The latest study from Capterra Australia has revealed that an overwhelming 86% of city residents believe the introduction of a smart city will enhance their quality of life. The investigation is geared towards encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to contribute to the growth of smart cities.

The top anticipated benefits among respondents included increased sustainability and heightened security. Conducted among 1,022 Australian city residents, the study unveiled that 39% touted greater sustainability as the key advantage of smart city implementation, followed by 30% considering enhanced security as the primary upside. Additionally, 41% stressed that smart cities development should aim for a more environmentally friendly urban environment.

Building on this notion, respondents living in established smart cities demonstrated their appetite for further advancements. Around 75% expressed their desire to live in an even 'smarter' city model with even more services available. Amongst city residents, Sydneysiders expressed the most interest in this field at 80%.

However, the study also flagged potential challenges to smart city development and smart technology adoption. A majority of respondents (69%) marked a lack of data protection as the biggest impediment to smart city growth. Furthermore, 55% opined that the absence of robust data privacy policies and regulations pose as formidable obstacles to the evolution of smart cities.

Half of the survey participants also viewed increased surveillance as a challenge, though a notable 77% professed their trust in surveillance technologies for ensuring their safety. Despite the concerns voiced, the study offers an encouraging outlook towards the development of smart cities.

Reflecting on the findings, Laura Burgess, Content Analyst at Capterra Australia, said, “While smart cities aim to improve the quality of life for residents, businesses need to partner with local governments and do their part in smart city development. Companies can implement initiatives within the workplace, such as recycling and waste management programmes to support areas of smart services like sustainability”.

As part of the survey methodology, participants consisted of Australian residents who are over 18 years old and residing in cities with at least 50,000 residents.