Why Connectivity Increases Security Inside and Outside of Your Garage

Published on: April 12, 2022

What is one critical problem we as consumers have?  The need for safety and security is universal!  Leaving your door open late at night, open for a long time, or open when you are away from home are problems that can directly impact the safety and security of your loved ones and property.  69% of homeowners see value in a solution that notifies you when the door is open for a long time or is open late at night.  65% of homeowners see value in being alerted when someone enters the garage or just seeing if the door is open or closed.  Making the garage safer and more secure is a real problem and connectivity provides the solution.

Safety and security concerns do not stop at the garage door.  60% of homeowners with garages use the garage as the primary access to the home.  But the garage door is one of many points of access to the home.  Outdoor cameras are most often placed at the front door and garage door.  Homeowners want to know what is happening outside the points of entry of their home.

Safety and Security in Your Garage

Monitor and Control Your Garage Door With Aladdin Connect

Have you ever wondered, “Did I close my garage door?”  Maybe the thought creeps into your mind at the most inconvenient time, such as when you are halfway to work or on vacation.  The Aladdin Connect™ by Genie® gives you the peace of mind to control and monitor your garage door from your smartphone.  You can be a thousand miles away on the beach of Hawaii, checking to make sure your door is securely shut.  Or you could be at work, opening the door for a friend who is returning an item of yours.  The Aladdin Connect makes your garage smart by connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi.  The free Aladdin app is simple and easy to use. 

Create rules with the Aladdin Connect to open or close your garage door at a certain time.  There are two types of rules: time range or duration rules. Time range rules set a schedule for your garage door while duration rules set your garage door to close after a certain amount of time being open.  Receive notifications of when the door is opened or closed, the Aladdin Connect goes offline, or if the door sensor battery is low on a retrofit kit.  You can also create custom notifications using rules.  For example, you can be notified if your door is open after 10pm.  Aladdin Connect is compatible with many smart home partners such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Alarm.com and more.  Read about our smart home partners here.

Many Genie garage door openers include built-in smartphone capabilities with the Aladdin Connect.  Another option to make your garage door “smart” is to purchase the Aladdin Connect Retrofit Kit.  The retrofit kit is compatible with most brands of garage door openers. 

Install a Garage Camera

Installing a camera in your garage allows you to view the comings and goings of your garage without having to be physically present.  Have you ever heard a suspicious sound in your garage or maybe the door open at an unexpected time?  Installing a garage camera gives you the security of seeing what is happening to decide the next course of action, potentially saving you from a dangerous encounter.  The Aladdin Connect smart garage door control works with nearly all of the leading camera vendors through our integrations with smart home partners such as Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, & Brilliant Smart Home.  As an Aladdin Connect customer, you can select a smart home platform that works with your camera brand and use the smart home app to control your garage door and camera.

The below chart shows a few of our Aladdin Connect smart home partners, as well as camera brands that are compatible with each partner.   For example, download the SmartThings app and control both your garage door with Aladdin Connect and your Ring camera – all in the same app!

Safety and Security for Your Packages

One of those new ways garage door openers are expanding value is providing solutions to a growing problem, package theft.  According to a recent Safewise survey 64% of Americans have been a victim of package theft, and 53% have had multiple packages stolen in the last 12 months.  More than half of all packages stolen are valued between $50 and $200.  As online shopping continues to grow, so will the problem of package theft.

BenchSentry™ by Genie® is the ultimate package theft solution. BenchSentry is a secure package lockbox that only opens with the correct PIN is entered.  Sync your tracking code to the free BenchSentry app.  The delivery driver will enter the last four digits of the tracking code to open your bench.  Receive alerts each time the bench is open, and a delivery is complete.  For large deliveries and for garage door openers with Aladdin Connect smartphone capabilities, BenchSentry can open your garage door!  BenchSentry is compatible with all major carriers such as UPS, USPS, FedEx, or Amazon. Learn more about BenchSentry here.

-Adapted from “Why Dealers Should Care About Connectivity” by Tom Kerber