The Australian home automation market is set to grow to $917 million, but it won’t just be big tech names such as Samsung, Google and LG that benefit, according to a new Telsyte report.
According to Telsyte’s Australian Smart Home Automation Market Study, the Australian home automation market is expected to generate $160 million in device revenues during 2017.
The report, the first in its kind in Australia, is based on a survey of 1018 consumers conducted in late 2013.
The report predicts within the next two years, a range of ‘smart’ connected devices will all be controlled through a master control system or “smart home hub”, connected through home Wi-Fi networks.
These hubs, in turn, will be able to be programmed through the cloud by tablets and smartphones.
During the past year, a number of large tech giants including LG, Samsung and Google have all made high-profile product announcements in the smart connected device space.
However, Telsyte senior research manager Sam Yip told SmartCompany this morning that it’s not just the big names in tech that have been investing in the sector.
“You see Belkin in the DIY home automation market offering kits for a few $100 at the entry level.
“Incumbent security firms are also investing in this space, with Hills Holdings investing a lot.
“And in-between, you have hardware makers with routers, enabling Wi-Fi.”
According to Yip, consumers are interested in using the technology for home management.
“They’re primarily into the management and control of energy use, the control of their environment and outputs.
“The market includes everything from DIY to large-scale home automation systems that are installed when a house is first constructed.
“Management comes first, and that’s software-on-hardware. You also have the lighting, monitoring, sensors, outdoor and garden and security segments.”
The report also notes that unobtrusive, low-end DIY systems are a key driver for the sector over the coming years.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
