Commentary

79% See Price As Issue In Moving To Smart Home Devices

There’s a significant gap between smart home devices and consumers who might use those gadgets.

And expense is part of the smart home equation.

Most of those who have smart home devices saved money by setting up the devices themselves and the main stumbling block for those who don’t want a smart home is price, according to a new study.

Of those who already have a smart home system, such as Internet-connected lights, heating or security system, most have systems relating to entertainment, according to the study, which comprised a survey of 3,000 U.S. consumers conducted by Support.com.

The majority (64%) of consumers with smart home items have two to four devices with the rest having five or more. Here are the types of devices consumers currently have:

  • 74% -- Home entertainment (connected stereos, TVs, gaming consoles)
  • 46% -- Home safety, security (fire alarm, video monitoring, remote garage door access
  • 35% -- Energy and water controls (thermostat, water leak controls)
  • 28% -- Lighting (exterior/interior light/timer control, remote shade control)
  • 20% -- Connected appliances (kitchen, laundry appliances)

And consumers are happy when the devices work as advertised. Most (71%) are satisfied when each device works the way it’s supposed to, 60% are happy when all connected devices work together easily and 57% when they can fix an issue on their own if one arises.

For those who don’t yet own any smart home devices, price issues are at the top of the list. Here are the issues that consumers expect would frustrate them the most in setting up a smart home system:

  • 79% -- Price to buy, setup, and maintain a smart home system
  • 33% -- Devices possibly not working together well
  • 22% -- The connected devices or apps that control them being too complicated to use
  • 21% -- Installation and setup possibly being too complex to do on own
  • 18% -- Having to deal with different companies to purchase the smart home system

In addition to the perceived frustration, many (25%) consumers don’t even want a smart home.

Getting smart home devices to seamlessly work together is hardly an easy task. Neither will be getting consumers to take the plunge.

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