This case is about Apple, Inc.’s (Apple) efforts to make its platform HomeKit the de facto platform in the Smart Home (SH) market – an important subset of the Internet of Things (IoT) space. The case starts out with a glimpse into the history of Apple that was credited with introducing several innovative consumer electronic products. The company had then raised a lucrative ecosystem around them. The case delves into Apple’s attempts to make the HomeKit platform popular and integrate it into the iPhone’s ecosystem. The efforts that Apple took to differentiate HomeKit through enhanced security features for its platform are then described. However, Apple failed to make HomeKit popular. One of the reasons for this was Apple’s tardiness in ensuring it had its own products in the SH market. Apple’s subsequent launch of its smart speaker, HomePod, in the SH market is described. The case then talks about the emergence of new SH platforms and the rising competition in the smart speaker market, both of which had the potential to prevent the wide-scale adoption of HomeKit. Though Apple is considered an IoT pioneer by many, it had a lot of catching up to do in the IoT space. Can Apple succeed in winning the ‘Smart Home’ race with HomeKit? .

IT and Systems Case Studies | Case Study in Management, Operations, Strategies, IT and Systems, Case Studies

IT and Systems Case Studies Case Studies | Case Study in Management, Operations, Strategies, IT and Systems, Case Studies

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Issues

The case is structured to achieve the following teaching objectives:

	Understand the issues and challenges in designing and implementing an IoT strategy
	Identify the opportunities presented by new product development.
	Examine the customer adoption process of a new technology.
	Scrutinize the product characteristics that affect the rate of technology adoption.
	Recognize the problems in product adoption.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND NOTE

ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPLE’S IoT

THE MOVE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE MARKET

THE CUSTOMER FACING SOLUTION – THE HOME APP

THE BIG STEP – HOMEPOD

THE GROWING COMPETITION – A SERIOUS THREAT

THE CHALLENGES CONTINUE…

ROAD AHEAD

EXHIBITS

Keywords

Internet of Things (IoT),Apple,New Product Development,IoT Strategy,Customer Adoption Process,Diffusion,New Product Failure,IoT Strategic Decision,Get-Ahead Strategy,Catch-up Strategy,Competitive Advantage,Generic Model,Differentiation Strategy,HomeKit,Industry Standards

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