Sunny days have come to Europe in the first weeks of spring, meaning sales of connected heating controls will start to slow down, as customers start to turn off their heating for the summer. This is a perfect time for industry stakeholders to take a step back, and consider the learnings they gathered over the winter… before the next one comes!
This next winter season might actually be the last chance for the European energy industry to establish itself in the connected home space, and to own part of the customer relationship. It is extremely likely that this market will soon be attacked by giant companies such as Amazon and Apple, and by large telcos and retailers entering similarly to how O2 and Dixons Carphone have started doing to do in the UK. These companies will most likely own the customer relationship if they succeed, and the energy players will have reduced market power if they try and work with these companies to play in the market.