A recent IHS Markit analyst note says that lack of awareness of the benefits of smart home technology is holding back growth.
The note suggests that Apple is on the right track with its in-store demo stations, where customers can experience for themselves what it’s like to have a HomeKit controlled connected home.
IHS Markit estimates that the European market for smart home technology will experience year-on-year growth of more than 140% by the end of this year, though this number would have been larger with better consumer awareness.
Interestingly, the firm predicts that a significant driver of future growth will be purchases by and for the elderly. Home automation can play a role, it says, in helping seniors remain living independently in their own homes rather than move into assisted living facilities.
Is IHS Markit right, that mass-market consumers don’t really see the point of smart homes? Please take our poll, and share your thoughts in the comments.
You can follow my own smart home journey in my smart home diary series.
