CSG International, a specialist in launching and monetising digital services, has pubished the results of its market survey The Future of the Digital Experience: Connected Service Edition.

Through an independent research firm, CSG polled 2,000 consumers across five countries to learn how consumers will prefer to connect home automation and other smart devices that are part of the Internet of Things (IoT). The survey results indicate that although consumers will seek both online and in-person help sources, when it comes to connecting multiple smart devices in their homes, consumers will seek skilled, in-person help.

“Survey respondents have predicted that professional, technical resources will play a significant role in bridging the gap between consumers and the world of devices around us,” said Chad Dunavant, vice president of product management at CSG International. “CSG’s Workforce Express enables a mobile workforce of 65,000 of the pay-TV industry’s field technicians who are already receiving service requests for smart devices such as TVs, phones and home security. There is a clear opportunity for pay-TV providers to evolve the skills of their field service technicians to capitalise on the growing consumer-based IoT market.”

Key insights from the survey include:

• Most respondents expect to connect home security and monitoring systems (49 per cent) and smart home automation devices such as remote light controls and door locks (48 per cent) in the next three years.
• Help is wanted to make both simple and complex connections. Consumers cited both online resources and in-person help as resources for device installations.
  • Respondents reported that they believe 67 per cent of consumers will be not at all confident to do complex installations on their own, and 44 per cent believe that consumers will be only somewhat confident to complete even simple (single device) installs on their own.
  • 84 per cent of respondents believe that consumers will want help from a skilled technical resource to connect just two to five devices.
• A connected service provider needs a good app and a good reputation. When it comes to knowing that a technician is on their way, consumers expect a personal interaction will still be important.
  • 74 per cent prefer a phone call or text directly from the technician.
  • 58 per cent of respondents said that finding a reputable company to provide their technical help was their most important criteria – outweighing both on-demand access to help and the lowest cost option.
• Consumers are open to help from Pay TV field technicians. According to survey results, consumers will seek in-person help to connect multiple devices in the home and are open to their Pay TV field technician as a source of technical expertise.
  • Existing pay-TV customers said that if their cable or satellite service technician could connect the smart home, 89 per cent said they expect that consumers will be very likely to use the service and 87 per cent held this belief for repair and troubleshooting issues.
  • Much like calling a taxi for nearly instant transportation, if professional technical help could be requested in the moment that installation or repair service was needed, 39 per cent believe consumers will want on-demand installation or repair service ½ – ¾ of the time.

Countries polled included the US, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and Malaysia. All survey respondents reported that they use cable, satellite television or paid television service on a regular basis.

Categories: Articles, Consumer Behaviour, IoT, Research