Millennials tend to lead the market when it comes to adopting new trends. They’ve been at the forefront of the cord-cutting and cord-nevering movement, and still remain at the top of the pack when it comes to affinity for Over-the-Top streaming. And it seems Millennials are also leading in the adoption of smart home technologies.
GlobalData reports nearly three-quarters of Millennials find the idea of controlling home appliances from their smartphone either appealing or very appealing. But that sentiment is lacking in the over-55 age group, among whom less than half of respondents said the same.
But why the disparity?
GlobalData notes it could have something to do with perceived usefulness of connected home devices. Around 65 percent of Millennials said they rely heavily on time-saving products and services, compared to just 49 percent of respondents over the age of 55.
“The convenience and efficacy that smart homes deliver appeals more to Millennials, given that younger consumers lead busier, more demanding lifestyles, and yearn for effective and efficient products that are seamlessly integrated with the smart technologies they use day in, day out,” GlobalData Consumer Analyst Matthew Perry observes.
Perry’s conclusion is backed up by a similar finding from Strategy Analytics that was released earlier this month. The firm indicated consumers want more than remote access to appliances; they want actionable data that can be used to benefit their lifestyle.
Strategy Analytics found that consumers want proactive rather than reactive devices and systems, with tasks being automatically completed for them based on the information provided.
“Remote control of the home environment is limited,” commented UXIP Director of Syndicated Research Chris Schreiner. “Users are currently required to react to and interpret information provided by their smart devices – there is no allowance for the devices to be used to their full potential. Providing features such as contextual awareness and artificial intelligence (AI) will make smart devices more proactive.”
