HomeLINK, an Aico company, is an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that transforms residential safety, health and sustainability through advanced sensor technology. Designed primarily for social housing, the HomeLINK system comprises of sensors, life safety devices and software products to create connected home environments.
Its environmental sensors continuously monitor temperature, humidity, and indoor air quality, delivering real-time data to detect issues like damp, mould, or poor ventilation that impact resident health. Additionally, Aico’s fire and carbon monoxide alarms, are IoT-connected, and ensure precise detection of fire and CO hazards.
A Gateway wirelessly connects these devices, collecting and transmitting data to the cloud-based HomeLINK Portal for real-time analytics for landlords, while the resident app delivers personalised IoT-triggered alerts, empowering tenants to maintain healthier homes.
*HomeLINK was acquired by Aico in July 2020..
Challenge
Aico’s HomeLINK IoT platform was creating healthier, safer, and more sustainable environments. To amplify its success, Aico aimed to share compelling stories with landlords, housing associations, and councils. Despite some media traction, untapped opportunities remained to solidify Aico’s leadership in IoT property management.
Aico wanted to partner with a PR agency to refine its media strategies to boost visibility. By 2025, IoT sensors were widely deployed in UK homes, enabling landlords to proactively address issues, yet awareness of benefits like predictive maintenance, real-time environmental monitoring, and improved resident health still needed to improve.
Solution
Vitis PR was chosen to elevate HomeLINK’s profile, amplify the platform’s IoT narrative and bridge any gaps in its marketing strategy. Our team realised the immense potential in focusing on the benefits of the smart home connected system for social housing.
Vitis PR crafted a strategy to position HomeLINK as an IoT innovator, emphasizing how its connected ecosystem empowers landlords to anticipate and resolve issues before they escalate.
Vitis PR harnessed IoT data, research, and surveys to craft thought leadership content aligned with trending topics like smart cities, sustainable housing, fuel poverty, and Clean Air Day. By syncing with industry events and news cycles, Vitis PR positioned HomeLINK as a leading authority in IoT-driven housing solutions.
Results
Vitis PR’s IoT-focused campaign delivered impactful results by showcasing HomeLINK’s connected technology.
This IoT-driven narrative secured coverage in IoT-focused publications like IoT Business News, Networking+ and Intelligent Build Tech, as well as housing and technology outlets such as Housing Digital, Electrical Wholesaler, Housing Technology and a quarterly blog series with Housing Executive. Articles emphasized HomeLINK’s IoT capabilities in addressing financial struggles, such as the “heat or eat” dilemma, by using real-time sensor data to balance energy costs and indoor air quality.
Articles in Housing Management and Maintenance and Environment Journal showcased how IoT sensors provide actionable insights to mitigate these issues, improving resident wellbeing.
Coverage of case studies and product news appeared in UK Authority, Local Authority Building and Maintenance, Telecoms, UK Fire Magazine and Housing Specification; while interviews with HomeLINK’s experts were secured in Inside Housing, Electrical Wholesaler and Environment Journal, further establishing the company’s authority in IoT-driven housing solutions.