Cost a Critical Factor for Those Slow to Adopt Home Automation, Study Finds

A study conducted by IDC found that 46% of respondents who have no interest in connected home devices list 'too expensive' as their main deterrent.
Published: April 12, 2016

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — A new survey finds that almost half of people hesitant to adopt connected home devices are wary because of cost.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) found that 46% of respondents who have no interest in home automation say the devices are too expensive. Other reasons include: Having no use for them (40%), don’t see the value in them (30%), too complicated (18%), doubt they will live up to the promise (12%) and don’t know enough about them (11%).

This data can be useful for security dealers looking to tap into the home automation market.

The study also found that 28% of people who own a home network stream online videos to their television, and are much more likely to express high interest in and adoption of home Internet of Things applications than other home network owners.

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Here’s how respondents interested in home automation prioritize the qualities of the technology:

  1. Reliability
  2. Cost of equipment
  3. Cost of ongoing use
  4. Cost of installation
  5. Overall use
  6. Ease of use
  7. Security or privacy concerns
  8. Overall experience
  9. Ease of installation
  10. Need more information
  11. Better interoperability of multiple devices
  12. More uses for home control

The survey consisted of 1,500 consumers.

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Strategy & Planning Series
Strategy & Planning Series
Strategy & Planning Series