Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

Pandemic accelerates adoption of smart home solutions

This was one of key takeaways from the virtual CONNECTIONS Summit hosted this week by market research firm Parks Associates, which took place in conjunction with CES 2021. The event featured a multitude of panel discussions covering a variety of topics related to the adoption of smart home technology.

One of the first panels to take place during the event focused on smart home platforms and how consumers are leveraging them to integrate the multitude of connected devices that now comprise many U.S. residences. According to Jennifer Kent, Vice President of Research at Parks Associates, who also served as the panel’s moderator, a recent report from the firm found that U.S. households with broadband internet have, on average, 12 connected devices in their homes. Additionally, nearly one in five broadband households have a home control system and 28% have a security system that is professionally monitored with smart home control capabilities.

In fact, as of last July, Parks Associates research found that 55% of recent security system buyers chose to install the system themselves, compared with just a third that opted for professional installation. However, many professional integrators are now hopping on the DIY bandwagon looking to make hay on the trend any way they can.

In fact, 40% of security dealers reported installing DIY systems in 2020, according to Parks Associates, which is up significantly from previous year. Additionally, nearly half of all security dealers see DIY as a new revenue opportunity that will attract different customers to the professionally installed systems they offer for businesses.

From the article "Pandemic accelerates adoption of smart home solutions" by Joel Griffin.

Previously In The News

Smart Homes Are Cool, But Are They Safe?

Parks Associates found that there was little difference when it came to concerns about someone controlling smart products uninvited versus accessing the historical data products generate. In both case...

User experience key focus for smart TVs and SMPs

A Parks Associates report finds that makers of smart TVs and streaming media players (SMPs) are shifting strategies to focus on the user experience (UX) as device sales start to flatten out. Accord...

One in 10 smart home device owners report unresolved technical problems

Smart home devices are supposed to make our lives easier, but if they suddenly stop working without warning, they can end up doing just the opposite. According to new research, more than one in 10 peo...

Google continues to ignore the Chromecast, the best product it ever made

The numbers also suggest customers, at least in the United States, have begun to pick Roku and Amazon over Google. A study by Parks Associates found that the Chromecast now makes up only 11% of the me...