IKEA will create an “IKEA Home Smart” business unit to develop smart home tech as a source of revenue for the company. The retailer will make significant investments in the smart home space to scale up its offerings and increase its capabilities.
IKEA launched the Home Smart project in 2012, when the incorporation of digital elements into home products was still in its infancy. The retailer has since launched products incorporating capabilities such as wireless charging, smart lighting and smart sound systems.
“By working together with all other departments within IKEA, the business unit of IKEA Home Smart will drive the digital transformation of the IKEA range, improving and transforming existing businesses and developing new businesses to bring more diverse smart products to many people,” said Björn Block, Head of IKEA Home Smart. “We are just getting started.”
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IKEA also has been embracing other technology as well: the retailer rolled out an AR app in 2017, and earlier this year upgraded it to let shoppers order products right after seeing how they would look and fit in their homes. The app also lets shoppers point their phone at a chair in-store to see other textures or colors, or to see it in the context of a room or alongside similar products.
