Connected Products ‘Integral Part’ of Consumers’ Lives, CES 2024

Connected products have become an integral part of consumers' lives, with entertainment systems and connected vehicles proving the most popular, research from Capgemini has found.

The company’s Connected Products report was released ahead of CES, taking place between Jan 9-12 in Las Vegas, and was conducted to identify the products and services set to see increased popularity in 2024.

The report surveyed more than 10,000 consumers over the age of 18 across 13 countries: the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.K.

Capgemini is also hosting a deep-dive session on its findings during CES. 

The report, which excluded smartphones and tablets, identified smart home security and health care wearables as products poised for increased adoption in the coming year. 

Findings also showed consumers exhibited a “willingness to upgrade” for enhanced comfort and convenience, with nearly seven in ten respondents showing an interest in having an always-on AI-powered device if it improves their life. 

Voice assistants are seeing rising popularity, with 85% of consumers surveyed saying they use some kind of voice assistant at home, on their mobile or in their car. 

For in-car voice assistants, playing music, navigation, or accessing in-car functions is the most common feature.

Related:Samsung Unveils Smart Home Tech at CES 2024

Health care-related wearables are also seeing a boom, with one in three consumers already owning a wearable and 29% likely to buy one in the next twelve months. 

Additionally, the report found sustainability was of increased concern for consumers, with awareness around e-waste and carbon footprint on the rise and customers prioritizing companies that offer sustainable practices and products.

Despite the overall positive uptake of connected devices, data security and privacy remained a primary concern for consumers, with only 36% of respondents saying they are satisfied with the privacy offered by current connected products. 

“Around three in ten consumers also express concern about the potential misuse of data and their personal data being distributed to third parties without consent,” the report said. “One in two consumers also show frustration about the number of connected devices or services they have to deal with regularly, while two in three believe it would be much more convenient to have just one single interface for all connected products.”

Recommendations off the back of Capgemini’s findings include prioritizing data privacy and security, enhancing user-friendliness and creating “seamless user experiences across diverse platforms.”

Advocating for a circular economy to promote sustainability and bolstering security protocols for both products and services were also recommended as high-priority actions for businesses. 

“Finally,” the report reads, “we highlight the necessity of regulatory oversight to ensure adherence to standards, promoting interoperability and sustainable practices across the industry.”