How Kitchen Technology Is Redefining the Modern Home Experience
Indonesia’s home appliance industry is entering a new phase of growth, driven by changing household lifestyles and the rising adoption of connected home technologies in urban areas. A Grand View Research report projects Indonesia’s home appliances market to grow by 6.5 percent annually through 2030, reflecting stronger consumer demand for appliances that can support smarter, more efficient, and more practical ways of living.
As modern families navigate increasingly busy routines, the kitchen is evolving from a purely functional space into an intelligent part of everyday living. Today, home appliances are expected to do more than support cooking; they need to help households save time, maintain consistency, improve hygiene, and make daily routines feel easier and more enjoyable. This shift is where Bosch Home Appliances continues to strengthen its role, combining innovative kitchen technologies, intuitive design, and German engineering excellence to help families embrace a smarter and more effortless way of living at home.
In an exclusive conversation with Indonesia Design, Anil Narula, President Director (CEO) of BSH Home Appliances Indonesia, shared how Bosch is responding to the needs of modern Indonesian households through appliances designed to support healthier cooking, greater efficiency, long-term reliability, and a more connected home experience.
Many people still see cooking as a time-consuming chore, especially among young working families. How is Bosch changing this perception through technology and design?
I always like to start from the consumer's perspective. Today, more and more households have dual-income parents, and while eating out or ordering food is convenient, people are also becoming increasingly conscious about health and nutrition. Families want to prepare healthier meals for themselves and their children, but they need solutions that fit into their busy lifestyles.
At Bosch, our goal is to make cooking easier, healthier, and more enjoyable. For example, we transformed our ovens into large-capacity air fryers. Unlike a standalone air fryer that often requires cooking in multiple batches, a Bosch oven can prepare meals for the entire family at once, making cooking faster and less repetitive.
We have also been pioneers in steam cooking since the 1990s. Steam cooking helps preserve nutrients while delivering healthier meals. We complement this with technologies such as vacuum drawers for sous-vide cooking, giving consumers more professional cooking options at home.
Safety is another important aspect. Even when the oven is operating at high temperatures, the exterior remains cool to the touch thanks to multiple layers of glass insulation. Our induction hobs are designed to be intuitive, allowing users to adjust heat levels with a simple swipe rather than multiple taps.
Most importantly, we are making cooking more interactive and enjoyable. Through our Home Connect app and smart appliances, users can send recipes directly to their ovens, receive step-by-step guidance, and even monitor cooking progress remotely. The appliance becomes a cooking partner rather than just a tool.
Indonesian cuisine often relies on open-flame cooking. Can Bosch appliances support traditional cooking methods while maintaining authentic flavours?
Absolutely. Bosch understands that Indonesian cooking has unique requirements. Many local dishes require high-intensity flames, long cooking times, and precise heat control.
Our range cookers feature powerful burners specifically designed to deliver the intensity needed for Asian cooking. We also offer our Step Flame technology, which provides nine levels of flame control, allowing users to adjust cooking intensity with precision.
Our engineers have carefully designed the burner structure to ensure heat is distributed effectively around the wok, which is particularly important for Asian cooking styles.
In fact, we are preparing to introduce a product specifically engineered for Indonesian consumers, featuring one of the largest burner capacities available. This will help prepare dishes that traditionally require long cooking times more efficiently.
At the same time, we believe the future of cooking is electric. Just as the automotive industry is moving towards electric vehicles, cooking will increasingly shift towards induction technology.
For example, a pot of water that may take eight to ten minutes to boil on a gas flame can boil in around 75 seconds on induction because there is virtually no heat loss.
That said, whether someone prefers traditional flame cooking or advanced induction technology, Bosch offers solutions that support both approaches.
Indonesia's upper-middle-class segment continues to grow alongside premium residential developments. How does Bosch support the demand for more sophisticated home-living solutions?
For Bosch, trust and long-term reliability are fundamental. Our founder famously said, "I'd rather lose money than trust," and that philosophy continues to guide us today.
Every Bosch appliance is installed by Bosch-trained service professionals. Large appliances come with a 15-year spare parts commitment, while small appliances are supported with a 10-year spare parts commitment. This gives homeowners peace of mind and ensures their investment remains protected over time.
We are also seeing a growing trend towards built-in appliances, not only because they enhance aesthetics but also because they deliver better functionality. Built-in refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and coffee machines integrate seamlessly into modern homes while providing greater convenience.
Take dishwashers as an example. They can wash up to 125 pieces of tableware in one cycle while maintaining hygiene levels that are difficult to achieve through handwashing. Bosch dishwashers operate at temperatures of up to 70°C and are tested to eliminate 99.9999% of germs. Powered by a built-in sensor system, they can also ensure that detergent residues are completely removed, which is especially important for families with children.
As Indonesian households evolve, consumers increasingly value convenience, hygiene, quality, and reliability—and these are exactly the areas where Bosch excels.
What is Bosch Home Appliances' long-term vision for Indonesia?
Indonesia is a strategically important market for Bosch. Beyond its large population, the country offers significant opportunities for innovation, manufacturing, and long-term growth.
Our strategy has several dimensions. First, as relevant product segments continue to expand, we aim to introduce more products that are specifically designed for Indonesian consumers and, potentially, produced locally.
Second, we want to remain at the forefront of innovation. Through our Home Connect ecosystem, appliances are becoming increasingly intelligent and connected. We are already piloting solutions in Europe where consumers can check the contents of their refrigerator remotely, select recipes based on available ingredients, and even order missing ingredients before arriving home.
Our vision is for Bosch to become a trusted partner that simplifies everyday life rather than creating additional complexity.
We are equally committed to after-sales service. We do not enter a new city until we can provide proper service support there. Our promise is straightforward: if a customer contacts us in the morning, our technician will aim to be there the same day; if they contact us in the evening, support will be available the next day.
As more Indonesians upgrade their homes and lifestyles, we want Bosch to be the first brand they consider when investing in premium home appliances.
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Anil Narula is the president director (CEO) of BSH Home Appliances Indonesia, bringing extensive experience in category marketing and strategic business development across the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to leading the company in Indonesia, he served as Senior Manager for Category Marketing in Asia Pacific and as Category Manager for Bosch Cooking in India, where he played a key role in strengthening the brand’s market presence and consumer engagement.