connected appliances


“It is important to remember that the needs of the customer are paramount, and that the average consumer is interested in products that will make their life easier. By showing and demonstrating how products operate, as well as how they look, the retailer can demonstrate how easy they are to operate, as well as showcasing advanced functionalities and excellent performance. As a result, the customer can then better understand the choices available to them, and the retailer is able to maximise those all- important upselling opportunities.” BSH Group retail trade marketing manager


Catherine Martin agrees that showing consumers the benefits is essential. She says: “While consumers are becoming more tech savvy with wearables, smart phones and tablets, explaining the benefits of connected appliances in the kitchen is crucial so they understand there are true benefits to be had and they are not seen as just ‘gadgets’. “It is vital that retailers truly buy-in to


the technology; I have had a number of conversations with retailers who say, ‘It’s just not for me’; however when you


demo the features they totally buy-in to the concepts. This will be no different for the consumer. Retailers need to be fully versed in the different systems to have confidence to demo the machines. Have tablets or smartphones available at point of purchase so that you can show how easy the technology is to use.” She adds: “Ideally you would have a


‘connected’ display area with point of sale to wow the consumer. If this is not possible then the machines should clearly be identified as Wi-Fi enabled with appropriate POS if the sales person is not around.” Regardless of how a retailer chooses


to display and sell products, or whether they choose to enter the market at all, the connected category will be increasingly difficult to ignore. “In the coming months we hope to see


more and more traction with connected appliances from consumers as more retailers have a chance to understand and refine their knowledge about them,” says Sean. “We foresee a future in which appliances and new innovative solutions are connected,


As appliances get smarter, manufacturers including LG foresee major benefits in terms of energy saving and diagnostics


Users become evangelists S


Several retailers have already undertaken investment in the sector. Currys PC World has been asking experts about the future to help shape its understanding of how smart technology will change homes


CM World research senior vice- president Matt Davis predicts a shiſt towards greater automation in


the home. “The first thing that most consumers will embrace, and are already embracing in their homes, is convenience and the automation of daily tasks,” he says. “So I think more people will start building light schedules into their homes, so if they forget to turn their lights off, it’s all taken care of. Or instead of having an alarm, your bedroom lights could gradually come on to wake you up. “Through centralised and remote control


of smart devices we’ll also be able to control anything from remote door locks to coffee pots from a wall panel or smart phone. Added convenience through controlled thermostats and similar devices will also make our homes more efficient, and our planet more sustainable.” He adds: “But then there’s also the smart home of the future that you won’t really be involved in. So over time, what I think will end up happening is, smart devices will start making decisions for you. They’ll analyse how you use your home and your preferences and start making decisions according to your


schedule. So in that way, you’re never even in the equation. And that’s where I think the real value is, and where we’re heading. “Connected to that are appliances like


smart refrigerators placing orders for you, and replenishment orders from companies such as Amazon. Today we’re at a stage where there’s still a need for manual intervention to run a smart home. But I think in the not too distant future, the objective will be to have one that actually runs itself. You would only be in charge of the exceptions, so to speak. So, for example, when you go on holiday and are breaking a regular routine, you might adjust settings for appliances, lights, security and your automated orders.” British Gas-owned Hive product and commercial director Tom Guy has seen the market grow in recent months. “We're one of the early innovators in the


connected home category,” he says. “British Gas showed real foresight in setting up the Hive business and we're truly proud of the progress we've made, with our hero product, Hive Active Heating, leading the way. “But the idea of the connected home, where multiple devices and a range of


domestic functionality are all controllable by a beautiful, simple to use smartphone app, is still in its infancy. People who've used Hive become real evangelists for the concept but it's not gone mainstream yet.” He continues: “I think that the next 10


years will see this change dramatically. If we look around the home, there’s huge opportunity to control various aspects of it and understand how the home is running when you’re not there. “As more and more meaningful innovations hit the market – and as more people become not just comfortable with, but demanding of, the concept of connecting your home from your phone – we’ll see the British home become much more technologically enabled.” However, he adds: “I do think it still feels


a little too 'techy' for some people, though that is changing fast as people become much more familiar with services delivered over WiFi - think of music and video streaming, for example. But I think that just makes it incumbent on us as designers to engineer our devices and app in such a way that it becomes beautiful, simple and pleasurable to use.”


intelligent, and seamlessly integrated into the daily lives of users - making their lives easier,” Thomas adds. “A future where the kitchen is the hub of the healthy home, promoting and inspiring a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.”


July/August 2016


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