Like the closely-linked market for home energy management systems, the smart appliances market has, so far, failed to take off as quickly as some had expected. Many products are still involved in small pilots and have failed to hit retail outlets in any large number. However, shipments will soon begin to pick up and exceed 24 million units by 2017. 

The number of major appliance manufacturers that have used recent trade shows as launch pads for new products is a sure sign that the market may soon see substantial growth. “LG Electronics, for example, along with fellow South Korean appliance manufacturer, Samsung Electronics, are two of the first companies to have already brought a comprehensive range of smart appliances to market,” says Craig Foster, senior analyst, home automation and M2M, ABI Research, New York City. “Whirlpool, BSH, Miele, and Electrolux are among the other leading players to have unveiled one or more smart products.”

Additionally, the number of households with utility-provided home energy management systems will increase from an estimated 2.5 million households in 2011 to 36 million households in 2017.