Put A Bow On It

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July 1, 2019iStock-1020963704

Although the calendar says summer, it’s not too early to think about the holiday selling season and the huge opportunity the all-important fourth quarter presents for technology-driven products and services.

A look back at the last six months shows that connectivity is increasingly important for consumers—with smart homes at the center of it all. This holiday season will be a busy one helping consumers create their ideal version of the smart home—a place where they have the ability to make everyday household devices more efficient.

The average homeowner is embracing the connected home with 12.5 percent of all U.S. households now considered “smart,” according to S & P Market Intelligence. Led by the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, voice-assistant technology is powering the ubiquitous smart speaker that now serves as the gateway to multiple smart home devices such as appliances, thermostats, light bulbs, smoke alarms and more.

Smart home devices overall are expected to grow almost 27 percent this year, according to the IDC’s Smart Home Device Tracker. Last year, noted IDC, it was about getting products into consumers’ homes. This year, it’s about linking devices together for a cohesive experience that’s layered with services.

The beauty of the smart home’s next-generation products and continued ease-of-use is that it’s mainstream and relatable for a broader range of consumers – whether it means a basic router, a smart speaker, or an entire mesh network. The newest routers are using QR codes that allow people to quickly and easily scan their code and connect up allowing them to create the best positioning within the home based on where devices are used. Everyone from first-time homeowners to the elderly can now benefit and enjoy a connected home.

By simply communicating the benefits to consumers, the smart home story sells itself. Turning on the lights in the bedroom instead of getting up and hitting the light switch. Opening a garage door with a smartphone instead of fumbling for a remote. Simplifying cooling and heating with smart thermostats that automate those functions while optimizing energy efficiency. Smart locks that allow opening a front door without a physical key. Down the road, there will even be smart upholstered furniture that will automatically adjust for comfort when each person takes a seat.

Beyond that, other tech devices are shaping up to be promising sellers for the holiday season. Continual advancements make personal computers a compelling item any time of year, but especially during the fourth quarter. Consumers want thin, light and fast devices with long lasting battery life. SSD drives that speed up devices and provide instant boot up times can be great add-ons. It’s also the perfect opportunity to target Millennials and Gen Z, who are eliminating cable TV and choosing to stream content, turning PCs into their new TVs. And as 5G becomes more widespread in 2020, products will exceed expectations with lightning-fast streaming and download times.

New Age Electronics has an array of brands and products that can be mixed, matched and merchandised. From simple shippers to complex displays, their experts can properly pack, label, and ship units to help you gain the competitive edge for holiday 2019. Find out more HERE and make your – and your customers’ – holiday season merrier than ever.

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(Originally published on TWICE.com)

Voice Assistant Ecosystem to Drive Strong Holiday Shopping Season

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We’re on the cusp of major changes impacting the Consumer Technology industry and permeating into consumers’ everyday lives. 5G is looming on the horizon with multigigabit download speeds that will foster new solutions and services. AR and VR will soon see an explosion due to lower price points and improved content. And, continued advancements in artificial intelligence are beginning to power more sophisticated technology.

But until this next wave of innovation comes to full fruition, we’re looking to the voice assistant ecosystem to drive sales, especially around the holiday shopping season. In addition, gaming and electronic transportation will be hot categories. We don’t expect just one or two products to be hot in these areas – there’s a lot of room for opportunity when you break down the various use-cases and demographic groups buying them. With consumer confidence high and the economy strong, it’s time zero in on these categories and get ready to make the most out of the upcoming holiday season.

The Voice Assistant Ecosystem
The digital assistant category continues to perform well due to improved technology and lower price points. And as the connected home becomes a reality for many, consumers are learning more about ways to extend voice control to a range of accessories and devices. From millennials to baby boomers, people are rapidly embracing the newest advances and adopting them in their own homes. Home control is leading to domestic bliss from the kitchen at one end of the house to the master bathroom at the other, along with the living room, bathroom, garage and yard outside.

