The Handy Goan: Easing lives by automating homes & offices

Rinaldo Fernandes, founder, The Handy Goan.

We all have read the popular story of ‘Alibaba and the forty thieves’ which has a mention of opening of the cave door automatically when the code words ‘Open Sesame’ (Tila tila daar ughad) are uttered. The story comes with a little twist at ‘The Handy Goan – here, the door will automatically open or shut with our voice command but the voice should be of a specific person, not any stranger. Even lights can be turned on and off with just a tap on our smart phone. Imagine a window that transforms from crystal-clear instantly to frost within seconds. Yes, this is possible, too.

It’s time to say goodbye to manual operations as gate automation frees up our valuable time and need to hire a security guard. We can control lights, adjust thermostat, lock doors, water our plants and even monitor our home – all from a smart phone or with simple voice commands. This is the world we will be living if we wish to embrace technology.

We often witness automatic gates at malls, resorts or hospitals. These are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience, security and aesthetic appeal. Swing gates are also a favourite choice for property owners due to the ease of use, and ability to enhance security. Gate automation refers to the use of technology to automate the operation of gates, making them more convenient and secure.

Such convenience of Smart Home Automation in Goa has turned into a possibility with a Goan home-grown company – ‘The Handy Goan’ that creates customised smart home solutions perfectly matching with our requirements and our pocket. The Handy Goan is bringing together architects, builders, MEP consultants, interior designers and real estate professionals at a summit ‘Concrete Tech Connect 2025’ on November 8 in Panaji to explore how technology is reshaping our homes.

The summit aims to bridge the gap between construction practices and modern technological advancements. There will be live demonstrations of automation, security, networking and AV solutions used in real projects. Discussions and insights on integrating smart technologies into modern infrastructure will help to connect and collaborate with key decision-makers and technology providers.

Being a part of this event will help the stakeholders in the industry to stay informed about the latest trends and open doors to strategic collaborations and innovative solutions that can enhance project delivery, efficiency and design impact, claims Rinaldo, founder, The Handy Goan which he founded in 2017 for offering solutions to challenging projects with out-of-the-box thinking.

A certified Six Sigma Lean expert and a global gold winner for cost-saving innovations, Rinaldo speaks about the latest technologies in the security systems and automation, audio-visuals and AI, with authority. A mechanical engineer with over seven years experience of working in Aerospace, Defense, and Telecom, Rinaldo graduated from V T U. He built his career at global companies like Turbocam India, CommScope India, Alpha Automation, Radiall India etc and is specialised in Lean Manufacturing and Quality Systems.

“At The Handy Goan, we have been delivering smart home automation and security solutions for over a decade. Our team is skilled in project execution, and client satisfaction. Our expertise spans automation, design, PDLC smart glass, CCTV, intelligent lighting and strategic business growth,” boasts Rinaldo, a BE (Mechanical Engineer) from M M Engineering College.

Some of the prime projects handled by The Handy Goan are – Decreased JGR setup change from 4.30 minutes to 18 seconds, labelling fixtures to ease operator work, full automated room (central locking with security and lighting system), camera-mounted robot etc. The company also designed prosthetic eye which was a medical project. The Runner up Samveekshana 2012 – Robo race and Robo Golf and participation for Plethora 2015, a national level automobile workshop also are among its crucial projects.

Rinaldo has won many awards. The year 2017 came with several awards. Rinaldo won the Global Gold Award for Winner in Best Breakthrough Kaizen 2017 Competition. He also bagged the 2017 Q1 Best Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and was the highest contributor to High Impact Low Difficulty VSM project in the same year. His knowledge and hands-on expertise as lead engineer, process engineer, process technician and designation-maintenance engineer has a strong backing of the experience he picked up during his journey. This helped him in laying foundation of his own automation business – The Handy Goan – a small home project that has grown into a full-fledged automation brand.

Now, with over eight years of experience in automation and fabrication, Rinaldo has executed landmark government and premium residential projects. He started his career as a trainee engineer in 2015 and had a brief stint of four months at Enerzi Microwave Systems in Karnataka where he was awarded full scholarship. He completed Mini Hybrid Microwave System project on time, coordinated design, fabrication and testing to ensure quality and proper component fitting.

Homeowners need controlling lights, temperature and security from their phones. Real estate developers need to construct integrated smart home automation to attract tech-savvy buyers and to boost property value, hospitality industry can elevate the guest experiences with automation, retail businesses can increase efficiency with automated entry to smart signage and streamline operations, explains Rinaldo whose experience in industrial automation (machine design, process engineering) fuels The Handy Goan’s efficiency. His passion for innovation extends beyond tech, fostering a creative approach to our smart home needs with seamless installations.

“Our mission is fostering innovation in Goan living and simplifying lives through smart automation. Offering security and peace of mind to every Goan with sustainable solutions leading towards a Greener Goa will allow us to build a community of smart homes in Goa with our personalised service. So far we have automated 500 plus homes in Goa with 100 % customer satisfaction score. We have over 50 associated brand partners and we assure 99 % energy efficiency through our smart systems,” asserts Rinaldo.