In a major update to IFTTT, Inc., a most cumbersome step has been removed in mankind’s efforts to remotely control his world. The company is now making it even easier for people to automate their lives, rolling out a new feature for developers to bake Recipes directly into their applications.

Created at the onset of the Internet of Things revolution, IFTTT is a platform that allows average people to code a variety of automated actions for familiar services, for instance, saving a Facebook photo to a Dropbox folder when tagged. Before today, users would need to log into their IFTTT accounts on the web or through integrated mobile apps, but this new partnership will deliver IFTTT controls right in the app.

Training in private beta for the past year, IFTTT’s Partner Platform is now rolling out to a larger group. Those who participated in the Beta version cited increased engagement, customer retention, and insight into user behaviors that inform product and marketing efforts.

“Our partner platform and the power to embed IFTTT experiences is just the beginning of the value we can unlock for both developers and users. The rich experiences that partners can build with IFTTT are only going to get more exciting from here,” Linden Tibbets, CEO of IFTTT stated.

A small group of its partners is included in the launch of the new Partner Platform, including video doorbell maker Ring, banking app Qapital, air quality monitor Foobot, garage door automation Garageio, connected car service Automatic, indoor air and health monitoring device Awair, Wi-Fi doorbell Skybell, connected light bulb maker LIFX, real-time weather service Bloomsky, group voice messenger Roger, home security service abode, and responsive lighting maker Stack Lighting.

IFTTT can easily be accessed in the apps using a few swipes on the screen after the app has been connected to IFTTT.

Developers can head on to https://ifttt.com/developers to learn more about IFTTT’s Partnership Program.

Burgeoning ecosystem

IFTTT boasts over 330 services in its app marketplace, with over 500 more still in the development stage. With the introduction of this latest program, IFTTT aims to make it as easy as possible for developers to embed Recipes into their apps.

Details are sparse on the still limited-access Partner Program, but IFTTT said in a statement sent to SiliconANGLE that it will be sharing more information about the platform in the coming months. This launch is part of a larger initiative to broaden the scope of IFTTT’s ecosystem, which has been at the forefront of IoT’s consumer movement. 

“Bringing IFTTT into our app means our users can easily optimize their environment for increased productivity, better sleeping patterns, and ultimate relaxation. This integration will allow us to quickly learn what features our users want and then change our app accordingly,” San Baek, Head of Strategy and Operations at Bitfinder, Inc., IFTTT Partner and maker of Awair, said in a statement sent to SiliconANGLE.

Where’s the value?

IFTTT was among the first attempts at making sense of the Internet of Things, by making it easy for users to connect and automate tasks, but nearly five years after its initial launch IFTTT is seeing a crowded space of ecosystems hoping to establish their rule.

Developers will decide who wins this space, and rivals are automating software to handle the complexities of connecting variable apps, services and clouds.  Zapier, for instance, can manage more elaborate tasks for multi-trigger actions. Stringify, currently available on iOS, also does drag-and-drop connected living permitting users to automate events based on app triggers. Even Microsoft’s gotten in on the fun, with its Flow app to automate workflows and connect data.

Though light on details for developers, one thing is clear in IFTTT’s marketing of this new Partner Program: value-added insight. This has become the defining characteristic for any IoT service worth its salt in today’s increasingly competitive market, and IFTTT appeals to developer partners with user insight towards improved interfaces.

Feature image by Day 37/365 – Teh New iPhone!! via photopin (license)