Perth-based energy giant SSE and Dixons Carphone, Europe’s largest electrical goods and phones retailer, said they have formed a strategic partnership to provide “connected home” services to a combined customer base of 10 million households.
SSE said the partnership would create a one-stop solution that “will give customers access to all the support and services they need to manage their homes, from boilers to laptops, dishwashers to wifi.”
SSE said the partnership will include acces to “SSE’s highly skilled engineers, Dixons Carphone’s leading after-care service from Knowhow, and honeyBee, the market-leading digital platform from Connected World Services.”
The partnership will “bring nationwide support to the UK & Ireland through the two brands’ combined customer base of around 10 million households, supported by a 4,000-strong workforce of highly skilled engineers and technical advisers and 1,200 stores,” said SSE.
Customers will be able to control connected devices in the home and arrange installation of smart thermostats or security systems.
SSE MD retail Will Morris said: “Together, we are developing a solution that isn’t just focused on launching the latest technology, but on meeting customers’ desire for a simple, flexible way to control, manage and maintain their homes.
“To do this, we are taking a customer first approach, leveraging SSE’s expertise and proven track record in providing essential services in the home.
“The powerful combination with Dixons Carphone’s unique platform, leading customer support function via Knowhow and high street presence puts us in a strong position in what is a nascent market with significant potential.”
Dixons Carphone deputy CEO Andrew Harrison said: “We live in an increasingly connected world, where keeping our devices working at home, at work and on the move, with busy family and professional lives can be a minefield.
“CurrysPCWorld and Knowhow are out delivering, installing and fixing these products 365 days a year and our market leading honeyBee platform provides an easy way to monitor and control these devices, so we are incredibly excited to partner with SSE and extend our relationship with customers further into the home.”