Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors

The company is still “number one,” said Elizabeth Parks, president of market research firm Parks Associates in Dallas. But it’s a shaky number one. Parks estimates that iRobot had nearly two-thirds of the robot vacuum market in 2018, but now holds only a 48 percent share. Meanwhile, rival robot makers like SharkNinja, Roborock, Eufy, and Ecovacs have been steadily chipping away.

One possible reason, according to Parks, is concern about data privacy. More advanced versions of the Roomba and other robots use visual sensors to generate detailed maps of the user’s home. This information is shared with the manufacturers to develop more advanced products, but it could also potentially be used to monitor users.

From the article, "IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors" by Hiawatha Bray

Previously In The News

Intel pushes Amazon Alexa to third party devices

The release of the new kit represents an opportunity for Intel to get its foot in the door in the burgeoning smart home market. According to Parks Associates, smart speakers in particular are driving...

Unlocking next-level consumer engagement and energy savings with the latest smart technology

At the beginning of 2018, Bloomberg noted that consumer demand for smart thermostats will steadily increase over the next five years, so we know the devices that have already been effective aren't goi...

How Businesses Can Use VR to Win the Race to Consumers’ Hearts (and Homes)

Despite the enthusiasm for VR in the popular consciousness, however, it has not yet reached must-have status in the consumer electronics sector. A Parks Associates survey found that, as of May 2016, o...

Arrayent Connects Developers To IoT Ecosystems With The EcoAdaptor For Nest

Amid IoT ecosystem platforms, Nest from Nest Labs (subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.) is a mature and well known brand. It was acquired by Google (now Alphabet) in 2014 for $3.2 billion and has expanding it...