next-generation connected thermostat
Smarther with Netatmo, Legrand’s next-generation connected thermostat, will be available in Europe in 2020. It offers more intuitive control of heating and air conditioning, allowing residents to adapt the temperature to their needs in real time. Smarther with Netatmo is compatible with Legrand’s Home + Control app, and like the Group’s other connected ranges, it can be controlled locally, remotely by smartphone, and by voice command. It is also compatible with Apple HomeKit and Legrand/Netatmo products such as the Netatmo Smart Radiator Valve for central heating installations.
Smart Door Lock & Keys: Everyday comfort and peace of mind
Netatmo Smart Door Lock & Keys, unveiled at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, makes homes safer and gives users more freedom in their everyday lives by enabling them to manage and share access to their homes easily and safely. To lock or unlock the door, customers can insert the smart key in the lock, like a conventional key, or use the Netatmo Security app.
radiant® with Netatmo: Connected home controls for the US market
Legrand’s continuing drive to innovate has produced several a number of new connected user-interface ranges. Céliane, adorne and Living Now, already available “with Netatmo,” will soon be joined by radiant® with Netatmo, a new range for the US market. Launch of this new connected solution is set for late 2020.
UXTouch: Connected hotel rooms
With Legrand’s UX Touch hotel room control system, operators can offer their guests a connected experience for optimum comfort. Combining design with technology, this new range of wiring devices makes it easy to control room temperature, lighting, roller shutters and badge-operated locks.
New connected door-entry system
Classe 100x, Legrand’s latest range of connected door-entry systems, launched successfully in 2019. Designed for both private homes and commercial spaces, it enables voice and video contact with individuals requesting entry, and it can be used locally or remotely, from a smartphone, tablet or car.
Innovation in action
Céliane™ with Netatmo: the new connected socket and switch solution, developed in partnership with Netatmo.
Class 300X: the first connected video door system on the market
Keor SP and Keor Mod: two new connected UPS lines from Legrand, for office and data center applications
Living Now: home control with the Alexa™ voice assistant from Amazon™
Advanced Sensor: a connected solution that measures both human activity and environmental conditions
Stepping up new technology initiatives
The Internet of Things (IoT), optic fiber, wireless communication, mobile apps, consumption metering, sensors, Big Data, artificial intelligence, voice recognition and more. Legrand is convinced that new technologies—and digital technologies in particular—significantly increase the value-in-use of its products for users. Since 2015 the Group has stepped up its efforts in this sphere, launching the Eliot program (designed to accelerate deployment of the Internet of Things in the Group’s offer), signing strategic partnerships, and entering into a number of technology alliances, especially as part of the Works with Legrand initiative. As a result, Legrand is now a key player in the smart building ecosystem, offering long-term benefits to both installers and end-users.
The Eliot program: Accelerating deployment of the Internet of Things in Legrand’s offer
Legrand sees the Internet of Things as the first stage in a new era for buildings. Which This is why the Group launched the Eliot program to accelerate deployment of the Internet of Things in its offer. Eliot enables the Group to offer innovative connected solutions and promote interoperability through partnerships forged under the Works with Legrand program, developing new services and features that will deliver even more value-in-use.
In 2019, Eliot program activities accounted for €819 in sales of connected products. That’s over 12% of Group sales—a 29% increase over 2018—with organic growth generating 10% of the total. This performance reflects the impact of the Group’s connected offers, as well as successful integration of Netatmo. It also reflects Legrand’s commitment as a strategic player in the smart building market. In line with targets announced in June 2019, the Group aims - excluding any major economic slowdown - to deliver: (i) double-digit average annual organic growth in connected product sales between 2018 and 2022; and (ii) over €1 billion in sales of connected products in 2022, excluding acquisitions and exchange-rate effects.
Collaborative agreements and strategic partnerships
Legrand is signing collaborative agreements and forging strategic partnerships with well-known players to develop connected, interoperable solutions with lasting benefits for individuals and professionals alike, and thus deliver more value-in-use.
For example, the Group has worked with Google on using the Google Weave communications protocol in its connected offering, and is working actively with Amazon on voice assistance. In addition to partnering with leaders in digital technology, the Group also works with a wide range of third parties—start-ups, major corporations, manufacturers, IoT platforms and more—to enable them to plug into Legrand solutions and develop new services and features. This includes working with French postal agency La Poste to make Legrand’s connected offer compatible with La Poste’s Digital Hub, and with Samsung to develop offerings that improve hotel room comfort and management.
Promoting interoperability through technology alliances
Legrand is a member of many technology alliances.
These include the Open Connectivity Foundation—the world’s largest global consortium dedicated to interoperability of the products, systems and services that make up the Internet of Things—and the ZigBee® Alliance. ZigBee® is the global open wireless standard for the Internet of Things.
Legrand attends CES in Las Vegas
In early 2020, Legrand took part in the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for the sixth year running. The theme for this year’s show was connected living, and the Group focused on continuity, introducing new connected offers—easy and intuitive as always—that underscored its unwavering attention to the needs of users.
At the show, Legrand unveiled three innovations for the US market—Drivia with Netatmo, Legrand’s first smart electrical panel, and radiant® with Netatmo and adorne® with Netatmo, both connected user interfaces—and another two for European markets—the Netatmo Smart Door Lock & Keys and the Smarther with Netatmo thermostat. This innovative line-up also reflects the international scope of the Group’s connected offer, built on strong, well-established brands. And Legrand won three CES Innovation Awards for the Drivia with Netatmo smart electrical panel and for Netatmo Smart Door Lock & Keys.
Open innovation: A new way to innovate
At Legrand, innovation also thrives on collaborative projects with the scientific community, industry and academia. These initiatives spark creativity and open the way to concept car-type experiments that expand the field of possibilities. The Group also works within competitiveness clusters and technology transfer centers.
At the same time, Legrand is working closely with the education community, maintaining partnerships with training programs and staying in regular contact with engineering schools.
Showcasing innovation
Project stores, concept stores, Innoval
Legrand showrooms give visitors a single space where they can immerse themselves in a world of innovation and design and explore unique new experiences. And because the project stores and Innoval centers are interactive, connected showrooms, they’re an ideal place to learn how to use the Group’s innovations.
Asia: 4 new showrooms in India
In 2019 Legrand opened four new showrooms in India, the latest in its series of Innoval centers around the world. These spaces are designed to inspire and engage users, and immerse them in the Legrand experience.
Breaking new ground
Over the long term, Legrand dedicates an average of 4% to 5% of sales to Research & Development every year—a significant investment used to explore new areas and anticipate user needs linked to electrical and digital infrastructures for buildings. Legrand's Design also does pioneering exploratory work, creating avant-garde concepts and blazing a trail into the future.
Increase built-in assistance
For over four years, Legrand has partnered with AmazonTM to create new services around voice assistance. In 2019, for example, the Group launched its first connected switch with the AlexaTM voice assistant built in. The two companies are also working together to develop new voice recognition features.
Fast-tracking innovation
Since 2017 Legrand has worked actively with CEA Tech, one of France’s most advanced research laboratories, especially in the area of digital technologies. Under this partnership, the Group works with researchers, engineers and designers to assess the technologies of tomorrow and create new concepts that will continue to make the customer experience even better.
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