A "smart bathroom" is an automated plumbing and sanitary system controlled by smartphones, voice assistants, and other smart devices. It is readily available in various sizes, shapes, hues, and textures and includes touchless faucets, sensor-enabled soap dispensers, automatic cistern systems, smart windows, and hand dryers. It increases energy efficiency, is practical, easy to use and control, cost-effective, and economical. The smart bathroom provides centralized appliance control, including lighting, heating, cooling, automatic doors, digital faucets, soaking baths, and toilets. It enhances the bathroom's appearance and provides complete control and customization options. Therefore, smart bathrooms are widely utilized worldwide in both the residential and commercial sectors.
The increased value proposition of renovated bathrooms, which adds more value to the property, has significantly prompted customers to enhance their spaces with technologically advanced products; this trend is also prevalent in bathrooms. An increasing number of millennials and younger consumers are purchasing homes, particularly older properties that require more repairs, which is also positive for the market. In addition, the increasing adoption of water-saving plumbing fixtures with sustainable and eco-friendly features in remodeling and new construction projects is significantly bolstering the market for smart bathrooms.
Additionally, the federal plumbing fixture standards established by the United States Energy Policy Act of 1992 have contributed to water conservation and sustainability. This act also offers rebates to consumers who have replaced their infrastructure with low-flow options. Consequently, the increasing demand for low-flow plumbing fixtures will drive market expansion.
The increasing construction of smart homes, which combine luxury and practicality, increases the demand for smart bathrooms. Consumers are incentivized to design restrooms with sensor-activated smart fixtures and faucets that provide a spa-like experience. These digital bathroom fixtures and accessories conserve water and energy and offer the utmost convenience with features like reduced tap flow, digital temperature control settings, touchless technology, infrared tap technology, and programmable features like brushing, washing, and showering timers.
Following these trends, manufacturers are introducing new technology-driven bathroom faucets to drive the market for smart bathrooms. For instance, Grohe's infrared sensor-operated Eurocube E faucets only dispense water when palms are placed over the sensor, thereby reducing water waste. Moreover, greywater recycling is an environmentally beneficial practice becoming increasingly accessible to consumers throughout the region. The growing interest in Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for greywater treatment over the past decade is also anticipated to increase the demand for smart bathroom fixtures, creating opportunities for market growth.
North America is the most significant global smart bathroom market shareholder and is anticipated to boost at a CAGR of 10.02% over the forecast period. Smart bathrooms are acquiring popularity in the United States to combat rising energy costs. Introducing new commercially-tailored products and technologies to the market is a significant growth driver for this market segment in the region. In addition, high purchasing power and a growing emphasis on providing consumers with a luxurious experience drive the increased penetration and adoption of smart hygiene products. In 2018 Bunzl Canada introduced WandaNEXT, its most recent technology-based facility management solution. This Internet of Things (IoT) restroom monitoring system employs a touchscreen interface to provide consumers in retail, healthcare, airports, conference centers, and commercial environments with consistent, high-quality restroom service. Additionally, WandaNEXT can be found in facilities throughout Canada and the United States, including Edmonton International Airport, where using this system led to a 300 percent decrease in passenger email complaints about the cleanliness of lavatories. This is another significant growth driver for the smart bathroom market in North America.
Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 10.5% over the forecast period. Increasing smart home concept adoption in the region is a significant market growth driver. According to IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, at the end of 2018, there were 30.5 million connected homes in Europe. The deployed base in the region is projected to reach 83.2 million residences by the end of 2023, representing 35 percent of the market. This affords manufacturers numerous opportunities to increase their market share. With high levels of wealth in Western European nations, the smart restroom market offers lucrative business opportunities in terms of premium product offerings, cutting-edge designs, and sophisticated distribution. Therefore, manufacturers are attempting to increase their market share by addressing the concept of bathroom remodeling and providing a home leisure experience. This is a significant growth driver for the smart bathroom market over the forecast period.