Tech-savvy Chinese consumers drive growth for smart home appliances
Smart home technology on par with mobile payments and wearable tech in playing key role in pushing forward innovative technology in China
From mobile app controlled washing machines, to refrigerators with touch screens and household robots, China’s smart home appliances will see steady growth, analysts say.
Growth opportunities in the industry will be driven by demand from tech-savvy Chinese consumers who embrace smart home technology to a greater extent than their global counterparts, according to Germany-based market researcher GfK.
In an international survey conducted by GfK, more than 75 per cent of people interviewed in China said that smart home technology will impact their lives in the next few years, compared to the global average of just over 50 per cent.
“This makes China one of the best informed markets on smart home technology, giving retailers and suppliers a strong start,” said GfK in a report based on data and interviews from 1,000 respondents in seven countries.
The survey results put smart home technology on par with mobile payments and wearable tech as trends that have played a key role in pushing forward innovative technology in China.
Growth in consumer demand is seen as crucial for the Chinese economy which has been seeking to undergo a painful transition from an export and manufacturing-led economy to a more market-oriented economy.