40 years of TELETASK: a reflection on our unique journey

This year, TELETASK celebrates its 40th anniversary, a significant milestone in the history of a company that has been committed to advancing home automation since its inception. Since its founding in 1984, TELETASK has developed into a global player in fully integrated home automation, focusing on creating beautiful, intelligent systems that offer comfort, safety, and sustainability.

In this article, we would like to reflect on the 40-year journey that TELETASK has taken.

A look through history

1980s: The birth of TELETASK in a still non-existent home automation market

Let's go back to 1984. The internet did not yet exist, and mobile phones were a rarity. DOS reigned in the computer world, and personal computers like the IBM PC and Apple Macintosh were being introduced. Companies still relied on typewriters for their daily operations. Fax machines were not yet commonplace, so orders were often placed by mail or telephone. At that time, home automation was mainly seen as a luxury and status symbol, unattainable for most. It was a completely different world.

In the early 1980s, Johan Vander Beken laid the foundation for what would later become TELETASK BVBA. During this initial period, he developed industrial electronics for companies such as Volvo, Honda, and Daikin. The revenues from these projects were entirely reinvested in developing an exclusive and innovative bus-based system, already aimed at making life more comfortable for users in large homes with many technical systems.

From the very beginning, TELETASK distinguished itself as one of the first companies worldwide to introduce a total integration concept. Johan Vander Beken proved to be a true pioneer, as the concept of 'home automation' did not yet exist at the time. It was then referred to as ‘home automation,’ or in English, ‘Home Automation.’ The term 'domotics' was only introduced between 1990 and 1995.

As a student in the 1970s, the emergence of the microcontroller was a godsend for Johan. In his dorm room at grandma Martha's, as seen in this picture, he built his own ‘computer’—well before IBM and Apple PCs were around. At that time, it wasn’t capable of doing anything particularly useful

TELETASK gained recognition when an American architect, through a Belgian distributor of high-end audiovisual equipment, picked up the story of TELETASK. This led to one of the first major home automation installations in a villa owned by a wealthy textile baron, right next to his headquarters in Voorschoten, the Netherlands. The entire house, from the walls and roof to the furniture and control panels, was finished in perfect Sikkens white, giving the home an iconic look. The combination of advanced technology and aesthetics attracted international attention. Prestigious magazines such as Elle Décoration (U.S. edition) and Schöner Wohnen covered the project, putting TELETASK on the map for a broader audience.

This installation marked the beginning of TELETASK's international growth and gradually brought the company more recognition for its innovative approach to home automation.

1990s: the rise of home automation and TELETASK's pioneering role

In the early 1990s, we witnessed one of the most influential technological breakthroughs. In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee introduced the World Wide Web, making the internet much more accessible to the general public. Interestingly, and perhaps not coincidentally, this invention also has Belgian roots. Around the same time, companies in the United States began to see the value of home automation. Several American companies started developing home automation solutions, focusing on controlling relays and dimmers through a PC.

Although these initiatives seemed promising, most quickly disappeared from the market. The systems were not stable enough, and the high maintenance costs made them unattractive for long-term use. Additionally, these companies failed to realize that a PC, which needs to be operational 24 hours a day, only lasts 3 to 5 years, while a home is designed to last at least 30 years.

TELETASK recognized this problem early on and focused on durable, reliable solutions that aligned with the lifespan of a home. Unlike PC-based systems, TELETASK offered an integrated system that was not dependent on short-lived computers. This focus on durability and stability was groundbreaking and allowed us to quickly stand out in the still young home automation market.

This vision led TELETASK to projects like ‘Living Tomorrow’ in Belgium. The goal of this project was to offer a glimpse of how technologies and innovations would influence daily life in the future. This innovative project, which also involved Bill Gates, showcased a futuristic view of technology and home automation and confirmed the ongoing technological revolution. TELETASK was present as one of the pioneers in home automation systems. Visitors had the opportunity to discover how smart technologies could make daily life more efficient and comfortable. From the very beginning, and to this day, this principle forms the foundation of every development at TELETASK.

