Overview
In this context, the Smart Products Report 2025, published by UNISG, provides an in-depth analysis of these trends, highlighting the rise of connected devices and the growing integration of AI-based chatbots, such as ChatGPT, into Switzerland’s digital ecosystem.
This article takes a closer look at the key findings of the report and their impact on Swiss consumers today.
1 – Widespread Adoption of Smart Products in Switzerland
The adoption of smart technologies by the Swiss is accelerating. According to the Smart Products 2025 Report, 85% of citizens own or use at least one connected product, representing a 17% increase compared to 2022. This remarkable growth reflects how connected objects have evolved from niche innovations to essential elements of Swiss households.
Younger generations exhibit a particularly pronounced trend, with is particularly pronounced among younger generations, who have an average age of 44 when using these products, compared to 54 among non-users.
Young adults, who are highly connected and adept at multitasking, use these technologies to simplify their daily lives—whether automating their homes, monitoring their health and well-being, or planning their mobility.
A – Examples of Adoption
a/ Smart homes:
Smart home solutions for heating, lighting, and security are becoming increasingly popular. By choosing smart thermostats such as Nest or Tado, Swiss consumers can reduce energy consumption while improving comfort, resulting in savings on household bills. According to IoT Analytics, the IoT market in Switzerland is growing by an average of 17% per year.
b/ Health and well-being:
Wearable smart devices such as connected watches and fitness trackers (like the Apple Watch and Fitbit) are spreading rapidly, giving users the ability to monitor physical activity and health metrics in real time. Growing awareness of preventive health and wellness reinforces this trend. is reinforced by growing awareness of preventive health and wellness.
c/ Voice assistants and connected devices:
Smart speakers (Amazon Echo, Google Home) are now commonplace in Swiss households, making it easier to perform daily tasks using voice commands and providing quick access to information.
d/ Mobility and transport:
Electric and hybrid cars with smart technologies, along with carpooling apps, are on the rise. In 2025, Switzerland passed a law to encourage autonomous vehicles, emphasizing the importance of smart technologies for sustainable mobility.
B – Socio-economic Impact and Market Strategy
Demand for these products is creating a vibrant tech ecosystem, attracting investment in R&D. The Swiss IoT market is benefiting from the proliferation of platforms, applications, and services, which are expected to generate more than two-thirds of the global IoT market revenue by 2025, with an estimated turnover of over $1.5 trillion.
Swiss businesses, particularly in industry and services, are also increasing their adoption of AI and IoT, according to Swissinfo and ICT Journal.
This trend is driving Switzerland’s digital economy and bolstering its international competitiveness.
C – Intergenerational and Societal Differences
Adoption of smart products varies by age group. More than 70% of those under 35 regularly use advanced digital services, compared to around 50% of those over 55, particularly when it comes to mobile use of digital public services.
This gap highlights the opportunity to provide training and support for those less comfortable with technology, ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation are shared more equally.
Figures from IoT Analytics, Swissinfo, ICT Journal, and the Swiss Digital Administration all show that Switzerland is moving toward a more connected, intelligent lifestyle, with technology simplifying daily life and interactions with both public and professional services.
2 – Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Smart Technology
Swiss consumers are generally optimistic about smart technologies. About 66% hold a favorable opinion of these innovations, marking a 10% increase since 2022 (source).
This optimism reflects a growing recognition of the benefits of connected technologies, from ease of use and personalized services to time savings in everyday life.
A – Valued Uses
- Personalization through AI enables tailored experiences, from purchase recommendations to energy management in smart homes and multilingual voice assistants adapted to Switzerland’s linguistic diversity.
- Seamless integration of technologies such as voice search is transforming online behaviors, with over 72% of active users relying on voice commands, a feature that improves accessibility for seniors and those with limited mobility.
B – Main User Concerns
Despite their optimism, Swiss consumers express some concerns about smart technologies (source):
- 67% fear losing basic skills such as cooking or cleaning due to overreliance on smart devices.
- 62% worry about cognitive decline linked to outsourcing mental tasks to machines.
- 37% perceive growing competition between humans and smart technologies, particularly concerning jobs and social roles.
- 64% believe human autonomy is decreasing in favor of increasing machine autonomy, underscoring a tension between convenience and personal control.
C – Time Savings and Practical Benefits
Smart devices save Swiss consumers an average of two hours per week, according to the report. These savings are typically reinvested in leisure, relaxation, or family time. Interestingly, smart product users perceive even greater time savings than non-users, reinforcing their practical impact.
3 – Most Popular Smart Products in Switzerland (2025)
Smart products come in many forms, but some clearly stand out among Swiss consumers.
Here are the five most used smart devices in 2025:
Rank | Smart Product | Percentage of Users |
1 | Smart TVs | 42% |
2 | Smartwatches | 41% |
3 | Robot vacuums | 24% |
4 | Smart headphones | 23% |
5 | Smart speakers | 20% |
Smart TVs and smartwatches have seen the strongest growth since 2022, establishing themselves as essential tech companions in Swiss homes. Beyond their functionality, these devices also carry social meaning.
For example, 36% of users have given their devices a nickname, 47% see them as assistants, 35% regard them as tools, and 13% even view them as status symbols.
Our client, a leading player in the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) sector and a major force in the fresh fruits industry, faced a critical challenge: a demanding customer base and declining data availability. Traditional digital marketing strategies relying on third-party cookies were ineffective, resulting in a low ROAS (Return On Ad Spend) and hindering their ability to reach target audiences effectively.
4 – The Rise of AI Chatbots
For the first time, the 2025 report examines Swiss use of AI chatbots. These intelligent conversational agents, including popular tools such as ChatGPT, are increasingly used in communication, learning, and productivity. About 31% of Swiss residents use AI chatbots regularly.
Adoption is highest among younger generations:
- 71% of students interact frequently with chatbots.
- 76% of young adults aged 18–20 use them.
Usage declines with age, reflecting a generational gap in comfort with AI-driven tools. Regionally, central Switzerland shows the highest usage (41%), compared to just 20% in Italian-speaking regions.
5 – Benefits of Smart Products
A/ Benefits :
The report identifies three key advantages driving adoption:
- Time efficiency: freeing up time for other activities.
- Comfort and convenience: simplifying routines and tasks.
- Staying up to date: consumers value keeping pace with innovation.
B/ Challenges and Concerns
However, smart products also raise challenges:
- Cost: purchase, maintenance, and upgrades represent a major investment.
- Privacy: mass data collection raises concerns about security and misuse.
- Loss of control: increasing device autonomy can make users feel less in charge.
Balancing innovation with the preservation of privacy and human autonomy is presented as a central challenge.
Conclusion
The Smart Products Report 2025 provides a clear vision of Switzerland’s technological trajectory. The country is moving toward a future where smart technologies and AI become integral to daily life. Swiss consumers are saving time, enjoying greater convenience, and interacting with innovative tools. However, concerns around cost, control, and data privacy persist.
The greatest challenge ahead will be to balance the remarkable efficiency and innovation enabled by smart products with the necessity of safeguarding personal autonomy and trust. The era of smart living is no longer a distant vision—it is the present reality shaping how Swiss people live, work, and connect with the world.
And you—what do you think about smart products?
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