Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

Business and COVID-19

According to research done by Parks Associates, technology was impressed into service at greater volumes than in previous years due to the stay-at-home orders in much of the country. They found one-third of smart device owners in U.S. households with broadband have increased usage of their devices during the COVID-19 pandemic, including 46% of smart door lock owners. As market adoption and usage increase, however, new challenges in the consumer experience are emerging, which could impact current and future growth. A growing percentage of smart home device owners now experience multiple problems with their devices each year, and 16% of US broadband households report home network problems have disrupted work-at-home activities during COVID-19.

Parks Associates’ surveys show nearly 29% of SMBs report their company is at risk of going out of business due to COVID-19. The public health crisis and months of shelter-in-place orders have had a dramatic impact, particularly on SMBs. Their report, New SMB Landscape: Devices, Communication, Security, Support, provides insights on technology adoption and needs among SMB owners and IT personnel and examines the changes taking place as a result of reduced budgets and a broad shift to working from home.

Parks Associates analyzed the data and found that most SMBs spend less than 20% of their overall budget on IT products and services, and one-third do not appear to have had a planned budget for IT products and services at all in 2020. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies scrambled to get the equipment to allow their employees to work at home. Nearly one-fourth report their spending on internet and IT services and devices has increased since the outbreak, and the continued uncertainty of the operating environment is making it difficult for them to develop solid budgetary plans for 2021.

From the article "Business and COVID-19".

Previously In The News

In Europe, less than 10% familiar with smart products

Less than 10% of Western European broadband households are familiar with smart products, according to Parks Associates. New Parks Associates research shows low consumer familiarity with smart home...

In Europe, 57% own at least one connected CE device

Approximately 9% of Western European broadband households own at least one smart home device and 57% own at least one internet-connected CE device, according to Parks Associates. Parks Associates a...

One in three US homes is already streaming video

"Streaming media players will be a popular gift this holiday season, especially with more competitive pricing in the market and the expansion of new OTT services," said Barbara Kraus, Director of Rese...

Ford and AT&T Hook Up For Free Connected Car Service

Consumers are intrigued but have expressed worries about security and privacy in connected cars and regulators are already on the case. Over half of those surveyed by Parks Associates last year said t...