Research Points to Big Uptick in Smart Home Device Adoption, Awareness

Benchmark report from PlumChoice and Z-Wave Alliance shows consumers
got ‘smarter’ in 2016, examines individual device interest

LOWELL, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Consumers see more clearly how home smart devices can directly benefit
their lives, and are planning to purchase more smart home devices in the
future. Those are the key insights from a consumer survey commissioned
by PlumChoice,
Inc., the leading provider of premium technical services for IoT and
cloud brands, and the Z-Wave
Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies deploying
Z-Wave. This second annual consumer benchmark survey, titled, “2016:
Year of the Smart Device,” also highlights the need for companies to
provide consumers a user experience that allows their smart home devices
to fit easily into their lives.

The report helps device makers and their partners understand current
connected and smart home device ownership, interest in future purchases
and perceived smart home device benefits. In addition, it outlines the
services that brands can tie to these products to drive more revenue and
consumer loyalty.

Other key findings from PlumChoice and the Z-Wave Alliance’s report, “2016:
Year of the Smart Device” include:

• 52% of all respondents plan to buy a smart device in the next two years
• Of those who own smart devices, 84% said they may make another smart
  purchase in the next two years
• The majority of consumers report owning a total of four to six smart
  home devices and 61% have interconnected some of those devices.
  Interoperability becomes a key factor as consumers add more connected
  devices
• Smart appliances (smart refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc.) and smart
  smoke detectors are among the smart home products with the highest
  year-over-year growth, with 267% and 250% respectively
• All types of services and support expected from brands increased since
  2015, with installation support listed as a top need (68%)

The survey also examined consumer behavior – including purchase drivers
and rate of adoption – of homeowners compared to renters, along with
comparisons between age, gender and current device owners.

“The smart home industry is thriving, and many companies are recognizing
that their success is dependent on a seamless consumer user experience,”
said Noelani McGadden, vice president of IoT at PlumChoice. “Last year
was a pivotal year for the smart home industry, with the number of
people who own a smart device increasing by a staggering 259 percent. As
smart home device adoption continues to grow, brands must cater to
consumers who are expecting support services as part of their purchase,
and at the very least provide installation support.”

“It’s clear from our data that not only has the smart home arrived, but
the benefits of adding connectivity to the things in our home are
finally being realized,” said Mitchell Klein, Executive Director of the
Z-Wave Alliance. “It’s exciting to finally see consumers understanding
the value of connecting multiple devices together and to see categories
like smart security, thermostats and safety grow year over year.”

To access the full report and accompanying graphics, please
click here.

About PlumChoice

PlumChoice helps IoT service providers and manufacturers, cloud solution
providers and distributors, and communications service providers deploy
and sell support services that drive product adoption, resulting in
greater market penetration. We work on behalf of major brands to help
end users install, configure, integrate, troubleshoot and use brands’
products and software. In turn, PlumChoice’s partners experience greater
customer satisfaction and lifetime value, lower overhead, increased
profitability, and quicker time to market. For information about
PlumChoice, please visit www.plumchoice.com.

About the Z-Wave Alliance

Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading
companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave
as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal
members include: ADT, FAKRO, FIBARO, Ingersoll Rand Nexia Intelligence,
Jasco Products, Leedarson, LG Uplus, Nortek Security & Control,
SmartThings and Sigma Designs. Alliance members lead the home controls
market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver
increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security.

Contacts

Matter for PlumChoice
Marci Stone, 978-518-4519
plumchoice@matternow.com
or
Caster
Communications for Z-Wave
Ashley Daigneault, 401-792-7080
ashley@castercomm.com