The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by an increased focus on environmental sustainability and workplace safety, and the growing importance of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. In the last three years alone, there have been over 27,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Internet of Things in construction: smart toilet. Buy the report here.

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Data Insights Internet of Things in Construction: Smart toilet

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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

80+ innovations will shape the construction industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the construction industry using innovation intensity models built on over 240,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, self-cleaning toilets and smart waterproofing are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Automated slurry-blast tools, sensor-integrated doors, and robotic excavators are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are work vehicle cruise control, which is now well established in the industry. 

Innovation S-curve for Internet of Things in the construction industry

Smart toilet is a key innovation area in Internet of Things

Smart toilets incorporate technology into the bathroom plumbing fixture and can include features such as adjustable water spray systems for bidet facilities, automatic flushing, automatic seat opening and closing, lighting systems, and seat warming functions. Smart toilets can be environmentally friending, by reducing water usage and the use of toilet paper, and allow for greater accessibility for people with disabilities.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 45+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of smart toilet.

Key players in smart toilet – a disruptive innovation in the construction industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to smart toilet

Toto is the leading patent filer in the smart toilet sector. Other leading filers include Kohler, Panasonic, Coway and LIXIL.

Toto’s centerpiece technology is WASHLET, which it claims is the original shower toilet from Japan. It features technologies and functionalities that provide high levels of hygiene and comfort. The product line exceeded 60 million units sold globally in December 2022.

Kohler has a range of smart toilets, including Numi 2.0, Eir, Innate and Veil intelligent toilets, which include a range of technological features from heated seats to built-in nightlights.

In terms of application diversity, Toto is the top player, followed by Grifols and Panasonic.

By means of geographic reach, Toto leads the pack, followed by Grifols and Panasonic.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Robotics in Construction.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.