HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Water leak and freeze sensors designed by Meshify, the Internet of Things (IoT) subsidiary of specialty insurer HSB, will connect through the new Amazon Sidewalk shared community network, making it easier and more affordable to help prevent property damage, HSB announced today.
As part of the launch of Amazon Sidewalk, HSB will deliver its next generation Meshify Defender S smart sensor to a broader group of business owners, homeowners, and their insurers, who previously found it challenging to access the latest IoT loss prevention technologies.
“Working together, Meshify and Amazon Sidewalk will help fulfill the promise of IoT risk management for homes and businesses of all sizes,” said Greg Barats, president, and chief executive officer of HSB, part of Munich Re. “In the past, only industrial or large companies could afford commercial-grade IoT solutions. Now, every U.S. location in a town or neighborhood, with Amazon Sidewalk coverage, can take full advantage of our high quality, lower cost solution, and enjoy the loss prevention potential of IoT sensors protecting their property.”
Predict and Prevent Property Loss
Activated through the Meshify Protect app, HSB’s Meshify sensors monitor property 24/7 to detect frozen pipes, water leaks, and other perils, issuing alerts when conditions require action.
Meshify Defender S will be one of the first devices that is qualified to use Amazon Sidewalk, the private, always-on community network, designed to connect billions of devices.
Amazon Sidewalk creates a low-bandwidth network with the help of Sidewalk bridge devices, including Echo and Ring devices.
With the intention to make it easier and less expensive for HSB customers to install and use HSB’s Meshify sensors.
Democratizing IoT Sensor Technology
Once launched on Amazon Sidewalk, the Meshify Defender S sensor and its specially engineered algorithms will be more accessible to restaurants, medical offices, smaller commercial buildings, single-family homes, and other smaller locations.
“Often, property is damaged by water and fire which may have been prevented if IoT technologies had been fully adopted by owners and their insurers,” said John Riggs, chief technology officer for HSB and president of Meshify. “By leveraging Amazon Sidewalk’s ability to provide long-range, low-bandwidth connectivity with extended battery life, we can democratize these applications for small businesses, towns, and neighborhoods, providing cost-effective and secure IoT solutions to more places than ever before.”
HSB has been providing IoT technology services for businesses, institutions, homes, and insurance companies since 2016, collecting more than 40 billion readings and issuing alerts for customers who report saving millions of dollars in potential prevented losses each year.
For more information about HSB’s IoT sensor programs visit Meshify and HSB’s Applied Technology Solutions.
Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB)
HSB, part of Munich Re, is a multi-line specialty insurer and provider of inspection, risk management and IoT technology services. HSB insurance offerings include equipment breakdown, cyber risk, specialty liability and other coverages. HSB blends its engineering expertise, technology and data to craft inventive insurance and service solutions for existing and emerging risks posed by technological change. Throughout its 150-year history HSB’s mission has been to help clients prevent loss, advance sustainable use of energy, and build deeper relationships that benefit business, public institutions, and consumers. HSB holds A.M. Best Company’s highest financial rating, A++ (Superior). For more information, visit www.hsb.com and connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
Munich Re
Munich Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. The group consists of the reinsurance and ERGO business segments, as well as the asset management company MEAG. Munich Re is globally active and operates in all lines of the insurance business. Since it was founded in 1880, Munich Re has been known for its unrivalled risk-related expertise and its sound financial position. It offers customers financial protection when faced with exceptional levels of damage – from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through Hurricane Ian in 2022. Munich Re possesses outstanding innovative strength, which enables it to also provide coverage for extraordinary risks such as rocket launches, renewable energies or cyberattacks. The company is playing a key role in driving forward the digital transformation of the insurance industry, and in doing so has further expanded its ability to assess risks and the range of services that it offers. Its tailor-made solutions and close proximity to its customers make Munich Re one of the world’s most sought-after risk partners for businesses, institutions, and private individuals.
