Smart homes start
with smart chips

The chips behind Somfy’s remote control success 

Millions of homeowners around the globe rely daily on Somfy’s smart home solutions. Known for automatic control of openings and closures in homes and buildings, Somfy is a key player in smart home systems. The company offers a range of motorized solutions and control points for shutters, solar protection, blinds, curtains, gates and garage doors.  Developed for comfort, ease of use—and with security and sustainability in mind— Somfy’s seamless connected solutions help people transition to living spaces that are both human-centric and environmentally friendly.
 

To further enhance the level of satisfaction of their customers, Somfy chose ST as its primary chip supplier for motor and remote-control applications. Why ST? Because of its commitment to innovation, including in low-power technology, and a close collaboration at all levels. In 2025, ST introduced a new system-on-chip tailored specifically to meet Somfy’s remote control requirements.

Somfy’s secret? A chip maker who owns their challenge

Building on its market leadership, the company aimed to upgrade its remote controls by enabling more features without increasing costs. Traditionally, Somfy’s remote controls—crucial for managing smart home devices—relied on two separate components: a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter and a microcontroller (MCU). In 2024, Somfy saw an opportunity to streamline this two-part approach. Their product engineers approached ST with a bold idea: what if ST could seamlessly integrate an RF transmitter into its proven wireless secure microcontroller, the STM32WL3?
ST quickly delivered the first samples of this new system-on-chip to Somfy.

This innovation is now an open market product*, the STM32WL3R
where the “R” stands for remote control.

One innovative chip, multiple business wins

By adopting the two-in-one STM32WL3R, Somfy will transform its product design process—streamlining development, reducing the bill of materials, and cutting costs. The smaller PCB has freed up valuable space, giving Somfy’s designers greater flexibility. But the real magic lies in its versatile memory and peripherals, which allows Somfy to consolidate multiple remote-control configurations into a single platform, from basic two-button remotes to advanced models featuring displays, LEDs, and sensors. This general-purpose solution supports all radio protocols used in Somfy Group’s solutions and brands (Somfy, BFT, Simu), enabling a unified approach across its product range. In practical terms, it means that Somfy now relies on a single, unified platform to enable a diverse range of remote controls.

This strategy slashes design time and complexity, delivering what every business strives for: leaner development, robust design and optimized time to market.  

Beyond innovation, how ST supports Somfy’s quality promise

Somfy’s commitment to quality extends across 60 countries. Reliable connectivity between smart home devices and their remotes is vital to ensure customer satisfaction. Yet, it wasn’t just the quality aspect that made ST their preferred chip supplier.

Recent disruptions in the semiconductor industry have prompted Somfy to sharpen its focus on building a reliable supply chain. The company’s modular approach has made it even more critical to ensure resilience and consistent chip delivery under any circumstances. In this effort, ST’s robust global manufacturing network has played a crucial role.