The Matter certification is quickly becoming a must-have for U.S. households looking to purchase smart home devices, according to new findings from market research firm Parks Associates.
The Matter standard was first introduced in early 2022 by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) as a way to unify smart home devices under a universal protocol. The idea was to take all smart home devices —regardless of manufacturer — and allow control via one hub or smartphone app. That means devices from Google, Apple, Samsung, Amazon, Comcast or any other company will work together for the first time.
In less than two years, consumers are already clamoring for the technology when shopping for smart home devices as the research from Park Associates show 37% of U.S. households consider the Matter certification either important or critical to their purchase decision.
Parks Associates said this indicates that consumers increasingly value integration and interoperability across various smart devices and platforms. Additionally, they want to control all devices under a single hub or interface.
"Consumers are increasingly looking for comprehensive offerings that go beyond hardware," said Elizabeth Parks, president and CMO of Parks Associates. "Subscription-based services such as cloud storage, remote monitoring and enhanced features are now critical differentiators. Companies are capitalizing on service revenue as a significant and stable income stream while solidifying customer loyalty."
The good news is that the CSA is quickly rolling out new iterations to the Matter certification to include more devices in the home like earlier this year when it introduced Matter 1.2 specification for home appliances, robotic vacuums, air quality devices and ceiling fans.
The bad news is that the smart home market may need a boost to help overcome a down market. It is projected the market will decline 1.8% in 2023 due to a lack of consumer demand and economic instability.
CES 2024
Parks Associates is traveling to Las Vegas on Jan. 9, 2024, to participate in the 18th annual CONNECTIONS Summit at CES 2024. The company said it will present its latest smart home and security research findings during the event.
