In the last couple of years, the smart speaker market has seen a significant rise, drawing the attention of tech giants and sparking a new round of competition. This surge can be traced back to 2014 when Amazon first introduced the Echo smart speaker, setting off a quiet yet intense battle for dominance in this sector. Initially, Amazon’s Echo garnered over a million orders within just two weeks, quickly becoming a focal point in the smart home ecosystem.
Following Amazon's lead, tech behemoths like Google, Apple, and Microsoft also launched their own versions of smart speakers to carve out a piece of the burgeoning smart home market. Recently, Facebook has also joined the fray, reportedly developing its own smart speaker to enter the market. The influx of these giants has intensified the competition significantly.
However, the Chinese market presents a completely different scenario. While foreign markets might see a relatively peaceful competition, China’s smart speaker market is anything but tranquil. Baidu, Alibaba, and Xiaomi—among others—are all vying for supremacy. Baidu has positioned its conversational AI system, DuerOS, as central to its future strategy. Meanwhile, Alibaba unveiled its smart speaker product and technology platform, aiming to push smart technologies into the consumer space. Xiaomi, on the other hand, surprised everyone by launching its first AI-powered speaker, further intensifying the rivalry. Even Tencent has announced plans to release a similar product soon. JD.com, often seen as the pioneer in China’s smart speaker market, was quick to follow Amazon’s footsteps with its own version called the “Sound Speaker.†Additionally, household appliance giant Haier is set to debut its own smart speaker, boasting over 60 interactive functions, signaling its intention to join the race.
Not only the established giants are joining the fray; a plethora of startups are also jumping into the smart speaker arena. According to Li Haibo, General Manager of Himalaya FM's hardware division, within less than a kilometer in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, 112 companies are involved in voice intelligence. "These startups are often clueless about the market and user base," he noted. "They just see the trend coming and feel compelled to jump on board."
Why the Smart Speaker?
Smart homes aren’t exactly a novel concept. As early as 2008, major Chinese mobile phone companies showcased prototypes of smart home systems, though they were largely conceptual products. Over the years, the Chinese smart home market has seen slow progress despite high expectations. The main issue lies in the reliance on smartphones for interaction, which has somewhat stifled innovation.
While intelligent routers, smart TVs, and other devices have been considered potential gateways to smarter homes, none have managed to create a breakthrough. Mary Meeker, known as the "Internet Queen," suggested in her annual internet trends report that speech is the most effective form of input for computing, implying that voice-based controls will dominate smart home interactions in the future.
This has led to a surge in interest in smart speakers, seen by many as the gateway to smart homes. Industry analysts predict the global smart home market could reach $16.8 billion in 2016, growing to $79.3 billion by 2021. The booming smart home market is expected to drive exponential growth in the smart voice industry. Tractica predicts that by 2021, 40 million households will be using voice-based digital assistants.
Brutal Market Realities
Despite the hype, the smart speaker market is proving challenging. JD.com sold only 100,000 smart speakers last year and expects sales to remain modest this year. Alibaba’s Tmall Genie smart speaker saw a mere 7,600 pre-orders.
Why the discrepancy? Voice interaction, touted as the most natural way for humans to interact with the physical world, has limitations. For instance, the range of voice interaction is restricted, limiting its usability across different rooms. Furthermore, at its core, a smart speaker is essentially a speaker with added AI capabilities, meaning any smart device can be made into a smart speaker if manufacturers choose to.
For the average consumer, smart speakers are far from essential. With smartphones and tablets offering versatile ways to listen to music, and TVs and computers providing their own sound systems, the need for standalone speakers is dwindling.
Is a Smart Speaker Essential?
In the past two years, alongside the belief in voice interaction being the most natural form of interaction, another perspective has emerged: multiple entry points and decentralization. During an interview at the Guangzhou Home Fair, Li Zhizhao, General Manager of Haier Smart Home, highlighted the importance of adopting multiple interactive methods tailored to different scenarios. He argued that instead of relying on a single central hub, multiple entry points like refrigerators, speakers, or even mobile phones could serve as interfaces. This approach fosters a healthier development of smart homes by catering to diverse user needs.
The notion of a single "entry point" dominating the entire smart home market is overly optimistic. The real entrance to smart homes is the product that feels most comfortable and trustworthy to users. Hence, while smart speakers may serve as an entry point, they are just one among many potential options.
In conclusion, following the 2017 smart lock craze, the smart speaker market is heating up again, attracting a flood of domestic and international giants. Whether smart speakers hold significant future potential remains to be seen. For now, the competition is fierce, and small startups face immense challenges. As Li Haibo, VP of Himalaya, succinctly put it: "I think 80-90% of competitors will die next year." For startups, entering this market requires caution and careful consideration.
Oil Filter For ISUZU
ISUZU Oil Filter Replacement,Oil Filter For ISUZU Cars,ISUZU Car Oil Filter,ISUZU Auto Oil Filter
Zhoushan Shenying Filter Manufacture Co., Ltd. , https://www.renkenfilter.com