The Future Smart Home Needs to Solve Simple Problems to Drive Consumer Adoption: Whirlpool Global Innovation Survey

Cost savings, control, and practicality are most desired smart features among 2,000 global consumers surveyed by the appliance maker

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Whirlpool Corporation

Dec 27, 2018, 09:02 ET

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Dec. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A new, global survey from Whirlpool Corporation is helping paint a picture of what our future smart homes will look like. Responses from more than 2,000 homeowners and renters in four different regions of the world show what consumers are craving - smart features that are easy to understand and are a practical and efficient addition to their everyday household tasks. At CES®️ 2019, Whirlpool Corporation will introduce more than 20 new products and services across its brand portfolio that underscore these needs.

Findings from the survey, which underscore the need for practical, efficient solutions from the smart home, include a vast majority of consumers (72%) are looking for simpler, faster ways to help manage their lives, and over half admit to feeling that cooking (52%) and doing laundry (58%) take up more than the preferred amount of time. Consumers are also immensely interested in smart appliances that manage water usage and help them save money.

"The responses we received to this survey were abundantly clear: consumers said they need simpler, faster ways to manage their lives - in other words, they still feel products for the home aren't solving these problems," said Christian Gianni, senior vice president of product development at Whirlpool Corporation. "So when it comes to smart home technology adoption, the technology must provide a purposeful solution in their lives. Whirlpool Corporation has been laser focused on technology that serves a purpose and next month at CES, products from across our brand portfolio that deliver on these needs will be on display."

Across its portfolio of brands, Whirlpool Corporation is making significant advancements in digitally transforming how people cook, clean, and do laundry. With its Yummly®️ digital recipe platform, and through collaborations with other leaders in the tech space, the company will announce innovations at CES® 2019 that take friction out of every step of the cooking and laundry process, and help consumers save money and reduce waste in the process.

Other findings from the survey include:

Three in four respondents (74%) are interested in smart appliance features that reduce food waste
Three in four respondents (75%) are interested in smart appliance features that manage water usage
Three in four respondents (78%) are interested in smart appliance features that help them save money
Two in three respondents (64%) say it's important that their appliances help save on electricity costs
Two in three respondents (69%) actively seek out products that can be personalized to their unique preferences

Survey results are based on a survey fielded by Research Now on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation of more than 2,000 consumers representing four countries, including the U.S., India, Brazil and France. The survey questioned respondents on their daily routines and preferences when it comes to home appliances.

From January 8-11, CES® attendees can get up close to all of Whirlpool Corporation's innovations at booth #41925 in the Smart Home section, located at the Sands Expo Center.

For more information on the corporation's products and to join the conversation, follow #ConnectToMore #CES2019.

CES® is a registered trademark of Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™.

About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the world's leading major home appliance company, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 92,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2017. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.