Consumers are turning toward sensors and IoT appliances that make it possible to monitor the chlorine level in the pool, track which items in the refrigerator are out-of-date or need to be added to a shopping list, check the status of the laundry in the washing machine, and measure the temperature of the roast cooking in the oven. TV’s are offering an array of capabilities using voice control not just to power on, but to adjust the volume and easily search and select what to watch. In the bathroom, home control is connecting weight scales, water thermostats, heated flooring, and new kinds of bathroom fixtures. What makes this trend particularly appealing is the ease in which voice-controlled items like power supplies, wall switches, and LED lighting can be added during home remodels.

Small home robotics continue to play well in this space too. Watch for the continued evolution of this category as it expands beyond housework to include entertainment, companionship, and even yard mowing. It’s still early for these trends, but it will get interesting soon with price points coming down and technology becoming more intuitive. Moving forward, it’s critical that consumers understand what’s possible and keep free of frustration by being guided to compatible products for efficiency, convenience and comfort.

Gaming
Since there aren’t any new gaming consoles expected to hit the market, the focus will be on content with major new titles as well as accessories such as the latest headsets driven by the craze around Epic Games’ Fortnite title. Beyond accessories, Fortnite is driving a lot of opportunity as it’s available on a range of devices including the Nintendo Switch. It’s allowing multiple users to play at one time and has created an environment that allows gamers to play how and when they want to play. There’s big opportunity for retailers who focus on reaching Fortnite’s powerful, cult-like following.

Electronic Transportation
While some of these devices are still considered toys, there’s building momentum for rent-and-drop scooters and other electronic transportation devices that get 15 to 20 miles on a single charge. These forms of transportation are increasingly being found in urban areas and on school campuses as consumers look to cut down on gas consumption and save on car maintenance. Are they bikes or are they vehicles? Should they be confined to the street or a bike lane? That’s going to be decided as laws are crafted to regulate and, in some cases, possibly ban them as some municipalities did with hoverboards. Nonetheless, more certainty around regulations and increasingly reasonable price points mean environmentally friendly electronic transportation will become more popular.

Worth A Mention
Drones have been around for a while, but don’t take your eye off these devices. They are getting smaller, lighter, and more robust as prices continue to fall. They are also becoming easier to fly and control, which enhances the consumer experience. And, new video capabilities are resulting in more use cases beyond entertainment. In the PC space, there is nothing new driving huge demand. The major manufacturers continue with strong 2-in-1 offerings as well as all-in-one desktops that offer interesting designs and unique concepts. Most of the attention in this space will be focused on the look and feel of the product as major brands roll out sleek products in a continued drive for products to be more aesthetically pleasing. That said, the PC category remains stable, as everyone needs them and many are looking for an upgrade.

The In-store Experience for Holiday Shoppers
Once you’ve got shoppers in the store – maybe to pick up an item ordered online – the name of the game is keeping them there. And this retention all comes down to the customer experience. A knowledgeable staff and the right selection of products have become table stakes. To really set your stores apart, think concierge service, on-floor demos, and ready access that lets shoppers see, touch and try the products. Branded areas of the store grab attention and draw shoppers in with loyal affinity or curiosity about a particular brand.

For those buying online, the experience must be highly intuitive and free of friction. While that’s generally been the case when accessing websites from a desktop or laptop, it’s not always the case on mobile devices – which consumers are increasingly using to make their purchases. And don’t forget the final step – delivery. Whether it’s in-store pickup or delivery to the home, office or car, shoppers want flexibility, security and speed. More consumers are also becoming comfortable with using their devices to confirm choices and finalize orders. Think of voice command as the new remote control. Consumer are embracing it, and it’s time for retailers to as well.

We’re in the home stretch now with the holidays quickly approaching. And while the “next big thing” may not be ready for prime time, there’s plenty of opportunity to win big this holiday season.