The Z-Wave Alliance, the standards development organization dedicated to advancing the smart home and Z-Wave technology, released its 4th annual Z-Wave Ecosystem Report.  

The report, fielded in cooperation with market research firm Interpret, provides an in-depth look at growth and challenges for the smart home market globally. Building on the Alliance’s exploration of the U.S. market in the 2022 Ecosystem Report, the report examines key growth points in the U.S. and comparative data from the U.K., France and Germany. The report is said to take a deep dive into the importance of interoperability, impacts on purchasing behaviors and assesses primary barriers to smart home device adoption.

Key insights from the report include: 

• The market is healthy and eager to grow, with the U.S. leading global smart home adoption and impressive year-over-year growth in the U.K., France and Germany.   

• Z-Wave owners across all four countries are generally more satisfied with their security systems and are more likely to purchase additional smart home devices in the next six months. Highest interest was indicated for sensor kits, especially for electrical and fire safety, and water usage. 

• Interoperability with products already owned is a top requirement for future purchases across all three EU countries as well as the U.S. market. The importance of interoperability increases exponentially as more devices are owned. In the U.S. alone, 54% of device owners consider interoperability an important consideration in their next purchase.  

• The new end-user expectation is basic smart home technology in any new home. Over half of smart home device owners, and expected movers, in the U.S., U.K. and Germany would like their next home to have at least basic smart home technology, for which they would pay extra. 

• DIY vs. professional Installation: A strong pattern has emerged suggesting growing consumer confidence for investing in smart home products. However, the report reveals ample opportunities for the professional channel to enable direct-to-consumer sales of add-on devices. 

“The 2023 Z-Wave Ecosystem Report provides a much-needed referendum on interoperability,” said Z-Wave Alliance Executive Director Mitch Klein. “The findings in the report arrive at a critical moment in the maturity of the smart home to offer insights across the category, globally.” 

Beyond data, the report includes a case study from MCA Systems S.A.S detailing the dramatic energy savings achieved by integrating a Z-Wave-enabled Horus solution into hotel properties.  

The complete Z-Wave 2023 Ecosystem report is available for download here. Z-Wave Alliance members also have exclusive access to the full 145-page research report via their member portal. The complete proprietary data report is available to purchase by non-members or, is included in any new or renewal memberships.  

Contact the Z-Wave Alliance at administration@z-wavealliance.org with questions on membership or click here for purchase information.