Research Points to Growing Consumer Smart Home Acceptance

According to a new report, consumers see more clearly how smart home devices can directly benefit their lives, and are planning to purchase more smart home devices in the future. This recent consumer survey was commissioned by PlumChoice, a provider of premium technical services for IoT and cloud brands, and the Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of global companies deploying Z-Wave. This is the second annual consumer benchmark survey by the partners, titled “2016: Year of the Smart Device,” and it reportedly also highlights the need for companies to provide consumers a user experience that allows their smart home devices to fit easily into their lives.

The report was compiled to help device makers better understand current connected and smart home device ownership, interest in future purchases and perceived smart home device benefits, the companies said. In addition, it is designed to outline services that brands can tie to these products to drive more revenue and consumer loyalty.

“The smart home industry is thriving, and many companies are recognizing that their success is dependent on a seamless consumer user experience,” said Noelani McGadden, VP, IoT, PlumChoice. “Last year was a pivotal year for the smart home industry, with the number of people who own a smart device increasing by a staggering 259 percent. As smart home device adoption continues to grow, brands must cater to consumers who are expecting support services as part of their purchase, and at the very least provide installation support.”

Some other findings from the report include:

• 52 percent of all respondents said they plan to buy a smart device in the next two years.
• Of those who own smart devices, 84 percent said they may make another smart purchase in the next two years.
• The majority of consumers report owning a total of four to six smart home devices and 61 percent have interconnected some of those devices.
• Smart appliances and smart smoke detectors are among the smart home products with the highest year-over-year growth, with 267 percent and 250 percent, respectively.
• All types of services and support expected from brands increased since 2015, with installation support listed as a top need.

“It’s clear from our data that not only has the smart home arrived, but the benefits of adding connectivity to the things in our home are finally being realized,” said Mitchell Klein, Executive Director, Z-Wave Alliance. “It’s exciting to finally see consumers understanding the value of connecting multiple devices together and to see categories like smart security, thermostats and safety grow year over year.”