OPINION
Many people are afraid of smart tech, don’t understand it or how it can make life easier. This is where independent retailers have a golden opportunity
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ekko has once again proudly collaborated with ERT on this year’s Turning Point survey as part of the
ERT Awards. It will be interesting to see what the findings are this year in relation to the smart home.
Last year’s survey revealed that 38 per
cent of independent retailers that responded didn’t believe that selling the smart home was for them.
Now, I may not have a crystal ball, but I do have a clear view of the category’s growth since then and would be shocked if the figure remained this low in 2018. I have commented a great deal over the past couple of years that the smart home is something to be embraced and is a category where physical retailers have an opportunity to outsmart their online competitors. It is early days for the category and there is the potential for a lack of understanding on the part of the consumer, made worse by scepticism about the real-world benefits. Concerns about security are also a factor and so an assisted sales approach, where shoppers can properly experience products and talk to an expert, can make all the difference. In providing a superior customer experience, sales and your customer base can be developed to achieve smart profits.
Popularity
What is for certain, the smart home’s popularity isn’t going to fade – it’s no fad. This is evident from the fact that three-quarters of people have heard of the term smart home compared with just over half (57 per cent) in 2015. And with a current average of 10 connected devices per UK household, we aren’t scaling back on our connected addiction. BBC’s Panorama recently predicted that by 2020 there would be 420 million connected devices across the UK. The smart home now even has its own ‘week’ – May 21-27 this year. This was a showcase for the very best in smart, connected and integrated home technology. Its purpose was to inform, educate and
reassure UK consumers about the benefits and opportunities of living in a smart, connected way. Research conducted by Smart Home Week
forecast that 42 per cent of consumers see the majority of UK homes being smart within the next 10 years.
But I think it will be higher and sooner. iRobot Braava Jet
Daniel Todaro l managing director, Gekko
Mop up those smart sales
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