feature: smart tech On top of this, Aura and the Wi-Fi Smart Plug
have been integrated seamlessly together – users can control the Wi-Fi Smart Plug using the built-in Google Assistant. Going forward, Mr Patel said that voice- enabled features will be central to new product development at Humax.
Humax Wi-Fi Smart Plug
The power of voice Products can be voice-controlled in a host of diff erent ways, such as helping users to do things such as switch lights or heating on and off , or fi nding accurate information without having to look things up in a physical manual, for example. Mr Patel says: “The hands-free
Dru Patel, marketing manager at Humax UK,
says more smart assistants are emerging with advanced functionality and displays/screens, and smart plugs with no hub controls are now extremely common. “Other smart trends include smart cars with
voice recognition (profi les), smart thermostats, integrated appliances and smart cameras,” Mr Patel says. “There is barely any appliance in the home that hasn’t been equipped with smart features.” Mr Patel says that the key smart products in the Humax range are the Aura Android TV 4K Recorder (with Google Assistant) and the Humax Wi-Fi Smart Plug (which works with Alexa and Google Home).
“One of the highlights of Aura is its voice
control feature, which allows users to search for content, schedule and record programmes, and much more,” he says. “These features are often expected on pay TV services but customers would not perhaps expect to have such advanced functionality on a subscription-free platform. “Demonstrating benefi ts such as this can be really essential to driving sales.”
benefi t is also very clear, making life easier and more accessible, and increasing productivity. It can also help people to communicate, organise and keep track of daily activities and routines. “Almost anything can be voice-activated now – including note-taking, news delivery, weather updates, texting, making calls, controlling appliances, answering the door, and so on.”
Demo, demo, demo Mr Brown says that not all customers are fully comfortable with voice control or its benefi ts, so demonstration in-store is both vital and very easy. “You have to make the demonstration
relevant and relatable to the customer, so like all good sales techniques, it requires some questions fi rst,” he says. “Do you have a Netfl ix/Disney+/Amazon
subscription, and what is your favourite genre of fi lm”, provides an easy voice search for the sales staff to demonstrate and will pull up content the customer already knows and loves. “Then hand the remote control to the
customer, show them how to enable voice control and get them to ask for another movie or genre they like. The customer will quickly become confi dent in using the voice system as it pulls up the sort of relatable content they watch every day.” Mr Brown adds: “You can extend the demonstration further with Mitchell & Brown smart TVs by setting a reminder for fi ve minutes time for example, and searching for those funny cat videos on YouTube. “Once they are confi dent in video content
Mitchell & Brown JB-65UHD18114KBLA 24 |
www.ierdaily.co.uk
search, changing the volume and similar functions, you can go through the same questioning about music and get them searching for their favourite tunes. Rarely has a CE feature been so compelling for such a wide range of customers and so easy to demonstrate in-store.”
Humax Aura
Mr Patel says that key to in-store demonstrations is getting consumers to understand the benefi ts. “Retailers are in a great position to demonstrate how user-friendly technologies are, as they can physically show the products in action and answer questions directly, as opposed to watching a video online,” Mr Patel says. “Face-to-face demonstration at the point of sale is invaluable for customers who prefer to shop in-store and for those who need additional support when considering new technologies. “Many customers will purchase directly once
they understand the benefi ts, which are often much clearer when demonstrated in person. If not buying immediately, the demo may lead to further research and potentially converting at a later stage in-store or online.”
Advice for shop fl oor staff Mr Patel says: “Retailers should cater their marketing strategies to habitual examples that will help users understand the benefi ts rather than blinding them with technology and acronyms.” Matter (a protocol collaboration between
Apple, Amazon, Google and others) is making the smart home a seamless possibility. He adds: “We believe retailers have an
exceptional opportunity to explain these kinds of technologies in a straightforward way – and to put users’ minds at ease, ensuring that they understand, for example, the privacy protection options (such as physical mute switches, data encryption, etc). “Be knowledgeable about the ‘human’
benefi ts as well as the technology and specifi cations, so you can thoroughly explain and showcase what’s important to them. Don’t over-complicate the demo or drive them away with jargon!”
January 2023
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