Smart Speakers Often Lead Buyers to DIY Smart Home Systems, Says Parks

Smart speakers can be a gateway to smart home adoption, blogged Parks Associates Wednesday, saying 16% of broadband households bought a voice-enabled speaker before buying a smart home device. Three-quarters of the 29% of U.S. broadband households that own both said the speaker motivated them to buy a smart home device. “By bundling smart speakers with smart plugs, smart light bulbs, or smart thermostats, companies can deliver a guided introduction to the smart home experience,” said analyst Brad Russell. The combination helps encourage self-installation, “which is becoming significantly more important following the COVID-19 outbreak.” With so much shopping now shifting online, self-install options are important to trigger sales, said Russell. Companies can deliver support via smart speakers through do-it-with-me or do-it-together services that use real-time chat, he said. Some 77% of networked camera owners self-installed the devices in 2019 vs. 68% in 2018.