Author: Mintel Group Ltd.
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Smart Homes - US - April 2016
Overview
 
What you need to know 
Only in the past few years has the smart home market emerged onto solid footing following a variety of early product failures, such as $20,000 smart refrigerators that were soundly rejected by consumers. The shift to a more attractive product mix came when manufacturers not only brought down prices but also began to take consumer needs into greater consideration, rather than spending research and development budgets on products that did not solve a specific problem. 

This Report further delineates those needs via both quantitative and qualitative research, and finds substantial and increasing interest in smart home devices that increase safety within the home or reduce power bills. Other motivations explored for adoption of smart home products include the convenience of remote access to home devices, again with data from original qualitative and quantitative research helping to wed insights to pressing concerns. 

Definition 
This Report covers “smart” hardware sold to consumers for their homes, or installed in their homes via a home automation service. Smart household products are defined as those that satisfy one of the following criteria: 

●	Devices that connect to other devices in the home via a codified communication platform (including WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy, ZigBee, and Z-Wave) 
●	Devices that can be remotely monitored/controlled using an internet-enabled product such as a mobile app or website
●	Devices that adjust their operations based on observing household behavior (eg smart thermostat)

Categories of products sold as smart home systems typically relate to climate control and water management, home security, lighting, and home monitoring. Multiple product categories are excluded either because they do not satisfy the criteria of the definition of the Report or because they are covered in other Mintel Reports. These include:

●	Mechanized products (eg garage door, sprinklers) or household systems (eg climate control, lighting) that do not connect to other devices in the home and cannot be controlled remotely
●	Robotic cleaning devices 
●	Entertainment products (including smart televisions, digital media players, and multi-room audio equipment)
●	Major appliances

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