Recently, the Ministry of Commerce, together with multiple government bodies, issued an action plan aimed at boosting consumption in the smart home sector.

A ministry official recently offered a detailed interpretation of the plan, highlighting its context, main components, and strategic objectives. The move aligns with national policy directions.

Where the Plan Comes From

The home furnishing market holds significant weight in overall consumer spending, covering a vast array of sectors and a long industrial chain. It serves as a crucial bridge between improving people's livelihoods and stimulating consumption. In recent years, rapid technological advancements and a growing public desire for higher-quality living have fueled the swift expansion of the smart home market, with penetration rates climbing steadily. The country's 15th Five-Year Plan outlines goals to enrich smart home scenarios, promote new smart product applications, and establish interconnection standards, while also supporting the renovation and intelligent upgrade of older homes. In response to these directives, the Ministry of Commerce launched a dedicated research effort and organized discussions to gather input from various stakeholders, including local fact-finding missions. These consultations formed the basis for the action plan, which was officially released.

Key Points of the Plan

The plan adopts a results-driven and problem-oriented approach, targeting growth opportunities and bottlenecks in the smart home consumption market. It introduces seven measures designed to increase the supply of high-quality smart home products, refine the industry's standard system, and improve community-based convenience services. Its focus rests on four main areas.

First, the plan emphasizes a coordinated push on both the supply and demand sides. Manufacturers are being encouraged to intensify their research and development of smart home technologies. The plan also supports home furnishing malls and shopping centers in setting up smart home experience zones and model rooms for whole-home intelligent systems. Furthermore, it directs financial institutions to enhance credit support for smart home purchases, making it easier for consumers to finance these products.

Second, it seeks to build an integrated and diverse ecosystem for the industry. To address the technical challenges of device interoperability, the plan calls for a comprehensive system of grading and evaluation standards for smart home products. It accelerates the creation of mandatory national standards for smart home interconnection, aiming to fast-track the integration and cohesive development of full-house smart solutions.

Third, the plan focuses on providing tailored services to meet the varied needs of different consumer groups. To address diverse preferences, it promotes the development of large-scale home renovation enterprises and platforms that can offer personalized and varied decoration packages. It encourages business models based on customization, order-based, and appointment-based services. Companies are also being guided to adopt age-friendly designs, enriching the supply of smart home products tailored for the elderly.

Fourth, the plan aims to smooth the entire service chain for consumers. In response to the inconvenience often found in home decoration support services, it advises local authorities to establish a well-organized network of recycling points for used home goods. Businesses are being encouraged to offer combined "delivery of new goods plus collection of old items" and "internet plus recycling" services. Additionally, the plan supports the creation of comprehensive home upgrade service stations in qualified neighborhoods and communities, bringing a variety of convenient services closer to residents.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Commerce will work in concert with other departments to ensure these measures are fully executed. The goal is for these policies to yield tangible results quickly, helping to bring smart home products into more households and better cater to the public's aspirations for a higher quality of life.