The electrical retail industry in Australia has gone through a significant period of change over the last few years. The covid pandemic became the catalyst for many Australians adjusting, not necessarily by choice, how and where they spend their quality time. Families were choosing to make purchases for their homes rather than saving for the next big holiday, which started to feel more unattainable than ever.

Technology has played a major part in assisting this shift in consumer behaviour. For example, 4K Televisions that can show cinema quality content are now more affordable than ever. Soundbars with Dolby Atmos technology can emulate true surround sound in the home. The abundance of streaming services, such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus, now allows Australians to have access to an unprecedented amount of content, all available at the touch of a button. While the worst of covid seems to be firmly behind us, many of the lifestyle adjustments it catalysed have stuck, with access and affordability being integral to the change.

Advancements in technology are already occurring throughout the electrical retail industry. Dishwashers can detect the level of soilage on dishes and will automatically adjust the detergent dosage and water temperature to ensure the best cleaning. Fridges can use an array of sensors to carefully manage temperature, airflow, and humidity which extends the life of fresh food far beyond what was previously possible. Air conditioners can work as air purifiers to minimise allergies and can detect human presence to optimise their usage accordingly. Robotic vacuum cleaners can clean and mop your entire house while avoiding obstacles and emptying themselves when done. Brands are constantly striving for improvements in energy efficiency, resulting in the latest models almost always being more efficient, and therefore cheaper, to run than preceding models.

Many innovations are designed to enhance people’s quality of life, which is particularly pertinent given our ageing demographic. Services such as Google Home allows consumers to control lights and appliances remotely from a mobile device. Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa allow users to use voice commands to make phone calls, access news and media, and search everyday information without ever needing to touch a button. These services actively learn from usage and are able to customise their responses over time to suit the user. Most importantly, all these innovations are designed to be simple and straightforward to use, so people of all walks of life can benefit from them.

In the future we expect to see further technological evolution in the electrical retail industry. Expect to see fridges which can catalogue the contents so that you can be alerted of products due to expire, and your next weeks shopping list is collated automatically. Expect cooking appliances which will optimise cooking conditions and learn your preferences to ensure your food is cooked perfectly every time. Expect the appliances of the future to be feature-rich, efficient, and able to make life easier than ever before.

Bronte Ellendon

Store Manager – Betta Home Living McLaren Vale

15+ Years in retail

Lover of travel and live music

Avid gym enthusiast