According to the results of recent survey commissioned by PlumChoice, Inc. and the Z-Wave Alliance, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of smart home technology and are planning to purchase more connected home devices in the future. The report, "2016: Year of the Smart Device," found that 52 percent of respondents plan to buy a smart device in the next two years and of those who already owned a smart device, 84 percent said they may purchase yet another one within the next couple of years.
The majority of consumers surveyed reported owning a total of four to six smart home devices and 61 percent said they had interconnected some of those devices. Smart appliances (refrigerators, washer/dryer, etc.) and smart smoke detectors were found to be among the products with the highest year-over-year growth, with 267 percent and 250 percent respectively. Additionally, all types of services and support expected from brands have increased since 2015, with installation support listed as the top need at 68 percent.
The survey also examined consumer behavior – including purchase drivers and rate of adoption – of homeowners compared to renters, along with comparisons between age, gender and current device owners.
“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, vice president of IoT at 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.”
“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 of the 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.”
For more information or to access the full report, click here.
