The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the authority on all things residential kitchen and bath, has released its first Kitchen Technology Awareness and Usage Report.
Among the key takeaways, the study found that most consumers are only using general technology in the kitchen (surfing the web, texting, emailing, looking up recipes online, etc.), even though a sizable segment of those surveyed say they’re extremely interested in integrating more technology in their upcoming remodel. The consumer barriers were perceived cost, lack of knowledge of the benefits of kitchen technology, cyber security concerns and uncertainty over incompatibility with other home and mobile devices.
The survey also revealed that only one-third of designers always or frequently recommend technology in their kitchen designs. This is owing to a few factors, including their own confidence in understanding the vast array of available tech and concerns about overwhelming a budget-conscious client.
“Smart-home technology, particularly in the kitchen and bath space, is growing exponentially,” said Bill Darcy, NKBA CEO. “The technology can be complex, and often requires specialized skill sets to plan, design and integrate it properly. The study helps identify the gap between awareness and actual use of these new technologies, and helps our members recognize growth opportunities and how to overcome consumer hesitancy.
“NKBA endorsed the recent CEDIA Expo, participating in the Design Connection tours at the show, with integrators and designers exploring the show floor together,” he continued. “This is a key way we’re encouraging our designers to collaborate with tech integrators to ensure they deliver thoughtful, well-executed projects to their clients.”
The NKBA surveyed 198 designers and 301 consumers in July 2018. The consumers chosen for the study were planning to remodel their kitchen in the next 24 months and considered themselves to be moderate or frequent users of technology.
The report is available for purchase at www.nkba.org. Members receive discounts. To obtain a copy of the full report or an executive summary, go to www.nkba.org/store.
