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Here you’ll find current news, studies, interviews, and background information on Home & Consumer Tech.
From automated cleaning to autonomous living
Robots are increasingly taking over everyday tasks in the smart home: vacuum cleaners, lawn-mowing robots, and window-cleaning robots are driving strong revenue growth, while premium features are quickly becoming standard. How far automation and AI are really changing household routines — and which tasks could disappear entirely next.
Continuity at the helm of GFU for the next five years.
The shareholders of GFU Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH have confirmed the existing Supervisory Board, consisting of Enrico Hoffmann, Christian Gerwens, and Ulf Schreurs, for another five years – the board remains unchanged in terms of personnel and is intended to ensure continuity in a volatile market.
AI is changing the purchasing process; retail remains crucial
AI is shifting the customer journey: consumers are increasingly using AI tools for preselection, yet brick-and-mortar retail remains relevant as a place for advice, live testing, and after-sales services. How retailers need to adapt their data, service, and brand strategies so that systems and customers alike can find them — and what this means for…
How smart home appliances are bringing the energy transition to laundry rooms and beyond
Smart meters and connected household appliances make energy consumption measurable and enable the use of dynamic tariffs – from running the washing machine during the cheapest minute-by-minute interval to coordinated use of self-generated electricity via a “Home Energy Management System”.
IFA 2026 surpasses previous-year figures and brought future technologies to life – more visitors, more exhibitors, more AI and more robotics than ever before
IFA 2026 set a new record with 240,000 visitors from 155 countries and more than 2,000 exhibitors, showcasing AI, robotics, smart home and mobility across numerous experiential formats.
Digitally disruptive, relevant in-store
AI and social commerce are already changing shopping behavior for electrical appliances: In four countries, the study shows high acceptance of AI-supported product search and growing use of social commerce, while brick-and-mortar retail focuses on advice and service.
The future is now
IFA Berlin opens the Media Days and puts AI, robotics, and smart everyday devices in the spotlight — manufacturers, start-ups, and policymakers show how technology is already being used today in smartphones, household appliances, and robots.
The biggest World Cup ever creates new opportunities
The 2026 FIFA World Cup primarily boosted business in premium televisions: ahead of kick-off, demand for large-screen and Mini-LED models rose significantly, while the longer tournament duration did not extend the effect.
Global crises and continued consumer restraint are impacting sales
The German home electronics market recorded a moderate decline in revenue in the first half of 2026, but individual segments with clearly identifiable added value grew significantly. Why consumers are investing selectively in certain innovations despite uncertainty — and which products could drive the upswing.
Stable global market shaped by selective purchasing decisions
The market for major domestic appliances in 2026 is shaped by price pressure, cautious consumers, and a normalization of growth after strong years — while design innovation, energy efficiency, and smart ecosystems are opening up new value creation potential.
GFU and ZVEI initiate the IFA Leaders & Policy Dialogue
With the new IFA Leaders & Policy Dialogue, GFU and ZVEI are creating a high-caliber forum for exchange between business and politics. As part of IFA 2026, leading representatives from industry and politics will discuss competitiveness, innovation, and the future of the European single market.
How Generative AI Turns the Smart Home into an Intuitive Housemate with Edge AI
It works in the background, locally and in real time – and turns the smart home into an intuitive housemate: Edge AI processes data directly on the device instead of in the cloud. This protects sensitive data, saves energy, and works even without an internet connection. Why the technology is meeting a mature market and what growth experts expect.
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