Lowe's Tells Customers It's Shutting Down Iris Smart Home Platform in March

Lowe’s, one of the early retailers to test the smart home market, emailed customers it’s shutting down its Iris smart home and security platform March 31, after the company’s announced exit late last year. Lowe’s had announced its decision to exit the Iris business in its Q3 release as part of a “strategic reassessment" that also included closing 20 U.S. stores, some 30 stores in Canada and withdrawing its retail operations in Mexico. It took a $14 million charge in Q3 for its exit of the Iris and Alacrity Renovation Services businesses. A Lowe’s spokesperson emailed Friday the decision was made after it evaluated options and “determined that none of the alternatives would allow Iris to continue to deliver the experience our customers have come to expect from us.” Lowe’s created an online redemption process that will allow Iris customers with eligible, connected Iris devices to receive a prepaid Visa card "to help them migrate to another smart home platform,” she said. Many devices used with Iris are compatible with other smart home platforms, she said. She mentioned SmartThings as a “comparable” platform and said a SmartThings support team is available to help with the migration process. The company will provide a full refund for eligible Iris devices not supported on a comparable platform. Responding to our question on how consumers should view Lowe’s take on the smart home opportunity, she said: “Lowe’s remains committed to carrying the breadth and depth of smart home products and brands to meet our customers’ needs now and in the future.” The smart home section on Lowe's website Friday appeared jumbled. The landing page under the smart home and security tab featured a Google family of products, including a thermostat, camera and smartphone app. When we clicked on “Shop All,” more than 30 smart lighting products from Q-See, also sold at competitor Home Depot, showed on screen. A Whirlpool washing machine appeared next to a Q-LED wired security camera kit and didn’t appear to be a smart model. In the row below, two Samsung ventless stackable dryers were sandwiched by a hangable shop light and a Samsung “smart home white home automation item tracker.” Lowe’s entered the market with Iris in 2012.