The Account Management feature is the newest update to be added to the ilumi app. In the past, if you wanted to grant access to other users, you'd have to give them your email and password. We've made significant improvements and have now added the option to sync multiple accounts by inviting other users, and even switching between different ilumi networks. This was a pretty important improvement to the app for the ilumi team since each of us has many different accounts that we test with at The Lab and at home.
Granting Access to Other Users
The Account Management feature is pretty simple to set up. You'll access the "Accounts" screen from the menu, and tap "Invite" to invite a user to have access to your account. Once they have accepted, you can manage your users - tap and hold to bring up the edit menu, where you can delete or grant access to a user.
If you have been invited to share access to other accounts, you can see all the accounts you have access to and toggle between these accounts from the "Networks" screen. For example, we have bulbs at work that each ilumi team member has paired to our own work email accounts, and our ilumi Smartbulbs at home are paired to our personal email accounts.
It's a pretty nifty feature for anyone who needs to have access to multiple ilumi setups, but no longer wants to have to login and out to switch between them.
How Team ilumi Uses Account Management
With each feature we implement, the ilumi team sets up a test environment and sometimes we get a little creative. It's helpful to have a real-world application when testing to make sure that we cover as many potential use-cases as possible.
The Account Management feature has certainly given us the most entertaining testing scenario because we're now using it as an internal alert system. Since we work in an open office floorplan, many of us put headphones on while we work which presents a minor challenge when getting someone's attention if they're super focused on a task, or their music happens to be several decibels too loud.
The ilumi solution: Setup demo ilumi Smartbulbs at our desks and change colors to alert the person that someone needs their assistance.
We started with the main ilumi Office account - ilumi@ilumi.co. Each person has one bulb at their desk that is paired to this account.
Then, we sent an invite from the test ilumi account to each of our individual work accounts.
Once we invited everyone and they've accepted the invitations, you can see all the people who have access to your account in the "Manage Users" screen:
If you have access to multiple networks, you can switch between those accounts in the "Networks" screen.
It's actually quite handy, and you can rename your networks so you can keep better track of your ilumi accounts - For example, work, home, school, kid's room, etc.
The idea really came about because Heather typically has her headphones in, and she can't hear when someone's calling her to ask a question. Hailey, our new Customer Support Manager, jokingly said that we should put a light bulb at her desk and change colors when someone has a question.
There are no bad ideas at ilumi! And this ultimately became the way for our office to test out the new Account Management feature. Now, "Hey Heather" or "Hey Amit" is a simple tap of a button.
Realistically, we have Google Hangouts, text messages, or throwing a paperclip to get someone's attention. But this is way more fun!
We'd love to know how you're using the account management feature! Tweet us @ilumisolutions and share your photos with us on Instagram. You can also email us at support@ilumi.co.
Cheers!
Team ilumi
