Phobias can lead to innovation too. That’s what we learnt from Monish Salhotra, the mind behind EBTL, maker of smart homes but with a different approach. Read on to know more..
Q. Where do we begin?
A. I am phobic to the electric shocks, also known as Hormephobia. This led to the desire of creating an electric switch which is shock proof. That was our starting point. Today, we are making home automation panels which one can use without touch panels, with mobile app or voice controls. In fact, in the current versions users operate, control and monitor their connected appliances to our Amour panels from anywhere in the world.
Q. What is the impact of your innovation?
A. You can look at impact at several ways. We have created an affordable Home Automation solution for markets such as India. Our product well suited to Indian infrastructural requirements. That is a Business Impact. We are creating good R&D jobs in electronics, electrical and mechanical engineering fields within India. That is a Social Impact. India has emerged as one of the hubs of global start-up scene. Needless to say, not every start-up in the world today is succeeding. We are one among very few manufacturing start-ups in India who have sustained themselves for last 5 years in the market. We are currently present in 300+ cities of India. We are expanding globally very fast. And that is an impact on the Start-up world itself.
Q. What has been your biggest hurdle to innovation?
A. The biggest hurdle to innovation was a doubt. The doubt of acceptance of our created product and service in the market. Being a manufacturing start-up you need to invest a lot even before a single unit of your product comes into life. You can only be sure about the product once the user has really used it and gives the real feedback on it. We are now planning to launch our 4th generation of automation series — Amour 4.0 in the market in early 2019. We are collating all the feedback from our end users, channel partners, industry experts and other mentors to develop Amour 4.0 in a way that it meets the requirements of our customers to satisfaction.
Q. What kind of innovation does your industry need right now?
A. This industry needs to simplify the whole process of automation. Currently, getting a home automated is a headache for users and systems integrators. This is where EBTL is playing a major role. We are trying to make automation as simple as installation of a normal modular switch. EBTL has made the Automation simple by simplifying the installation process, usage by user and user friendly customer service policies.
Q. Have you had those ‘crazy idea’ moments? What do you when you get them?
A. All the time! Let me give you an instance — the name of our company is EBTL which stands for Engineer Bringing Technology to Life. We are that crazy! But I also believe that being calm and finding a solution is the key rather than getting worried about the problem.
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