HIGH-TECH HOUSEHOLDS

Innovation in the homes and gardens sector.

There was once a time when AI and home automation was seen as a science-fiction future. Now, advancements in technology and smart engineering are seeing the Joneses keep up with the Jetsons.

From Jim’s Mowing to V.I.P., the house and garden sector is packed full of iconic, heritage Aussie franchise brands. Leveraging a model that caters to the time-poor or industrial impaired home-owner, home and garden service franchises have proven to be some of the most profitable and sustainable systems on the market.

In fact, the industry has grown in popularity over the last 10 to 15 years, buoyed primarily by generational change.

Where DIY was formerly seen as a symbol of social significance, the rising influence of millennial and Gen Z consumer markets brings about a complete shift in ideals.

Now, more than ever before, customers are moving away from Do-It-Yourself in favour of Do-It-For-Me.

The emergence of the gig economy demonstrates just how willing this new breed of consumer is to up their average price in order for a full-service experience.

But within the opportunity lies the challenge.

DISRUPTORS

The impact of food delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo on the hospitality industry has been widely documented. However, it’s the handyman and home service sector that is experiencing deep disruption.

In Australia, home-based outsourcing platforms like Airtasker have emerged as powerful competition to the traditional industry options.

Customers can post any job they want online, from cleaning to installing doors to lawn mowing, with members bidding to perform the task.

The innovative model has achieved steady success over the past three years, particularly among millennials.

Airtasker’s largest audience is aged 25 to 34 and is generally representative of a more affluent market segment.

Like Uber Eats and Deliveroo, however, outsourcing platforms are at the mercy of gig-economy legal and employment regulatory bodies. The lack of clearly defined employment has been the subject of much contention, with Foodora infamously citing strict regulation concerns as a major motivator behind its departure from Australia.

While outsourcing platforms have only recently begun to take market share, the home and garden sector is already entering a second technological evolution.

The rising demand for smart houses is changing the way consumers interact with their domestic space. From small, household innovations such as robot vacuum cleaners to large scale planned investments like the Tesla home battery, the house and garden sector is evolving.

The challenge for franchise brands within the industry is knowing when to invest and why. Thankfully, some

It’s not just fast food and fitness taking up the tech race. Inside Franchise Business

shines the spotlight on the brands innovating around the home.