Living Tomorrow

2000s: technological acceleration and TELETASK’s responses

By the late 1990s, around fifteen years after the founding of TELETASK, the fear of the millennium bug caused tension worldwide, but the expected problems ultimately did not materialize. On the contrary, we entered a phase of rapid technological advancement. The rise of broadband internet provided faster and more stable access, and companies switched to more efficient software and operating systems. Powerful and affordable computers and mobile devices became increasingly accessible, with the smartphone as a prime example. The iconic launch of the iPhone in 2007 marked a major milestone in the evolution of mobile technology.

Around this time, other companies also began to explore the potential of the home automation market. However, many of these newcomers couldn't survive; the technology proved to be too complex, and the market was still too small. Moreover, installers were often not well-trained enough to successfully implement the systems. TELETASK addressed this issue early on by offering training sessions at various centers across Flanders. These training programs helped the pioneers of that time to develop into the leaders of today's successful home automation installation companies.

A TELETASK training at INES, then a distributor in Belgium

Meanwhile, large companies also tried to secure their place in the home automation market, investing significant amounts of money. In the 1990s and 2000s, some businesses poured hundreds of millions of euros into home automation without fully understanding what the end user really needed or where the added value lay. Their systems did not meet customer expectations, leading to disappointment and decreasing demand. As a result, nearly all of these companies left the market.

2010s: the importance of experience and technological innovation in a changing market

In the 2010s, cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionized how businesses and individuals handle data. At the same time, AI brought breakthroughs like voice assistants and machine learning, which had a major impact on industries such as healthcare, entertainment, and also the home automation market. However, these innovations also sparked political and social debates around privacy, surveillance, and the impact of AI on the future of work.

Starting in 2010, during the second and third wave of newcomers, the home automation market began to stabilize and gain popularity. Home automation became more affordable, widely accepted, and driven by practical needs such as comfort, safety, and energy efficiency. Several major players in the electrical field responded to this, focusing mainly on high volumes and low costs.

New companies continued to enter the market, but many of these new businesses couldn’t survive due to technical challenges and strong competition. Since TELETASK had focused on the luxury housing segment from the beginning, we avoided direct competition with these large players. Additionally, our decades of experience and strong position in the Belgian market allowed us to further expand our network of experienced installers, both locally and internationally.

Meeting with the management of TELETASK Middle-East in Dubai (2012)

The Belgian Prince Filip (now King Filip) visiting India. He graced the signing of an important agreement between TELETASK and L&T India, the largest construction and engineering group in India. Today, TELETASK has been active in India for 18 years.

This network of experts provided TELETASK with a solid foundation to continue investing in new technologies and innovations. Thanks to this strategy and the expertise we built, TELETASK continued to grow despite the fluctuating market.

2020s: how TELETASK continues to adapt to new challenges

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill. Streets were empty, and people stayed home as much as possible. With remote work becoming mandatory, this led to a new wave in the technological world. The use of video conferencing tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams accelerated, while e-commerce and contactless payments saw explosive growth. At the same time, cloud computing through platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure supported this digital transformation, allowing companies to remain flexible and quickly adapt to changing circumstances.

TELETASK also managed to quickly adapt during the challenging corona years. Thanks to the already existing REMOTE SERVICES platform, installers can support their customers remotely without needing to be physically present. This ensures highly efficient service. This once again demonstrated how flexible and reliable TELETASK solutions are, without compromising on quality and ease of use.

During this period (2018), TELETASK, together with all its staff, set up 50 sustainability goals, aiming to check off a few each year. Some are easily achievable in the short term, while others are challenging to nearly impossible. One of the toughest is the circularity of our products. 100% is not realistic, but TELETASK has always paid great attention to this and always chooses sustainability and quality over the cheapest but less environmentally friendly solution.

For example, we do not use plastic plates but natural glass for our control panels. We do not use polymer paints but ceramic paints for our AURUS control panels. This makes the fronts 100% recyclable. Moreover, they are of top quality because even after 30 years in full sun, an AURUS control panel will still look brand new. Deep black remains deep black, and bright white remains bright white!

But sustainability is more than just caring for the environment. TELETASK also aligns its sustainability goals with the United Nations' sustainability goals. We raise awareness among our staff by inviting speakers, organizing sustainability days, and formulating concrete goals from these events.

