Number of Home Automation Systems to Hit 4 Million in 2013

The number of home automation systems — both professionally installed and DIY — will reach more than 4 million in 2013, says ABI Research.

The Home Automation and Security Report says the market will grow more than 50 times its current size in five years.

There were 237,000 systems that shipped in 2007.

The study attributes the growth to new approaches:

• "Mainstream" systems based on standardized technologies and packaged components
• Home automation as a managed service offered through a broadband or wireless service provider

According to the study, home automation systems will no longer be confined to two niche markets: luxury custom-designed and installed high-end systems and "do it yourself" systems.

"Home automation systems are becoming more mainstream and managed services are growing," says ABI Research senior analyst Sam Lucero.

Managed home automation will show the strongest growth of all, with an anticipated 1.3 million shipments in 2013.

The study says significant growth will be driven by broadband and telecom service providers that start to offer managed services, which provide functionality and remote monitoring via a computer or smartphone, as part of "quintuple play" bundles.

Parks Associates says the wireless controls market will exceed $3 billion in 2012.