Can I use the smart devices without a hub?

The smart devices require a hub to operate but it doesn't have to be the Collingwood smart hub. If you have an Amazon Echo Plus or a Samsung SmartThings hub you can use either of these to detect the Collingwood smart devices and control them directly, provided that they are not already paired to another hub. However if you do this you will only be able to control the devices through the relevant app for the hub that you use, and you may not have the full range of functionality provided by the Collingwood smart app. Any device that has been connected directly to the Echo Plus will only be available from within the Alexa app, not in the Collingwood smart app.