Outsmarted? Which Smart Home solution will dominate?
Whether you want your toast to be just the right temperature when you roll out of bed or need to turn up the thermostat without exposing your toes to the cold. Smart homes are opening a new realm of possibilities for homeowners, in regard to both convenience and security.
Smart homes and home automation are ambiguous terms used in reference to a wide range of solutions for controlling, monitoring and automating functions in the home.
But with the market being so broad, it means a lot of solutions and brands have emerged in the past few years.
Will they stand the test of time? And will whole-home systems dominate as the market matures?
North America – Home of the Smart Home?
North America is the most advanced region in the world for smart home solutions.
As of 2018, an estimated 28.8 million homes in the region were equipped with at least one smart home device [Berg Insight]. This represents a market penetration of 20.3%.
A total of 29.7 million European homes had one or more smart home devices installed at the end of 2018, which gives a market penetration of 12.9%.
The installed base of smart home solutions is expected to grow substantially in both regions in the coming years. By the end of 2022 market penetration of Smart Homes is expected to be around 36%.
Smart Home Trends – Something for Everyone
There are various application areas in the home for smart and connected solutions.
Most fall into seven primary categories.
Here’s a quick rundown of which smart home devices are really taking off right now and what benefits they are offering to homeowners and businesses everywhere.
⚡ Security is a priority as CCTV and access control gain traction.
⚡ The siren call of cost savings is making devices for energy management and climate control particularly popular.
⚡ Audio-visual and entertainment systems are the most popular among consumers.
⚡ You never forget your first. According to research, smart light bulbs are the first products consumers purchase.
⚡ Motion and occupancy sensors are helping service users stay healthy and well.
⚡ More white goods are becoming part of Smart Home ecosystems.
⚡ Service robotics are taking the chore out of home maintenance
Wifi or Cellular?
When you become dependent on your smart home, the last thing you want is to lose the help it offers, that you’ve become accustomed to. That’s why many Smart Home devices are experimenting with their connectivity capabilities.
There are many different connectivity standards used in smart and connected home spaces.
Although this gives vendors and end-customers versatility for any scenario, it has also caused fragmentation in the industry. Incompatibility, for instance, increases the level of complexity and uncertainty that consumers and vendors are facing.
Fixed broadband is the primary communication channel between smart home devices and backend servers.
However, cellular technology is used as a primary or secondary communication channel, especially in the security and access control sector. For obvious reasons -cellular technology is a more reliable connectivity alternative.
Cellular connectivity can also be suitable for smart plugs, thermostats and any IoT devices that need to be more remotely located.
Just a Peek Through the Keyhole
This was just a small rundown of some of the trends emerging in the Smart Home space. And if you ask me, this is only the beginning.
But what about you?
Which Smart Home Solutions do you think will stick around?