Advanced Skills with IFTTT Alexa
What is IFTTT Alexa?
IFTTT Alexa? What does that even mean?
IFTTT, also known as If This Then That, is a platform that allows you to connect multiple services together to create powerful automation outside of traditional capabilities.
Put another way: when you’re building a smart home, it’s common to have a variety of different products that aren’t necessarily made by the same company. You might have Philips Hue Lights, a smart plug, a Roomba, a Ring Doorbell and a Nest Thermostat. Each of those products has a separate app available for download. Alexa can connect to each of those, but together, these products have even more functionality when paired with IFTTT.
IFTTT can talk directly to Alexa along with another integration, say, your Roomba, but it can also allow your Roomba device to integrate with your Ring Doorbell (more on this later).
Why should you connect IFTTT to Alexa?
IFTTT takes your smart devices, as well as other programs you might already use, and combines them together to simplify tasks.
Picture this: your phone rings, but your Roomba is running. You could simply say “Alexa, tell Roomba to stop cleaning,” but with IFTTT, your Roomba device can pair with your smartphone to automatically pause the robot when a call comes in — so you can take a call without a noisy vacuum on in the background.
This is just one example, but there are dozens to choose from depending on which programs, products and applications you use.
How do you connect IFTTT to Alexa?
It’s less about connecting IFTTT to Alexa, and more about determining which tools will increase your productivity and efficiency at home. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Blink your Philips Hue lights when your Alexa timer hits 0
- If you use Arlo security devices, you can ask Alexa to arm them
- Add the songs you listen to on your Alexa device to a custom Spotify playlist
- Sync your Alexa to-do list to your calendar with this integration
- Lose your phone? Ask Alexa to turn on your smart phone ringer and call your phone
Because each of these are unique to the apps they integrate with, be sure to follow the IFTTT directions carefully!
Now that you’ve explored Alexa integrations, consider these additional options that can sync the rest of your smart home:
- Blink your Philips Hue Lights when Roomba completes a cleaning job
- Dock Roomba when motion is detected on your Ring doorbell
- Pause Roomba when you answer a phone call
And that’s just the start! View all IFTTT connections here.
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