Integrating Brilliant into Build-to-Rent Infrastructure

Bill Meyers is a Managing Partner of SKBM Smart Technology, a U.S.based prop tech systems integrator focused on smart building technology for multifamily housing, student housing, and build-to-rent (BTR) communities. SKBM has installed hundreds of thousands of smart apartment systems and thousands of projects across the U.S.

Under leadership including Bill Meyers, SKBM positions itself as a “PropTech concierge” helping developers and operators select, deploy, and manage technology across entire residential portfolios. SKBM and Brilliant are partnered together on multifamily and build to rent projects.

These services are particularly relevant to build-to-rent and multifamily developers, where large-scale deployments of smart locks, sensors, access control, and network infrastructure must be coordinated across entire communities.

The Build-to-Rent market has quickly become one of the most dynamic sectors in residential development. Renters are drawn to the privacy and space of single-family homes, but they still expect the modern conveniences and technology that have become standard in multifamily living. For developers, this creates an important opportunity: technology can elevate the entire living experience drawing in renters and reducing vacancies while also improving operational efficiency.

The challenge is that many “smart home” deployments in rental communities are assembled from a collection of individual devices - thermostats, hubs, cameras, and apps that often create complexity for both residents and property managers. Devices get disconnected, hubs disappear between tenants, and systems become difficult to support at scale.  This is why SKBM selected Brilliant as their central smart home controller of choice and deploy it across their portfolio.  They have found that a better approach is to build intelligence directly into the home’s infrastructure.

“In the Build-to-Rent space, developers are looking for technology that improves both the resident experience and the operational efficiency of the community at a price-point that doesn’t blow the budget. Brilliant delivers on all of these fronts by embedding smart controls directly into the home. It gives residents a modern connected living experience while giving operators a platform that differentiates their product while making it easier to manage across an entire technology portfolio.” says Meyers.

Brilliant Smart Home was designed with this philosophy in mind. Instead of relying on a collection of add-on devices, Brilliant replaces standard light switches with elegant in-wall smart control panels that allow residents to control lighting, music, cameras, climate, and other connected devices from a single interface. Because the system lives within the electrical infrastructure of the home, it becomes a permanent feature rather than a temporary gadget.

For Build-to-Rent developers, this approach delivers several meaningful advantages.

First, it elevates the perceived quality of the home. Prospective renters touring a property immediately notice when the home includes built-in smart controls that manage lighting scenes, music, and connected devices. It creates a sense that the home itself is modern and thoughtfully designed. This can help drive faster leasing velocity and differentiate a community in competitive rental markets.

Second, it simplifies operations at scale. In a community of hundreds of homes, managing disconnected devices can quickly become a logistical burden. With an integrated platform like Brilliant, the technology remains installed in the wall and resets easily between residents. There are no missing hubs, no devices walking away, and fewer service calls related to technology failures.

Third, it supports better property management and service capabilities. Integrated smart home infrastructure opens the door to remote troubleshooting, energy management, and future services that can enhance the resident experience. For developers and operators looking to build long-term value in their communities, having this technology foundation in place creates flexibility for future offerings.

Finally, it future-proofs the community. As connected devices, home automation, and managed services continue to evolve, communities with built-in smart infrastructure are far better positioned to adapt. Rather than retrofitting technology later, developers who integrate a platform like Brilliant during construction create homes that are ready for the next generation of connected living.

Build-to-Rent communities are essentially professionally managed neighborhoods. The developers who succeed over the long term will be those who combine thoughtful design with infrastructure that improves how residents live every day.