| Briefing | IKEA Home Smart – IKEA announced on August 16, 2019 that it will turn Home Smart project focused on connected appliances and Internet-of-Things (IoT) solutions for home into separate business unit under IKEA Sweden Increased Investment – Plans to invest more heavily and scale up innovation in smart home technologies by digitizing existing products or developing new onesSignificant Business – Home Smart is IKEA's biggest new business unit since Children’s IKEA launched in 1997Project Background – Home Smart started in 2012 with IKEA incorporating digital technologies into products and solutions, some through partnerships with other companiesHome Smart Products – Include wireless charging tables and lamps; smart lighting, smart plug and smart blinds that connect with Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa; smart speaker in collaboration with SONOS; plus app called IKEA Home Smart to control devicesAdvantages – Make connected home products more affordable and easy to install, with wide brick-and-mortar presence potentially raising consumer awareness for smart home solutions
 | 
| Accelerator |  | 
| Business Model and Practices Business Model and Practices
 |  | 
| Sector | 
Consumer Durables
 | 
| Function | 
Marketing and Business Development, Research and Development
 | 
| Organization | 
Ikea AB, Sonos
 | 
| Source | 
     
"IKEA invests heavily in the smart home going forward," 
     
Chandler, S., "IKEA smart home investment could be boost the Internet of Things needs", 
     
Gilliland, N., "Could Ikea dominate the smart home market?", 
     
O'Boyle, B., "Ikea to invest further in smart devices bringing smart home to the masses", 
     
AcceleratingBiz analysis
 | 
| Original Publication Date | 
August 16, 2019 |