INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
An amazon echo spot seen at a amazon 'experience center' in California, US
(Reuters)VALLEJO, Ca: Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday said it has set up model "smart" homes across the United
States for shoppers to experience what it's like for voice aide Alexa to dim the lights, turn on the TV or order more laundry detergent.The
rollout underscores how Amazon aims to make Alexa and the company's growing list of services, from shopping and entertainment to home
security, an everyday part of consumers' lives
It also steps up competition with retailers such as Best Buy Co Inc that focus on showcasing technology and advising shoppers.Amazon, the
world's largest online retailer, said it has partnered with Lennar Corp to convert some of the home construction company's model homes into
The so-called "Amazon Experience Centers" are now open near 15 cities including Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington, with more to
come."Today, the choices open to customers are, you can go to a brick-and-mortar store and you can see devices on demo tables
You go online and do your research
But you fundamentally are left to imagine what an integrated home would look like," said Nish Lathia, general manager of Amazon Services, in
the company's Vallejo, California experience centre outside San Francisco.The centres are "intended to educate and inspire
On the secondary benefit, yes, if it drives sales, we're not complaining," he said.David Kaiserman, president of Lennar Ventures, said the
centres should increase traffic to Lennar's model homes and spark ideas for potential home buyers
Lennar will get a standard commission for Amazon sales to customers it helped acquire, too. Amazon aims to make Alexa and the company's
growing list of services part of consumer lives
(Reuters)The global smart home market is expected to reach an estimated $107.4 billion by 2023, according to market research firm
ReportLinker.Best Buy is betting big on this trend
It has expanded its In-Home Advisor program to all major U.S
markets and employs more than 350 advisors under the initiative, its most recent annual report said.Experts visit customers' homes and
consult on issues from increasing appliance efficiency to setting up connected gadgets - similar in nature to Amazon's 1.5-year-old "Smart
Home Services," which is poised to gain from the new experience centres."We're excited about Best Buy's program," said Amazon's Lathia
"The more customers that get educated about smart home, the better it is for everybody."Philippe Ferrey, an Amazon Expert present at the
Vallejo centre, previously worked five years for Best Buy as a Geek Squad agent, he said.© Thomson Reuters 2018(This story has not been
edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
