Is your house getting smarter? With the advancement of IoT and AI, many things around us are connected to the Internet. We can turn on the heating when we come home, turn on the light when we say "turn on the light," or let a robot vacuum cleaner clean our rooms... Assurant, a business services company, has been conducting research on such smart appliances. Assurant, a business services company, conducted a survey on smart home appliances to find out consumers' expectations and dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Assurant Conducts Consumer Survey on Smart Appliances
Assurant conducted a consumer survey of 1,000 men and women ages 18-79 in Japan regarding smart appliances and connected products. The survey revealed expectations and frustrations with the continuing evolution of smart technology.
68% plan to purchase new smart appliances
The "Intended Use of Smart Appliances and Connected Products" survey revealed that 68% of consumers plan to purchase smart appliances and connected products. The main reasons were "to automate household chores," "for entertainment and leisure," and "to enhance home security.
When we think of smart home appliances, the first thing that comes to mind is the robot vacuum cleaner. Recently, the accuracy of room mapping and obstacle detection has been dramatically improved by incorporating superior AI cameras.
Smart locks that can open and close the front door using a smartphone, fingerprints, or retinas are also popular. They can easily implement auto-locks and check information on entry and exit stored in the cloud, thus enhancing security.
More than half experience dissatisfaction when purchasing or using
Despite the enthusiasm for smart appliances and connected products, 54% of respondents were dissatisfied with the purchase and use of smart appliances and connected products. Some of the complaints included "lack of information to troubleshoot on my own," "didn't know how to use the product," "didn't know how to dispose of the product," and "didn't know how to dispose of the product. "I didn't know how to use the product," and "I didn't know how to dispose of the product.
Indeed, smart appliances and connected products are becoming increasingly complex to use, and they are often foreign products. There are likely to be problems such as not knowing where to go for help when there are problems during use, and support is in English, which can be difficult to understand.
There are also likely to be many problems when connecting to home Wi-Fi or smartphones. Problems may include the need to change router settings or the incompatibility of the Bluetooth version of the smartphone.
31% want better technical support.
Similar to the aforementioned complaints, the "value-added features consumers expect when purchasing smart appliances and connected products" survey found that 31% of consumers would like to have technical support. Warranties and extended warranties against loss, theft, and breakdowns were high on the list, highlighting consumer awareness of the need for peace of mind when using smart appliances.
The perspective of personal information protection is also important. For robot vacuum cleaners, companies need to be very careful in handlingroom layout information and captured images and videos. There is also a risk that the time of absence can be determined from the usage status of each appliance. Companies must also pay close attention to the handling of personal information when selecting products.
Consumer Awareness Survey Reveals Challenges
Assurant's survey revealed that while consumers are eager to purchase smart appliances and connected products, they are also unsure about increasingly complex settings and usage, and are looking for better support. The survey also revealed an unexpected voice: "I don't know how to dispose of them." Trade-in services for smart appliances and connected products, which are made from many precious resources and semiconductors, are likely to be a necessary initiative for sustainable development.
Comment from Mr. Junichi Fujimoto, President and Representative Director of Assurant Japan K.K.
Assurant Japan, through its partners, aims to help all consumers enjoy the benefits of ever-evolving smart technologies, and to help them lead more comfortable and affluent lives, open to new possibilities, based on the company's purpose of "creating a better future by expanding the possibilities of our customers' lives in a connected world. Through our partners, we offer a wide range of support, warranty services, and solutions to help all consumers enjoy the benefits of ever-evolving smart technologies and live a life that is more comfortable, enriched, and open to new possibilities. We will continue to update our services and develop new solutions to meet your needs.
Sorry, this article is only available in Japanese. at the moment.