– By Manish Sharma
Convenience, Connectivity and Comfort have become the cornerstone of any Smart Home. And all consumer goods companies have been offering a range of home automation solutions devices to give us our dream Smart Home. In regular catch ups with my consumers and distributors, I came across a common but pertinent issue – with many companies offering smart appliances, there are also multiple apps to operate the same. Typically, in most households, we see air conditioners of a particular brand, refrigerators of another brand and washing machines of yet another brand. Most households have more than one television and that could be of different brands and to engage with all appliances, one can end up with multiple apps. So, what can be a possible solution that can bring all appliances on a single platform, doing away with multiple platforms?
Let’s try to answer, how can usage of advanced technologies create an interconnected environment for a smart home. I believe that the intervention of smart technologies such as AI, IoT and Home Automation today has broken the barriers of interoperability and connecting multi-branded home appliances will no longer be a challenge. And the recent evolution of Matter as a unifying standard in the smart home ecosystem is set to bring even more benefits to Indian consumers. Matter, an open standard for smart homes, developed through Connectivity Standard Alliance (CSA) in collaboration with more than 300 industry-leading companies including Panasonic, is aimed at creating a standardized protocol for smart devices. By establishing a common language for smart devices to communicate, Matter ensures interoperability and seamless integration among devices from various manufacturers.
However, we could not envision these concepts without digitalization and as per the McKinsey report, India is well on its way to becoming a digitally advanced country. Propelled by the rising availability of smartphones, connected devices, and high-speed connectivity at lower tariffs, India is already home to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing bases of digital consumers. With 5G being deployed at a robust pace, India is claiming to be a leader in the 6G space. The country is digitizing faster than many mature and emerging economies.
This interoperability is a game-changer for consumers in India. In a market where consumers have access to an array of brands and products, Matter’s presence ensures that their devices will work harmoniously with any other matter enabled platform. No longer will consumers face the frustrating issue of different smart devices being incompatible with each other, resulting in a fragmented user experience. With Matter, consumers can build and expand their smart home ecosystem with confidence.
The implications of Matter’s standardization go beyond the convenience of interoperability. It has the potential to unlock the full power of the smart home ecosystem in India. A unified ecosystem means that automation scenarios can become more sophisticated. For example, you can seamlessly integrate your smart lighting with your home security system, allowing your lights to automatically adjust based on the security status of your home. Or you can create custom automation routines that optimize your energy usage during peak hours. The possibilities are endless.
Matter also offers increased security. The standard incorporates the latest encryption and authentication protocols, ensuring that your data and privacy remain protected. In a world where privacy concerns are paramount, this is a vital feature for consumers. Another significant advantage of Matter is its potential for driving innovation. With major industry players backing Matter, it’s expected that more manufacturers will adopt this standard in their future devices. As a result, we can anticipate a broader range of Matter-enabled products entering the market, offering consumers a wider selection and encouraging more competition. This competition is likely to lead to better prices and more advanced features, ultimately benefiting the end-users.
The India Home Automation Market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 25 Billion by 2030 (Renub research) – And Matter is set to revolutionize the landscape by enhancing interoperability and further accelerating market growth. Matter is a significant step toward a more connected future, offering consumers greater control, energy savings, and a more comfortable living environment along with a promise of interoperability, security, and innovation. The consumers’ increasing reliance on smart appliances, Matter-enabled appliances are not just a luxury; they are a necessity for the future. Therefore, the smart home concept in India does not end with the end of sci-fi movies, rather it is just beginning here.
(Manish Sharma is the Chairman at Panasonic Life Solution India & South Asia.)
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