Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution and current state of the smart speaker market in China, highlighting how Xiaomi has leveraged its smart speaker to drive significant growth in its IoT business, despite the decline in smart speaker sales [4][6][14]. Group 1: Smart Speaker Market Dynamics - The smart speaker market experienced explosive growth in 2017, with major players like Alibaba, Xiaomi, and Baidu entering the space, but has since seen a sharp decline in sales, with market size halved by 2024 compared to its peak [4][6]. - Xiaomi, despite being the market leader, faces challenges as the overall quality of low-priced smart speakers fails to meet consumer expectations, leading to a stagnation in the smart speaker segment [6][12]. Group 2: IoT Business Growth - Xiaomi's IoT business generated 104.1 billion yuan in revenue in 2024, nearly half of its mobile business revenue of 191.8 billion yuan, and three times that of its automotive business [6][12]. - The integration of smart speakers as a gateway for IoT devices has significantly increased the number of connected devices on Xiaomi's platform, from 150 million in 2018 to 900 million in 2024, driving substantial revenue growth [12][14]. Group 3: Channel Strategy and Retail Expansion - Xiaomi's strategy to enhance its offline presence has been crucial, with the number of retail stores growing from 10,000 in 2021 to 16,000 by March 2023, allowing for better product discovery and sales of IoT products [20][24]. - The shift in retail strategy from high-density coverage to attracting consumers with differentiated product offerings has been pivotal in Xiaomi's success in the IoT space [24][28]. Group 4: Product Development and Consumer Engagement - Xiaomi has adapted its product strategy to include non-essential consumer goods, which are better suited for offline discovery, thus expanding its IoT product line beyond traditional necessities [22][28]. - The company has successfully reduced the cost of IoT modules, making it easier for various home appliances to integrate into the smart home ecosystem, further driving the adoption of IoT products [12][10].