TOWARDS CONNECTED LIVING

Innovative technologies based on IoT and artificial intelligence will push the concept of Smart Homes in India and the upcoming 5G technology will add more pace to the development in future.

A smart home is composed of networked devices and associated services that facilitate automation. As per forecasts, India ranked the third highest numbers of smart homes around the world in 2020. According to a Statista report, the Indian smart home market is expected to be around $6 billion by 2022, a two-fold increase from $3 billion estimated in 2020. The growing adoption of digital and IoT-based solutions among the users and the growing urbanization are expected to boost the concept of Smart Homes in India.

Market dynamics

The concept of smart homes was in a nascent stage in India just a couple of years back. There was little knowledge and awareness around the technology, with many considering it esoteric and exclusively for the wealthy. However, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed people to seek out smart solutions for their homes, especially contactless smart home devices. Kishan Jain, Director, Goldmedal Electricals says, “One of the key attractions of smart home technology is that it promises ubiquitous control and comfort at one's fingertips. Furthermore, it also offers features like security, connectivity, energy efficiency, and better control that makes our lives more convenient. All these are available at multiple price points. So, awareness and affordability are the key factors.”

Smart homes are a major step on the evolutionary ladder for residential spaces, and their primary aim is to make living more comfortable, convenient, secure, entertaining and sustainable. The concept is catching on in India in a big way, with many residential developers of luxury homes implementing this concept in their projects. “Powered by gadgets and computing technologies, smart homes were the prerogative of the very rich in the past - but no more. Consumers now have access to intuitive technologies and virtual assistants which can remind them about their daily chores, help them plan their day and also operate their appliances,” says Sumit Joshi, CEO & MD, Signify Innovations South Asia.

In India, the market for smart homes has been growing steadily. Thanks to constant technological advancements, smart homes are also becoming 'smarter' with every passing year. “Every year, the uptake of smart homes in India is growing by 15-18% in tier 1 cities and by 5-10% in tier 2 and tier 3 cities,” he adds.

An evolving market

According to Jain,the smart homes concept is still relatively new in India. Connected living allows you to monitor and control homes remotely. This is particularly helpful for busy professionals, senior citizens, differently-abled individuals and people with care needs. He adds, “Smart home solutions allow them to lead independent lives while staying connected digitally. It also helps caregivers monitor, support and remotely connect with their dependents.”

Joshi highlights the trend in smart homes, “Today, consumers are opting for smart, connected, and energy-efficient home appliances that not only add value to their lifestyle but also offer a reduced total cost of ownership. It is an exciting time we live in, where devices can function basis voice commands, understand you better through artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), and operate seamlessly through IoT.”

India's smart home market is poised to grow and has made significant advancements in the past few years. The concept of connected living is definitely picking up pace in India, but there is still a long way to go, according to Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska. He elaborates on the trend, “The young generation today is looking at integrating technology and automation in their everyday life. However, there is a huge gap that still exists and we need to educate customers about the various benefits of integrating technology and automation in their homes. Also, helping here is the Government of India, which has welcomed this lucrative opportunity through large-scale initiatives such as the smart cities project with the objective of making Indian cities future ready. The younger demographic coupled with affordable prices are advancing the concept of smart homes in India.”

The urban push

Growing urbanization is definitely one of the leading contributors in the demand of smart home technology. “Urban areas have seen a growth in the number of residential complexes and there is a rise in demand for homes that are equipped with smart home devices and systems,” points out Jain.

Urbanization is a never-ending phenomenon, according to Joshi. He adds, “Today, 35% of the people of India live in cities, a proportion that's expected to reach 66% by 2050. With the overall population growth rate in India, urbanization will add another one billion people to cities over the next three decades. Environmental, social, and economic sustainability is a must to keep pace with this rapid expansion taxing our cities' resources. As disposable incomes in the city increase, there will also be an increased demand for automated lighting systems in homes, that are compatible with other home automation solutions.”

The pandemic has habituated people of safety, comfort, convenience and a connected experience while purchasing electronics and electrical products for home or personal use. Also, factors such as a better quality of life, a rise in the disposable income of the urban middle class, and increased knowledge of smart automated systems have led to the country's adoption of home automation systems. Uttamchandani explains, “Home automation systems in India have witnessed unprecedented demand in recent years, due to increased concerns about safety and security of their loved ones. This phenomenon is only going to accentuate with the passage of time as technology led innovations and alterations are taking a centre stage.”

Technology trends

Technological advancements in every field have transformed the way we conduct our daily lives, right from communicating to paying bills or booking tickets and much more. According to Uttamchandani, smart home automation, an application of Internet of Things (IoT) is one such innovative technology that is fast gaining momentum across the country. “There are multiple reasons that have paved the way for inclination towards integrating smart home tech products and solutions, with convenience, comfort and control being the primary ones. Additionally, owing to the availability of affordable data connectivity services which is making products easily available in the market, there is a growing demand for the purchase of smart home products not only in metro cities but also in tier 2 & 3 towns,” he points out.

With the concept of smart homes gaining more acceptance among the people, major players are providing smart home solutions to match the varied requirements. For example, Goldmedal offers a complete home automation system which can be controlled using a smartphone, RF remote and an exclusively designed i-World app. There are a wide range of products compatible with the system including a range of Wi-Fi switches, panels etc. “We have recently introduced a range of high-end automation products in association with KNX. We are planning to diversify in the segment in the near future,” Jain reveals the company's plans.

Innovation is in Signify's DNA. Joshi adds, “We have two smart lighting products in our portfolio - Philips Hue and Philips Smart WiFi with WiZ connected range. In line with the growing demand for smart lighting, we have recently expanded our WiZ range by adding new products like Philips Smart Wifi T-Bulb, T-Beamer, Batten and Downlighter for a complete smart lighting experience.”

Uttamchandani shares the innovations from Syska, “We launched the Syska Smart Wi-Fi Plugs which makes the existing and regular home appliances such as microwave ovens, air conditioners, televisions, mobiles, lamps, etc. semi smart by controlling them through voice assistants and Syska smart home App from any corner of the home. In fact, it also helps you use your appliances by setting up schedules to turn them ON/OFF, with time schedules.”

Outlook bright

Wireless connectivity and control through mobile phones or a smart interface is one of the key emerging trends in this segment. Jain adds, “Combining this with voice and gesture controls can be the next steps. Systems will also evolve to understand usage patterns to optimize use of energy and ensure minimum wastage. There's a huge opportunity to use data to make homes become more power efficient and sentient – thus helping people focus on the more important aspects of life.”

With the advent of 5G and IoT, the smart home industry will witness a massive growth in the coming years. Joshi elaborates, “As we make further strides in technology, a large plethora of options in terms of applications, appliances, devices and controllers will be made available to consumers to help design the smart home of the future. People will prefer to move to new homes and buildings fitted with connected lighting and integrated gadgets.”

According to reports, the smart home automation market is projected to reach US$ 114 billion by the end of 2027. From the perspective of smart lights, Uttamchandani adds, “Smart lighting has a stirring future that promises a range of new and advanced products and solutions. The existing load on the Internet will certainly influence the market and hence manufacturers need to design and manufacture their products to suit the market tendencies especially when it is coupled with IoT ecosystems and smart lighting control systems.”

With the technology disruptions are gaining pace in the new challenging market conditions, smart solutions will have a bright future and smart home concept is sure to gain pace in the coming years.

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