The Connected Decade:

The way consumers interact with connected technology is at an inflection point. Over the next decade, a sea change of global innovation and interoperability across connected devices, cars and homes will redefine the connected landscape. Part of this will be driven by our new focus on working from home, remote learning and connecting to others from a distance. Another part will be driven by technological advancements, like 5G and artificial intelligence, that disrupt consumer buying behavior. How consumers adopt and interact with new technologies will vary from region to region around the world – opening the door for companies like yours to gain new market share in growth markets and monetize new opportunities in developing markets. 

Lower latency, increased data capacity, automation and truly intelligent technology will create virtually endless possibilities for connected consumers in the next decade. ‘Smart cities’ are now within reach. Real interoperability between smart homes, cars and mobile devices will be solidified. And enterprise applications for industry-specific advancements are expected to be enormous. Assurant’s Connected Decade research is designed to provide actionable insights that help us work together to enhance existing programs and create new programs that meet your consumers' needs during this evolution. Our study spans six countries, surveying participants who represent shifting consumer attitudes across the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom and Germany. Consumer sentiments outlined in the study reveal substantial opportunities for connected living companies. 

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the way consumers interact, especially online. Working, learning and connecting from home became the norm as people around the world spent more time inside their own four walls. Unsurprisingly, that led to the increased adoption of smart products that help us connect to each other. And it turns out that, once consumers adopt a smart product, they have a much more positive outlook on smart technology overall.

The increased familiarity with connected technology that was driven by COVID-19 has opened up new market segments that were lagging in adoption pre-pandemic and laid the foundation for consumers to expand into new smart product categories they hadn't considered before. At Assurant, we're using these insights to help you grow your business and connect to consumers around the world.

Throughout the next 10 years, Assurant will be analyzing and sharing insights into connected consumer buying behaviors around the world. And our industry-leading connected living partners will have the opportunity to turn these insights into actionable programs that create a competitive edge. We’ll focus on ways to promote 5G adoption and other new technology. We’ll leverage our global asset disposition network to help mobile companies monetize legacy devices. And we’ll consider which offers will best support consumers as they manage the connected cars, homes and devices available to them in the Connected Decade.