INSIGHTS
“Clap on! Clap off!” It started with the clapper, a device first sold in the 80s that allowed people to turn their lights on and off with a burst of applause. Home automation (HA) has come a long way since the clapper and offers much more beyond lighting control.
The global HA and control systems market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.1 percent from US$16.9 billion in 2011 to $35.6 billion in 2016, according to MarketsandMarkets research. Only one of the four segments of this market, namely luxury systems, will be significantly impacted by the recession, as it is relatively mature and will feel the greatest impact from the recession, according to ABI Research. Two other segments — standards-based mainstream HA systems and HA as a service — are so new that they have much room for growth starting from 2010. ABI Research found the number of HA systems — both professionally installed and DIY — will surpass 4 million units in 2013.
Since more devices nowadays are smart, connected and omnipresent, the smart home is no longer a concept or the privilege of a few. HA is coming to a home near you, at an incredible speed and increasingly affordable prices.
Home Automation: No Longer Sci-Fi Nor Wealthy Privilege
Date: 2012/01/03
Source: Tevin Wang
Mobile Applications
“Smartphone adoption continues to grow in the marketplace,” Pyle said. The ability to monitor the home via smart devices is a trend, since smartphones and tablets are changing user habits and gaining ground as the primary interface of HA systems. HA systems now offer apps to let customers use mobile devices to control them. Growth for remote monitoring and access control is very promising, as homeowners find new benefits and advantages to the system. These benefits include providing remote access to service professionals, monitoring children and babysitters through network cameras.
Market Education
In Asia, most of the population live in apartment buildings. HA system providers and intercom manufacturers collaborate closely with construction companies. Despite the HA market in China being young, more construction companies use HA as a selling point. The concept of a smart home, smart community and smart city are continuously promoted, said Guangyao Tang, Deputy GM, Leelen Technology.
Vendors have to think outside the box and find nonsecurity uses for their systems. “After understanding our system offer more than just security, users find it a good way to keep up with what is happening in their homes,” Tang said. HA and building automation have sparked serious interest from Asian homeowners and apartment owners.
“HA has rarely been a hot button for consumers,” Choy said. “Usually they're looking for something else, like a home theater.” Continued education is required for customers to understand the benefits of HA for better and more efficient home life.
Despite the economic downturn, variables for success lie in cost effectiveness, integrated solutions and advanced technologies with user-friendly interfaces.
Seamless integration of products is the key to a reliable HA system. An HA system glues all subsystems together so they can operate as one cohesive unit. Homeowners can adjust their smart home to their preferences, based on their habits and behavior. HA provides value to residential customers, while also providing revenue for security service providers. Never before have operators needed to widen service portfolios more than they do now. For new market entrants, the time to act is now, as the connected home promises to transform operator revenue streams, with total revenues expected to exceed $231 billion by 2016, according to a Visiongain report. Once a concept, the connected home is now a reality.