Creating new TELETASK packaging that eliminates the use of plastics

Some previously achieved sustainability goals:

• A paperless - fully digital payroll administration.
• Similarly, digital invoicing.
• Paper documents such as technical sheets in packaging always printed on FSC certified paper.
• Lifetime repairable products as long as components are available. The customer can choose online whether to go for a repair (usually cheaper) or replacement of a defective product.
• Products are made to have the longest possible lifespan. TELETASK always aims for at least 30 years if possible.
• Investing in maintaining a stock for lifetime repairability of products.
• Expanding EMS functions in the TELETASK system so that all customers worldwide can significantly reduce their consumption and emissions.
• Adjusting consumption to more environmentally friendly resources, such as communication with the digital meter.
• Strongly addressing the needs for the energy transition: e.g., controlling heat pumps instead of gas and fuel heating boilers.
• Eliminating all plastic packaging and replacing it with FSC cardboard.
• No colour printing on disposable packaging.
• Marketing bags only made from highly reusable non-woven fabric (based on a National Geographic study).
• Gender equality in personnel policy and collaboration with our stakeholders.
• Flexible working hours and the associated possibility of +50 vacation days/year for staff.
• Limiting remote work but still working together as much as possible as a team in the office.
• Online technical training for our customers and potential customers, with the possibility of online examination and certification to avoid large trips.
• Trips up to 600km that can be done within 6 hours are taken by train and not by plane. These are avoided as much as possible by using online video meetings.
• Sustainability is an endless story that we continue to work on, constantly taking on new challenges.
• Study and training days for all staff to get acquainted with AI. AI tools are used almost daily at TELETASK, mostly in marketing, but with the awareness that they can consume a lot of energy and therefore should never be used unnecessarily.
• By systematically replacing gas heating with heat pumps (started in 2004!) and very recently installing solar panels and storage batteries, and from 2024 systematically replacing vehicles exclusively with 100% electric vehicles, TELETASK actively participates in the energy transition itself. But despite that, as a 'smart' supplier, we achieve thousands of savings and emission reductions in the tens of thousands of 'smart' installations that TELETASK has active worldwide with its customers. Through software upgrades, these become increasingly sustainable, and together with you, we work towards a better, more sustainable world.

From 1984 to 2064 (and beyond): our vision for the future

As a family business, TELETASK has always valued quality, exclusivity, and continuity. These are the principles that have brought us to where we are today. Our extensive ISO9001 system, which guarantees consistency, continuity, and independence, has enabled us to complete numerous impressive projects. From luxury homes to apartment complexes, large production halls, and exclusive stores, each project is equipped with a home automation system carefully customized by the system integrator to meet the unique needs and requirements of both the building and its residents. Naturally, our goal is to continue this successful approach in the years to come.

Case Pinea Hills, Morocco 

Case Silo M-M, Belgium © Interior Arjaan De Feyter, Photography Piet-Albert Goethals

We keep innovating with new products and features, supported by the latest hardware and software technologies. The needs and wishes of our customers are always at the center of our focus, even in the long term. Our customers know they can rely on us, both before and after their purchase. As a small to medium enterprise (SME), we stay closely connected to our customers, which helps us continuously understand their needs and expectations. Our local distributors and certified system integrators act as our eyes and ears, ensuring we maintain this valuable insight.

Not only the current generation but also the next one is ready to carry on this tradition. Our distribution network continues to grow, allowing us to now offer local after-sales service in more than 40 countries. With a four-year warranty on almost all our products, we take our responsibility for the quality and durability of our systems very seriously.

We would like to thank all of our customers worldwide for the trust they have placed in us. And if you are not yet a customer, we hope to welcome you to our customer base soon.

From student dorm to global player: the evolution of TELETASK at a glance

The constant drive to develop technologies that not only follow the latest trends but are also sustainable, has resulted in a remarkable series of hardware and software generations. Each generation remains compatible with the previous ones, allowing customers to grow along with the technology.
Join us on a journey through TELETASK’s remarkable history.

