Citizen Adaption of Smart Solution

In 2018, Woetzel and Kuznetsova conducted a study on the adoption of Smart Solutions in cities around the globe. The study analyses what and why a certain smart city innovation is adopted by the citizen and found that the factors vary between cities and technology. The cultural and demographic condition of a city is one influencing factor to whether smart city initiatives are widely used. Cities with higher income, thus having a higher-speed communication network are more likely to utilise the smart solutions. This also applies to higher density cities and with wider public transportation coverage, would be more likely to get accustomed to more advanced smart cities.

On the other hand, the type of technology of the smart solution also determines the likelihood of adoption by the citizen. For example, more mature solutions are more widely used compared to the technology that is in the early stage of evolution. Solutions that are only about digitising the already well-used process or system are easy to adopt, such as car navigation apps or food delivery apps. Technology that requires more intensive behaviour change or even a completely new pattern of behaviour will take time to catch on by the citizens, such as personal car sharing platforms.

With technology that requires behavioural shift will benefit from a nudge from the government and service provider through media campaigns, personal examples by mayor or other influencing actors and regulatory incentives. These three strategies will ensure the acceleration of technology and solutions adoption by the public. 

Reference:

Woetzel, J., & Kuznetsova, E. (2018). Smart city solutions: what drives citizen adoption around the globe. McKinsey Center for Government. McKinsey&Company.

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