The Internet of Things (IoT) is changing our lives in several ways, not least in the kitchen. It is expected that the market for domestic IoT devices will reach around USD 53.45 billion by 2022.i How is IoT changing our kitchens and what do manufacturers need to consider when accessing this growing market?
A 2014 study found that in India the average time spent preparing food was 13.2 hours a week. This was closely followed by Ukraine, on 13.1 hours, but then it quickly dropped down to only 5.9 hours for countries like the USA and UK. Surprisingly, France averaged only 5.5 hours a week.ii
It is clear we like to eat good food. We also like to have nice kitchens – it can be no coincidence that, alongside bathrooms, kitchens are the most renovated item when people think about moving.iii What is less clear is how much actual cooking we want to do. This is where IoT can fill the gap between aspiration and reality.
IoT is a system of interrelated devices that can ‘speak’ to each other without human input. Sensors can be embedded in a wide variety of products, allowing them to perform several useful functions.
In the kitchen, IoT devices can be used for:
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to smart devices for the kitchen. Other options include smart cameras in the fridge so you can see what you have while at work, smart wine aerators to give you the perfect glass of red wine, and smart cooktops that give you the perfect temperature.v
In addition to helping you cook better, this equipment makes you safer, healthier, and can save you money and reduce waste. Knowing what’s in your fridge and store cupboard means you don’t buy things you already have. At the same time, this technology can also suggest recipes that use up your ingredients, thereby optimizing your spend in the grocery store.vi
Accessing target markets requires compliance with a wide variety of regulatory requirements. Depending on the device and its function, there are a number of different IoT technologies that can be employed. These include narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), CAT M1, LoRa/Sigfox, Z-wave and Zigbee.
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforces the following standards:
SGS can test and certify products using these IoT technologies for both the US (FCC) and Canada (ISED).
In the European Union, products using these IoT technologies must conform to:
To discover our other related services, you may visit www.sgs.com/ee.
For more information, please contact:
Jason Wei
Senior Technical Manager
Electrical and Electronics
t: +86 20 8215 5555
David Schramm
Operations Manager
Electrical and Electronics
t: +1 770 570 1819
i IoT Statistics and Trends to Know in 2020
ii Number of hours spent cooking per week
iii The Statistics About Kitchen Remodeling
iv 6 Ways to Reshape Your Kitchen Using IoT
v loT Kitchen Examples
vi loT Kitchen Examples
vii SGS loT - Stay Connected
viii SGS loT - Stay Connected