TELETASK product timeline (click to enlarge)

• 1976: The start of Johan Vander Beken's story and his interest in developing a digital bus-based system. His student dorm at grandma Martha's, where he stayed as a Electronic Engineering student, was transformed into an electronics lab and later into a start-up residence. The development of a network dimmer in the 1970s sparked his enduring interest.
• 1984: TELETASK was founded as a sole proprietorship to secure funding for the final development of market-ready products.
• 1986: The TELETASK LIGHTING SYSTEM "TLS90" was launched, focused on switching and dimming lights and controlling motors.
• 1988: The PROJECT central unit was introduced, offering multidisciplinary functionalities for more flexibility in large home automation solutions.
• 1990: The COMPACT central unit was launched, offering a 25% lower price compared to previous systems.
• 1992: TELETASK became a limited liability company (BVBA) to support the company's further growth and expansion.
• 1993: The broader distribution of TELETASK products in Belgium was made possible through INES, under the leadership of director Filip De Smet. He remains a key supporter, actively promoting and managing sales at the current Belgian distributor, Stagobel.
• 1995: TELETASK moved from Nazareth to larger offices in Gentbrugge to accommodate further growth.
• 1995: The opening of Living Tomorrow, showcasing a major TELETASK installation, took place with Bill Gates as one of the distinguished guests.
• 1996: The MICROS central unit was launched, further reducing the costs of home automation solutions.
• 1996: TELETASK’s distribution in Belgium was bolstered by a successful partnership with exclusive distributor Stagobel, a collaboration that has been thriving for over 27 years.
• 1997: TELETASK launched its first international distribution in the Netherlands through the Rotterdam-based company Isolectra, equipping over a thousand residential units with MICROS central units.
• 2000: The launch of the SERVUS touchscreen was a major milestone for TELETASK in expanding its product line. This multimedia 'eyecatcher' was unmatched worldwide.
• 2004: TELETASK acquired and renovated an industrial building in Ghent. Later this year, the company relocated from Gentbrugge to its current headquarters, where TELETASK is still based.
• 2006: The MICROS+ central unit and the DoIP concept were introduced, shifting to Ethernet communication instead of the older RS232 system. This allowed for significantly larger installations, supporting up to 10 decentralized central units.
• 2008: The NANOS central unit was launched, also supporting very large installations.
• 2008: TELETASK expanded into India by establishing TELETASK India Pvt Ltd, with the Belgian holding company holding a 51% stake.
• 2009: TELETASK introduced the AURUS-OLED, an innovative ultra-slim panel featuring OLED display technology, capacitive touch, and a built-in room temperature sensor. While many manufacturers have since created similar devices, TELETASK's AURUS-OLED remains the original, with tens of thousands of units installed worldwide.
• 2011: TELETASK expanded further internationally with the establishment of TELETASK Middle East in Dubai through a franchise model.
• 2012: TELETASK achieved the ISO9001 certification, a key milestone in its corporate structure and quality management. This certification also ensured the company’s independence from individual employees, which is crucial for clients handling increasingly large-scale projects, sometimes comprising hundreds of residential units.
• 2014: Large-scale renovations were undertaken to expand the R&D facilities and to significantly increase production capacity.
• 2016: The successful AURUS launch was expanded with new models, making the product line more versatile and lowering the entry barrier.
• 2017: PROSOFT functionalities were continuously expanded, offering greater flexibility and power to the software.
• 2018: TELETASK introduced TTcloud, enhancing possibilities for cloud-based home automation services.
• 2019: TELETASK launched REMOTE SERVICES, VOICE CONTROL, and the OPUS touchscreen, improving the efficiency of functionalities and services.
• 2020: The online recovery platform was launched in Q3, while the MICROS+ central unit was phased out in Q4. TELETASK achieved a 30% growth this year.
• 2021: The long-awaited Astro clock feature was introduced, adding new possibilities for time and light-controlled automation.
• 2022: During the COVID era, the Virtual (online) showroom was launched, along with the SIRIUS ceiling sensor, P1-interface 12340BE, and the G3 DOMUS and PALAS central units, replacing the G2 models. These offered 40 times more processing power and significantly reduced energy consumption.
• 2023: The ATMOS app replaced the old iSGUI 2.5 app, with enhanced functionalities and user experience, once again designed with the future in mind.
• 2024: TELETASK celebrates its 40th anniversary with the introduction of the AURUS-6 (TEMP), PENTUS, and PROSOFT 5, positioning the company for continued growth and innovation. The integration of a wide range of EV chargers and solar panel inverters steals the show at the end of 2024.
• 2025: We already have a detailed plan for the coming years, but for now, we’re keeping those future plans under wraps!