LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool®
announces results of its first Smart Home survey, revealing
that most homeowners are familiar with the Smart Home (69 percent)
and almost half of homeowners claim their home is currently "smart"
(45 percent). Combine that with two-thirds (66 percent) of
homeowners and 86 percent of parents who say it is likely their
next appliance purchase will be a smart appliance, and it's clear
the future home will be full of network-connected products that
automate and control device features, as the "smart home" was
defined to survey respondents.
It's Smart to Care from Anywhere
The biggest benefit
of smart appliances, as cited in the survey, is to control the
appliance remotely. In fact, nearly four in five homeowners feel
that the ability to start and stop appliances, check the status of
the appliance and/or adjust the appliance performance remotely is
most valuable.
"Whirlpool knows that busy families are looking for new ways to
save time; families are seeking ways to help get it all done," said
Ryan Morand, senior brand manager,
Whirlpool brand. "84 percent of parents agree that smart appliances
are a solution, and 80 percent of parents agree that smart
technology frees up time to connect to other things – like family.
At CES, we're showcasing how Whirlpool brand appliances help remove
steps for parents and allow care to be controlled from anywhere in
the house."
Sensibly Sharp
What does the smart home of the future
look like? Surprisingly – much the same. Homeowners are looking for
a modern/futuristic look, but with built-in technology which is
subtle to the eye. Simple interface and controls are key to 91
percent of homeowners surveyed. And while 79 percent agree
eventually all appliances will be smart, homeowners still value
quality construction, ease of use and functional design as top
priorities. So much so that nearly a quarter of homeowners surveyed
are unwilling to spend more for smart technology, with another
third only willing to spend five to 15 percent more.
"What you see from Whirlpool at CES is carefully planned
technology that has purpose for how families function and care for
each other," said Ryan Morand,
senior brand manager, Whirlpool brand. "Consumers will see
thoughtful upgrades that enhance performance and don't compromise
overall cost."
Whirlpool® Smart Appliances offer families complete control of
both kitchen and laundry appliances from anywhere via the
Whirlpool® mobile app's performance control, status checks and
alert notifications. Hands-free voice control, which 74 percent of
surveyed homeowners say is a valuable feature in a smart appliance,
will also be available for customers with a far field Amazon Alexa
enabled device in 21 Whirlpool smart appliances launching in 2017.
Whirlpool® Scan-to-Cook technology sends the right cooking
instructions and settings every time, straight from a frozen food
packages' UPC barcode to the brand's microwave, wall oven or range
via the Whirlpool® mobile app – satisfying the 80 percent of
homeowners who want the ability to start and stop appliances
remotely from a mobile device.
The results are from an online survey conducted by Survey
Sampling, on behalf of Whirlpool, of 1,000 nationally
representative individuals in the United
States. Those surveyed were homeowners who have purchased an
appliance in the past year or who plan to purchase an appliance in
the next two years. The survey was conducted between November 11-14, 2016 with a margin of error of
+/- 3.1 percent.
From January 5-8, CES® attendees
can get up close to all Whirlpool brand innovations at booth #41730
in the Smart Home section, located at the Sands Expo Center.
For more information on the company's care-centric product
innovations and to join the conversation, visit ces.whirlpool.com
and follow #EveryDayCare.
[1] Requires WiFi and account creation. App features and
functionality subject to change. Subject to Terms of Service
available at: www.whirlpool.com/connect. Data rates may apply.
About Whirlpool Brand
For more than one hundred years,
Whirlpool brand has been inspired by how people care for their
families. Whirlpool brand is designing home appliances that
are focused on improving how families give and get the care they
need with the latest technologies and innovations – whether that
means most flexible refrigerator storage for all types of family
needs, induction technology for efficient cooking and easier
cleaning, or laundry pairs that sense and adapt to clothes with the
latest in connected technologies. Whirlpool brand is part of
Whirlpool Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer and
marketer of major home appliances. Whirlpool Corporation is also
one of Habitat for Humanity's largest corporate partners for over
15 dedicated years, donating a refrigerator and range to every new
Habitat for Humanity home built in North
America. For more information on Whirlpool, please visit
whirlpool.com/everydaycare or find us on Facebook at
facebook.com/whirlpoolusa or Twitter at @WhirlpoolUSA.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool
Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the
number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with
approximately $21 billion in annual
sales, 97,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology
research centers throughout the world in 2015. The company markets
Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht,
Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every
country throughout the world. Additional information about the
company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at
@WhirlpoolCorp.
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SOURCE Whirlpool Brand