• by Chuck Martin , June 6, 2018

Most consumers want to install and maintain their own smart home products, according to a new study by GfK.

More than half (52%) of consumers said they prefer to install their own smart devices, an increase from 43% in 2015. The majority (57%) now want to maintain those devices themselves, up from 51% three years ago.

“We cannot say if the desire for self-sufficiency is driven by cost or a true independent streak – but it is definitely a marketplace force to be reckoned with,” stated Tom Neri, commercial director for tech and durables at GfK. “Device makers and service providers alike need to work harder to collaborate and pave the way for seamless installation and service; reflexive siloed behavior will only drag down acceptance and yield poor word of mouth from amateur technicians. There does exist a segment of consumers, skewing older, that would be responsive to an install and maintenance service support offering for smart home products.” 

The majority (62%) of consumers said they expect devices from different companies to be able to communicate with each other, according to the survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers.