OPTIMISING KITCHENS INTELLIGENTLY

Technology has been at the forefront in how kitchens have changed. From tech-enabled and voice controlled appliances to efficient storage solutions, kitchens have undergone a transformation in the past few years. Construction Times takes a peek into the upcoming trends in the smart kitchen space.

Kitchen, whether small or big, is the most important room in any home. It is not just a room, but a hub where people experiment their culinary skills. In the earlier days, these kitchens were equipped with traditional tools for grinding, chopping, blending, etc. However, with technology taking the lead, electrical appliances replaced the traditional tools, making cooking easier.

As technology evolved, so did the electrical appliances. From manually operated to sensor-enabled and voice controlled appliances, these equipment are getting smarter every day. However, having smart appliances alone does not make a kitchen smart. But, a combination of efficient management of available space, use of tech-enabled appliances and integrating the two, will make kitchen, a "smart" room.

Nowadays, majority of the constructions have an influence of the western culture. Today, developers are designing homes keeping in mind the changing preferences of customers. Kitchen, which is one of the most happening places in a house, are now designed to give it a warm and welcoming feel rather than making it a room where food is cooked.

"Kitchens have become an interactive space where families get together to spend quality time apart from the daily chores. The kitchen is no longer a secluded space. It has become an integral space and an extension of the living space for entertaining friends and interacting with family. In terms of style, we have moved away from traditional-looking kitchens to more contemporary kitchen styles with clean lines and aesthetic designs. Now, Indian customers also closely follow the ongoing global trends and are looking to have a kitchen that is stylish and tailor-made as per their family requirements. They want the kitchen to be a reflection of their lifestyle. Customers today lookout for smart storage options, design upgrades, and low maintenance kitchen options," Rahul Thakkar, General Manager- Housing Business- India Operations, Panasonic Life Solutions India said.

Echoing similar views, Harshal Mundhe, Product Category Head- Kitchens, Hafele India said our food intake habits and lifestyle have been continuously evolving because of which we see consumers opting for and adopting contemporary kitchen layouts that foster openness and offer more space for socialising, thus making it more inclusive.

"This has put focus on the kitchen designs that are now required to not only be functional and ergonomic but also aesthetically pleasing. Many consumers due to their exposure to different food cultures like undertaking the occasional baking, grilling etc. which has in turn influenced the addition of newer appliances like oven, teppanyaki, coffee machines etc. to the kitchens," Mundhe said.

According to Vinayak Chadha, Managing Director at The KariGhars, unlike today, a couple of years ago, the trend for kitchens was to have a plain white one, with a minimal number of necessary appliances. These days, clients are gravitating towards minimalistic, Scandinavian kitchens with pops of color.

"I have personally observed a sudden shift towards home automation and smart kitchens amidst the clientele. Since house help has become scarce due to the lockdown and safety measures related

to the pandemic, working women and bachelors require the help of technology in order to carry on their daily lives. No one today wants to slave away in the kitchen, therefore, there has been a tremendous increase in the use of wifi-controlled appliances like a hotpot, air fryer, or self-stirrers, self- precision cookers, etc," he said.

Key Features of Smart Kitchens

There are various ways how kitchens can be made smart by integrating different factors to provide convenience and ease while making it a happening place. Also, the growing awareness of newer technologies in the home automation space is also revolutionising kitchens.

According to industry experts, the adoption of newer technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has ensured home automation becomes even more prolific.

"The system integrates with smart home appliances such as refrigerators and ovens to track available ingredients and cooking temperatures and times — transforming almost anyone into a versatile home chef. AI in smart homes will help devices to learn inhabitant's routine and start to predict the way instruments should work in such conditions. A better example for this will be a smart refrigerator calculating nutrients, vitamins and your health data according to your daily consumption and also reminding you the vegetables and groceries needed in home," Subodh Mehta, Senior Vice-President (B2C), Godrej Interio said.

With the assitance of technology, consumers now have fewer things to worry about, said Rakesh Kaul, CEO & Whole time Director at Somany Home Innovation (SHIL). "Consumers can now use voice commands to operate chimneys, water purifiers, or can be more aware of the auto clean status of chimneys through the app and plan accordingly. In a way, all these smart features have added to an enhanced cooking experience for the consumers in the kitchen. With IoT, consumers have become more aware and connected with the appliances."

According to Shilpa D K, Founder & CEO, Arqonz Global, kitchen layouts should be such that they allow us to fit all the necessary appliances and vessels in a very small space. "Even when people move to bigger apartments, memories make them choose the angular configurations while they could afford an island kitchen or any other kind. We are seeing a big rise in requests for engineered quartz, but not everyone prefers the same. Besides, matt finishes are usually not preferred since stains are easily visible making the kitchens look dirty.

Some of the key elements of smart kitchen are

• Lighting
• Appliances
• Storage

Lighting

Lights play a very crucial part in any home decor. A small room can be made to look large using the right combination of lights and its shades. Kitchens also require to maintain the right balance of lights. The most common types of lights found in kitchens today are – ambient lights, task lights and accent lights.

"Smart kitchens are of course the need of the hour. All the appliances, lights in the kitchen can be automatically controlled via our smartphones. One-touch, self-opening cabinets using servo drives are smart, stylish, and more functional. When all of this is combined with Panasonic’s smart accessories, then working in the kitchen will no longer be just a chore," Thakkar said.

According to Mehta, good lighting is important to not just support tasks but also to create a visually more appealing ambience is a requirement that we have seen gaining popularity.

Appliances

Technology has played a major role in the way we do things, even cooking for that matter. Major domestic and international brands, which have been present in India since many years, are also introducing a lot of innovations in their offerings. With the advent of the Covid 19 pandemic, the household appliances market dynamics has changed to a greater extend.

The need for comfort has been guiding purchase in past few years with increase in buying power of urban middle class. "The pandemic has added desire for safety as an influencing factor. Thus a combined value proposition of safety, comfort, convenience and a connected experience are the influencing factors while purchasing appliances and devices. Confined within homes, consumers are actively embracing smart appliances and incorporating AI and IoT enabled products in their everyday lives. As consumers continue to consider home as their safety hub, we believe the demand for smart appliances is here to stay. Over the course of next few years the installed base of smart connected homes and appliances., will triple and continue to grow. Today, there is a demand for fully connected homes (especially the living room) and Panasonic is uniquely positioned to provide an end to end solution here – right from wiring devices, electrical equipment, security systems and home appliances," Dinesh Aggarwal, Joint MD, Panasonic Life Solutions and Head Spatial Solutions Panasonic India. said.

Expressing similar views, Neeraj Bahl, MD & CEO, BSH Home Appliances said that we are living in extraordinary times wherein people are restricted to their homes, consumers are adapting to the ‘new normal’ by making use of appliances to support them in their daily chores.

"As the fear of the virus continues, the importance of basic hygiene has become of paramount. Covid-19 has changed many things both in the external world as well as dynamics at home. For instance, once considered a luxury appliance, today a product like a dishwasher has become an essential product in many urban households across India. Since the pandemic struck in 2020, the demand for dishwashers has seen an exponential growth. These are the kind of products consumers are looking for in today's time and age given the current scenario where there is an increased need for convenience and trust on hygiene. Amidst heightened need for personal hygiene and convenience as an outcome of Covid 19, has accelerated the dishwasher category giving aspirational customers an opportunity to live a hassle-free lifestyle," he added.

Sharing a few examples of technological advancements avhieved in this space, Kaul said, "An IoT water purifier will let the consumer know the input and output TDS of the drinking water, the total consumption of water for a day as well as on monthly basis among other things. Similarly, the smart IoT chimney shows us the usage history of the chimney (in terms of usage hours) and also the auto clean run history along with other features. Another biggest advantage we see with IoT Appliances is the ease of usage. So, with Hindware's range of IoT appliances, a consumer can register service with just a tap of a button provided on the appliance or through the Hindware Konnect app. The convenience of switching the chimney ON/OFF can be remotely done using the app or voice commands in hindi & english language using Alexa & Google Assistant feature."

Storage

Another area that needs to be worked on to make the kitchen smart is the "storage". Kitchens tend to collect a lot of clutters and thus it is essential to organise it well. Modular kitchen designs come to the rescue of customers in managing the storage as well as giving it the desired look.

"Kitchens have been at the forefront of offering smart solutions like electrically driven cabinet opening systems, height adjustable countertops, flexible electrical plugs, sensor-based lighting systems etc. AI and ML have started to show some progress with some appliances but their overall impact on the way kitchen layouts are planned is still to be seen. Having said that we have seen some promising studies, that show a great potential in changing the way we use our kitchens," Mundhe said.

Elaborating on the changing preferences, Mehta said, "Customer purchase patterns are changing in the post Covid scenario. They have realized the need for additional storage, keeping their kitchen extra clean and sanitized, keeping things easily accessible to all members of household which have led to a higher need of modularity, enabling easier organizing and visibility. Tall pantry units and larders help in maintaining additional supplies for the kitchen by using vertical space effectively. High gloss/ flat surfaces which are devoid of texture, have grown increasingly popular over the last few months. Modularity, materials and finishes have been selected and constructed to be utilitarian and dynamic, to keep up with the changing usage patterns of customers."

Aggarwal noted that consumers are realizing the potential of AI/ML in transforming their everyday lives. From helping with household chores to cataloguing grocery stock and lending a hand in cooking, technology is making every day comfortable, convenient and connected. 

"The L class modular kitchens of Panasonic have been designed keeping comfort of use and a maximum space utilization of space. With multiple finish and color option, it also has intelligence built into some of the fittings and appliances; for example self-cleaning chimney and self-learning drop down shelf," he added.

The basic layout of the cabinets and appliances dictates what kind of experience you'll have working in a kitchen. It's a matter of preference, and often depends on the layout you start with and how much time and money you're willing to spend to change it, Shilpa opined.

"Ideas from Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian architecture for modern homes naturally influence kitchen design, and in many modern cases lean toward a U-shaped or L-shaped kitchen layout. Other than some high-tech appliances, most of the customers are not inclined towards having many tech-enabled features. Instead, they're focusing on materials and features that provide basic function and classic style. Materials like engineered marble, glossy finishes that don't stain, etc are their preferences. Some common features that homeowners, almost everywhere, seem to want are white cabinets, pull out garbage and recycling bins, more pantry storage and new countertops, appliances for ease of cooking," she said.

Chaddha observed that all these options ease our busy and fast-paced lives. "Integrating automation systems into your kitchen is another aspect to be considered. With the use of these control devices, one can take charge of all the kitchen appliances and features. Brewing your coffee, monitoring the stove/oven, adjusting the temperature of the fridge, cleaning dishes with the dishwasher – Everything with just a single touch."

Covid & White Goods Industry

According to CARE ratings, the growth of the consumer electronics and appliances is supported by the continuance of WFH culture, online classes, and demand of goods that enhance convenience at home, such as refrigerators, electric cooking appliances, washing machines and ACs.

"On one side this looks good but the hikes in the price of refrigerators, washing machines, AC, Microwave ovens and TVs has been a worrying question for companies to sustain the competition. The price hikes are due to 40-50% increase in freight costs, 30-100% global shortage of raw material and availability of minerals due to decrease in workforce of manufacturing industries. For Godrej Interio, most of our raw material for kitchens are sourced from within India. With specialized logistical arrangements connecting our suppliers and our factories, we could sustain manufacturing through most of the last few quarters. This implies that sourcing from local, and impetus from Atmanirbhar Bharat helped us wade through the choked supply lines," Mehta said.

Aggarwal also noted that the pandemic has altered the way businesses used to operate. Initial nationwide lockdowns, government guidelines and restrictions in movement of people and goods, did lead to disruptions in the supply chain, hampering the overall sales/demand for white goods across the industry.

"Recently, due to the sudden surge in number of cases in the second wave and most of the states imposing partial lockdowns, we expect the summer sales to be hit too. At Panasonic, we have inventories to scale up supply and to ensure a smooth purchase experience for our partners and consumers across offline and online channels," he added.

For Hafele, kitchens have always played the role of a community centre for families and due to the on-going pandemic, its importance has only increased. "In this period, consumers have focused on recreating fine dining experiences, celebrating with home baked delicacies, developing healthy food habits and ensuring hygienic cleaning of the kitchen areas as well as of the utensils in the absence of any external house help. This has significantly accelerated change in the preferences of consumers which otherwise would have taken some time, for example, bbuil-in dishwashers have now become a compulsory element of every kitchen that has been designed recently and this change is being driven by the consumers themselves," Mundhe said.

Bahl observed the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the white goods industry in several ways, including the import related challenges, which have made it difficult for most brands to get their products into the country, resulting in a supply crisis.

"Our products have been ready at various ports but there are no containers available. However, the fear of the virus has also forced consumers to keep their domestic help at bay, and this has led to categories such as dishwashers grow by 25% over same time last year. Washing machine, microwave and big sized refrigerator sales have doubled too," he added.

Way Forward

Smart kitchens are of course the need of the hour. All the appliances, lights in the kitchen can be automatically controlled via our smartphones. One-touch, self-opening cabinets using servo drives are smart, stylish, and more functional. When all of this is combined with Panasonic’s smart accessories, then working in the kitchen will no longer be just a chore, Thakkar said.

According to Kaul, customers have now started looking for additional benefits that the product can offer to make their lives easier and convenient. It includes the intangible benefits or add-ons that goes beyond the product itself such as after-sales service, etc. More consumers are seeking value propositions with a comfortable, convenient, and connected experience to support a changed lifestyle amid the coronavirus pandemic. "We have seen a surge in dishwashers and other kitchen appliances over the past year as increasingly consumers are spending more time at home. We have also seen the adoption of smart kitchen appliances in independent residential homes."

The second wave has hit the consumer durable segment hard but despite it, the white goods industry has seen an emerging demand for health, hygiene & cleaning products.

Since customers are spending more time at home and in their kitchens, and with restrictions on travel and eating out, etc., we will see consumers with high disposable income opting to change, upgrade or acquire new appliances. In addition to it, in the new normal we see many youngsters and in many families the male members, exploring and recognizing new hobbies like cooking. This in turn gives a huge scope to the technology led kitchen appliances which not only make things easier in the kitchen but also upgrades their lifestyle. Like the demand for appliances like dishwashers have seen a spike," Kaul added.

After years of social, economic, and political change, technology is now the forerunner of a complete transformation. AI and ML are now creating a new ecosystem of constant engagement and consumption. Hence, home automation is on a rise.

"At BSH, we develop innovations that simplify life, and satisfy needs that go beyond that. Our aim is to always create innovations that offer tangible benefits to lead the way. The future of tech is about creating human-robot interaction and that requires a different set of skills. The end-game in these technologies is interfacing and communicating with consumers to help and support them, and doing so seamlessly," Bahl added.

As Chaddha sums up, "The demographic of people that usually want a fully automated kitchen comes from the cream of society. So fitting into their budgets is relatively easy. At the same time, home assistants like Google Home and Alexa have become mainstream in recent years. We at KariGhars ensure the best possible home automation systems for our client homes and believe in educating the clients about smart kitchens in case they don’t already know about them. This leads to the client making an informed decision regarding all the possible directions they could take their kitchens to. Again, citing the pandemic where a lot of external help has been reduced; Robot vacuums like the Roomba and dishwashers have become more common. People are embracing the western form of lifestyle where almost everything is automated in order to make their lives easier."

BOX

BSH Home Appliances

We offer an array of products from hobs, hoods, coffee makers, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, mixer grinders and washing machines. Categories like dishwashers, front-loading washing machines and mixer grinders led the growth since the pandemic struck. We plan to enter the cooktop segment in India in August 2021 through the Bosch brand and aim to open 10 more experience centres in India over the next 3 years.

Panasonic India

We have a product portfolio consisting of connected ACs, refrigerators, washing machines, fans, smart doorbell, smart plugs & switches. With an aim to democratize technology for all, we are looking at extending our connected product portfolio to include all brands of appliances and expand the product range viz. AI enabled TV, Anchor Roma Smart switches and Water Heaters amongst others.

Panasonic Life Solutions India

We offer modular kitchens with smart solutions. Our countertop withstands up to 300 degrees celsius of heat, gives a beautiful natural stone-like texture while being completely oil and water repellent.

Integrated with the countertop are Panasonic sinks. We provide innovative accessories like soft down and our drawer systems are designed at an ergonomic height so only minimum bending is required and have a very high load-bearing capacity and utilise plinth space to provide extra storage space.

Equipped with complete high-end accessories our kitchens follow a very significant Japanese concept called the Shimau.

Hafele India

We have introduced a number of retrofit solutions like Aqua mini dishwasher, with a compact build, that fits on the kitchen countertop with ease. Countertop appliances range comes laden with the latest technologies and helps majorly cut down on your food prepping time. We have also introduced transformable table and countertop fittings under our Space2 range that provide an extra work top when required which can then be easily folded in when not in use. 

Godrej Interio

Godrej Interio kitchens are designed as per the anthropometric data of the Indian woman, keeping in mind the ergonomics. These kitchens are further designed as per Indians storage needs and cooking styles and are made in Galvanized steel which prevents it from corrosion. As a part of the Neo Kitchens category, we will be soon launching two products – Active Sink and Cool Drawer.

Somany Home Innovation

Our recently introduced products in the health and hygiene category for Kitchen – Activio & Livio Food Sanitizers – use Ozone Purification Technology to remove 99% germs & bacteria dirt, fertilizers, ripening agents, etc. Our Polaris Table Top Dishwasher comes with auto clean technology. Our Optimus iPro Chimney comes with features such as auto clean alert, while the Achelous Premium iPro & Elara iPro water purifiers come with real-time RO Membrane status & filter life status, etc.