Smart Home Numbers Set to Explode

According to ABI Research, players such as Verizon (NYSE:VZ), ADT, Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), and many others are expected to help drive the global market for home automation systems (HAS) to close to 20 million installed units in 2017, up from just over 1.5 million shipped in 2011.The result over the next five years will also change the shape of the HAS market. Mainstream suppliers such as Control4 have made headway popularizing home automation and taking an increasing market share from DIY and luxury HAS offerings. Managed services will represent 67% of HAS shipments by 2017, but mainstream suppliers will see their share of the market grow from 16% to 26% of the total market between 2011 and 2017. While the DIY and luxury segments will lose share of the market, the higher consumer profile for home automation systems will still help these markets grow their shipments by 36% and 9% CAGR, respectively, from 2011 to 2017.