05 May 2009

Home Automation To See Healthy Growth

Home automation will see a healthy growth with shipments approaching 2.8 million by 2011, according to a report.

Standards-based mainstream home automation systems, DIY home automation and home automation as a service are very new and have much room for growth, according to a report by market research company ABI Research. The luxury home automation market with systems costing more than $50,000 is relatively mature and may see a down turn due to the economic climate, the report said.

The challenges to achieving growth in this sector, however, are related to creation of new market mechanisms - the development of distribution channels, and the education of consumers as to the benefits and availability of home automation technology, the report pointed out.

New standards-based wireless technologies such as ZigBee and Z-Wave mean that many mainstream home automation installations are now in the $10-15,000 range with prices falling fast. This segment is further driven by the growing availability of peripheral components that are available not only from the vendors themselves but through retail outlets, the report concluded.