Swedish furniture giant Ikea has entered a new category of the smart home market with a trio of sensors designed for home automation, security and control of devices.
The smart sensors, called Vallhorn, Parasoll and Badring, allow users to manage and monitor homes from anywhere with real-time notifications when activity is detected. These sensors can be monitored through Ikea’s smart home app or Ikea’s Dirigera hub.
The Parasoll door and window sensor is designed to monitor doors and windows for security systems. It notifies the homeowner when access points are opened or closed to monitor for any unexpected entries.
The Vallhorn motion sensor is placed either indoors or outdoors and it activates lights upon detecting movement. It also offers personalized lighting with adjustable color and intensity.
Finally, the Badring is a water leakage sensor that is placed near areas of water usage — like a washing machine, hot water heater or dishwasher — to monitor for any leaks that may be happening. The sensor sends mobile notifications to users and comes with a built-in alarm.
The three sensors are based on Zigbee software, and the devices can be updated to include more features and options over time through over-the-air updates.
Why it matters
While Ikea has been a player in the smart home space, it has not been in the security and control of sensors for various devices. It adds another heavyweight company to the list of competitors that is joining the smart home market in a time when the sector is struggling.
According to recent research from IDC, global shipments of smart home devices are expected to decline 1.8% due to a lack of consumer demand and economic instability. The decline is expected to last into 2024 before the market returns to growth. The good news is that growth will last through 2027 where it reaches 1.1 billion shipments.
