features in their existing appliances and gadgets. “This in turn creates a greater demand for smart home
products, as consumers then look to expand out and test new features with any upgrades or new products that they buy.” He adds: “The smart home market has developed significantly
to where we were a year ago, with all technology brands continuing to focus and develop their products’ smart capabilities to ensure that consumers and constantly getting what they need from their appliances.” These views are echoed by Lee Harrington, BSH’s connected
home group manager: “Primarily, I think Covid has accelerated many people’s move towards using technology and connected appliances in the home. This was partly down to them having more time at home to interact with their existing tech. For example, investigating the additional features of their appliances or TV that they hadn’t had chance to look at before. And a lot of these devices were wi-fi-enabled and therefore not being used to their full potential until this point.”
example, Sony’s Bravia TVs have Google Assistant built-in and are compatible with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, as well as Apple Homekit. This allows users to control other smart devices, such as home lighting and speakers, with their voice. “
Sony 85in Master Series Z9J 8K LED TV
Advice Looking ahead, Yamaha’s Mr Feben-Harknett has some smart advice for retailers: “Smart home solutions are vast and are expected to grow – the key for any retailer is to simplify and to find various solutions that work together to complete the whole smart home experience. “Many of us have bought into smart home products in one way
or another, but few of us truly understand how far you can take it and the benefits that are attached.” He adds: “I’m a firm believer that the very best way to learn is to
Haier Chef@Home Series 6 smart oven
He adds: “It is well documented that the past couple of years has led to a surge in kitchen renovations. More conscious of the imperfections in their kitchens, people have been exploring the next phase of their kitchen design. And in doing so, they’ve naturally been exposed to the next generation of appliances too – and seen the capabilities and potential of connected technology in the kitchen.” With energy prices on the rise, consumers are beginning to feel
the pinch, so now is the perfect time for retailers to start selling the eco benefits of smart appliances to their customers. “We also look to smart technology to help our homes be more sustainable and energy efficient,” says BSH’s Mr Herrington. “For example, BSH’s Home Connect can tell users what the most
efficient wash program is based on the load, and also recommend the most eco-friendly cycle.”
Relaxation It’s not just household tasks that can be made easier by the rapid evolution of smart technology – let’s not forget that our relaxation time also benefits… “With people spending more time at home, consumers
are increasingly looking for new ways to enjoy their favourite entertainment with greater convenience through smart home technology,” says Nick Roos, product communications manager for Sony Europe. “With devices easily connected through smart features, consumers can manage all their devices seamlessly within a smart home system, offering greater usability and accessibility for all the family.”
He adds: “This pushes the boundaries of what products are
capable of – allowing for a TV to become a smart home control hub, or for a speaker to become a personal portable voice assistant. For
experiment on your own. The best place to start is to maintain good contact with the manufacturer and to stay on top of the available smart solutions – this also applies to brands that you may not currently stock. Pay attention to the market data available to you. “Think about how your store could showcase and provide solutions to as many problems over as many product categories as possible. As a retailer, you have the freedom to mix and match where possible to create the best smart home packages, in-store and online.”
Top five smart home trends
Appliance manufacturer BSH has identified five key trends in the smart home sector
1. Security: There’s been an increased focus on using smart products to improve security in the home. Now people are settled into hybrid working and going on holiday again, they’re investing in smart doorbells (such as Ring) and cameras.
2. Saving energy: With an eye on energy bills and on sustainable lifestyles, people are looking for anything that will help with that, such as electric cars.
3. Heath: People are moving on from step counters to smart wearables. And they’re not only good for tracking your health, with BSH’s Home Connect app you can also monitor your connected household from your watch too.
4. Online purchasing: People got used to shopping more online during the lockdowns, and this hasn’t shifted back again, particularly for groceries.
5. Mobile vs desktop: There’s been a huge shift to accessing the internet from a mobile rather than on a desktop. People don’t want to fire up a computer to search online but do so from the comfort of their tablet or phone.
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Smart Home Feature
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