Artificial intelligence is starting to come into its own, taking the home appliance world by storm. Not only can AI be used in-house to handle orders and customer service, but it can also be used within appliances for an improved customer experience.
Taking the right approach toward artificial intelligence in the home appliance sector now can help your business grow (whether you sell appliances or offer repair services). Podium’s AI Employee is the right fit for appliance retailers and appliance service providers—it helps you engage with your customers and boosts sales by 30%.
How Can AI Be Integrated Into The Home Appliances World?
AI can be integrated into the home appliance sector in several ways, ranging from automation to logistics and healthcare. Now is the time to jump on board the AI train, too, as this is the ideal time to test and begin using the early stages of this technology.
Some ways AI can assist appliance retailers and homeowners include the following:
Automation and Robotics
Smart homes are trending, and interconnectivity is more important to people than ever before. Today, major appliances (such as your refrigerator or washer) can hook up to central hubs, helping them connect, learn user preferences, analyze data, and help homeowners make decisions. For instance, a smart refrigerator can automatically let you know you’re out of a specific food, and some can even place an order for groceries (yes, your own personal shopper). It can create new ice when you’re out or indicate the need for a repair service.
AI-Powered Manufacturing and Logistics
AI has the potential to track problems with machinery, flag when there are maintenance issues, and take steps to, in some cases, schedule maintenance. And, for logistics, artificial intelligence can track manufacturing processes to determine if the factory will reach its quotas.
Applications in Healthcare and Agriculture
Food and medications have to be preserved correctly to prevent costly spoilage and guarantee satisfaction among consumers. Advanced refrigeration technologies help reduce gas and electric energy consumption while also tracking inventory, expiration dates, temperature, and more. Some AI can help track barcodes, send notices to mobile devices if there are problems with storage, schedule delivery, and generally improve the product lifecycle.
AI Appliances in Smart Homes
Selling major appliances that have artificial intelligence has created a growing opportunity for revenue and profit. The trend of making homes “smarter” means consumers are looking for smart devices that make the most of their time and money, improving efficiency, making it easier to use their appliances, and helping with chores that would otherwise take much longer.
For retailers, this creates a perfect opportunity to offer reasonably priced AI appliances, technician services, appliance repair services with a focus on artificial intelligence, and other appliance care to homeowners.
Here are a few ways these AI systems help homeowners and why you should consider investing in the technology:
AI-Powered Smart Speakers and Virtual Assistants
Voice-activated technology has been built into major appliances such as refrigerators and top load washers, helping homeowners get more done without fumbling with buttons. Using voice commands, the AI’s virtual assistants hear the user through smart speakers, helping them complete tasks. For example, an AI may turn on the microwave, make new ice, or start preheating the oven on command.
Smart Home Security Systems
Homeowners can now tie in multiple security cameras (and other features), letting them know when packages arrive, people are at the door, or someone has broken into the home. Smart security systems may also automatically lock doors or turn on lights at certain times of the day or night, warn about gas ranges left on, or even call 911 for a kitchen fire.
AI-Driven Appliances for Convenience and Efficiency
Convenience and efficiency are two reasons why artificial intelligence has become synonymous with a smart home environment. In 2023, at least one in five consumers (globally) owned a smart appliance. Those appliances can be anything from ovens, washers, and driers to smart security systems, microwaves, and refrigerators.
The convenient part of these smart appliances is that they can tie into the home hub as well as to smart devices. Voice activation makes it simple to turn them on or off, change temperatures, or even order replacement parts, groceries, or supplies.
9 Emerging Trends in AI Appliances
Emerging trends in appliances will change how artificial intelligence is used in homes. Some of the top trends include:
Edge Computing and AI at the Device Level
Edge computing is a process that lets data get stored near or at the device location. The AI algorithms then interact with the data, processing it on the network’s edge (meaning it doesn’t necessarily need an internet connection). This has several perks, but one of them is that the AI can stay up and running even when the internet connection fails.
Integration of AI With IoT devices
When AI is integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT), it can learn and adapt more efficiently over time. Devices are able to improve their performance and personalize the user experience.
Sustainability, Appliance Service, and Energy Efficiency With AI Appliances
Leaving an oven on all night, overloading top-load washers, using the wrong setting on a washing machine, overloading your dishwasher, or leaving on an ice maker when you don’t need it can all lead to poor energy efficiency. So can using a device in need of appliance repair service to replace a damaged part.
New major appliances with artificial intelligence take this into account and help users control devices (even from afar). AI can automatically set an air conditioner to a preferred temperature before the homeowner gets back from work, or it can send out a notice when the HVAC system needs a new filter, for example.
Voice-Enabled Technology
There are no buttons to press and there’s no troubleshooting required when you can simply use a voice command to talk to AI integrated with your dishwasher, refrigerator, or ice maker. Voice-enabled technology allows users to state a command with no coding needed.
Instant Language Translation
Wouldn’t it be nice to know what someone’s saying in another language? Artificial intelligence can already translate and transcribe to and from English to other languages. In the future, it will advance to translating language in real-time, allowing anyone to communicate with the AI built into major appliances and with each other in the kitchen.
Smart Security Systems
Smart security systems protect homes and businesses in many ways ranging from motion detection to recording video when someone knocks on the door. Tied into users’ mobile devices, these tools can alert them to unusual activity or, in some situations, call for help automatically.
AI-Powered Smart Refrigerators
An AI-powered smart refrigerator not only balances temperatures based on the contents but also has interesting features such as automated ice makers, an AI personal shopper to order groceries on command, and transparent panels. These panels show people what’s inside, so the door can stay shut for reduced energy consumption. As reasonably priced devices from major brands land in stores, these refrigerators stand to make their way into smart homes.
Intelligent Washing Machines and Dryers
Washers and dryers have better efficiency thanks to artificial intelligence. These efficient appliances use advanced technology to reduce water consumption, for example, so clothes get clean but utility bills stay low. Appliance service teams may also access AI information to easily make repairs to this kind of appliance, as AI can track error logs and make its own reports.
AI Integration in Entertainment and Multimedia Devices
Artificial intelligence makes its mark at home by making recommendations about the television shows you might want to watch or the books you might find most interesting. These algorithms learn what you like, improving the chances of offering you the kinds of entertainment you’ll actually find interesting.
Podium’s AI Employee Is Your All-in-One Solution
Artificial intelligence isn’t just helpful for manufacturers and factory settings. It can help you as an appliance retailer, too.
With Podium, you can get 30% more sales with your new AI Employee — an employee that helps sell, schedule, and communicate with your customers on demand and makes your business the obvious choice for appliances.
Ready to see how Podium’s all-in-one lead management and communication platform combined with our AI Employee can help you sell appliances and make a lasting impression on your customers? Watch a demo.
