Dixons Carphone is launching an “emergency service for the connected world” to help customers maintain their home electronics.
The electrical and telecommunications retailer is seeking growth in the face of continued competition from rivals such as Amazon. The ‘home gadgets’ emergency service will give customers the chance to have their home network monitored remotely for faults, and will be able to get help from specialists in the case of an emergency.
The success of this new service could give credence to the company’s investment in brick and mortar, including the £3.8 billion merger of Dixons and Carphone Warehouse in 2014. The possibility of growth for independent high street stores will also be tested, at a time when customers are increasingly shopping online.
The company could face competition from British Gas, which may have plans to combine its current boiler-servicing plans with its moves into home automation via the ‘Hive’ internet connected thermostat.
