Katie Plumstead, Group Marketing Manager at Scolmore Group, looks at the current state of the UK home automation market and what is driving growth.
According to a recent report by market research company ReportLinker, the UK has emerged as a prominent player in the global smart home industry with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.45% from 2022 to 2027. By the end of this period the market is expected to reach a valuation of US$17.81 billion, fuelled by increasing consumer awareness, technological advancements, and government initiatives supporting energy efficiency and sustainability.
One significant trend shaping the UK smart home market is the rising adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which facilitate seamless communication between various home appliances and systems. This increased connectivity has paved the way for innovative home automation solutions, providing homeowners with improved energy management, security and convenience.
Another notable trend is the growing demand for voice-controlled smart home devices, driven by the popularity of virtual assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri. This has led to the development of a wide range of voice-enabled products, including smart speakers, lighting systems, thermostats and security systems, which are increasingly integrated into the daily lives of UK consumers.
Diverse sector
The smart home sector is diverse and incorporates a broad range of products, ranging from highly integrated, high spec systems, fully smart home designed through to low cost, lower spec, products with limited installation requirements and singular functionality.
Previously, smart home technology was primarily associated with luxury homes and large residential projects due to its high cost. However, there has been an increasing demand for retrofitting home automation products among enthusiastic consumers who are eager to integrate new technology into their homes.
Renowned for its innovative and intuitive solutions in lighting and wiring accessories, Scolmore continues to invest in its Click Smart+ home automation range to meet the growing demand from contractors and end users for smart products and solutions. The comprehensive range is available through the electrical wholesale channel and will assist installers looking to boost their business with an enhanced smart home offer that will deliver a complete connected home experience to householders.
Designed to simplify and streamline connected home products – lighting controls, smart sockets, security cameras and sensors – the Click Smart+ range utilises Zigbee technology – one of the most widely adopted smart home communication protocols. Zigbee certified devices require the Click Smart+ Hub and communicate with each other using a mesh network which creates multiple pathways for the connection of multiple smart home devices without compromising signal and communication range. A key benefit of Zigbee and the new Click Smart+ range is that there is no requirement for a signal repeater, as all wired Zigbee devices have repeaters built in.
Ultimate control
Click Smart+ has at its core accessibility and simplicity for the installer and end user and is designed to bring convenience, comfort, security, energy saving and ultimately more control in the home. Installation is simple and flexible, with no additional cables or wall cutting required, making it ideal for existing or newly constructed buildings. The bespoke Click Smart+ app gives householders ultimate control of the smart devices, which can also be operated through voice control in conjunction with a smart speaker.
As the rise in demand for smart home products continues, there is ample opportunity for wholesalers and installers to tap into this burgeoning sector. ESP, a Scolmore Group company, continues to enjoy success with its Fort Smart Security range launched over two years ago. Fort provides installers with a comprehensive range of products that covers all aspects of smart home security and is designed to be simple to install, maintain and use – making it an ideal solution for wholesalers to promote to their customers. The Fort range includes intruder alarms, video doorbell, video security light, sensors and a selection of 1080p cameras, and they all operate under a single app – the ‘Click Smart+’ app – which is completely subscription-free, with no additional fees incurred. By bringing the operation of the Fort range under the well-established Click Smart+ app from Scolmore, users have control of a raft of connected home and security products all from one secure, easy to access platform.
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