Docking Station Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Laptop, Smartphone & Tablet), By Connectivity (Wired, Wireless), By Distribution Channel, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global docking station market size was valued at USD 1.27 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% from 2021 to 2028. The rising popularity of Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) work culture to reduce expenses and increase flexibility and efficiency is supporting the industry growth. The growing popularity and increasing use of portable devices among consumers have led to a rise in the demand for docking stations. Moreover, the market for docking stations is likely to witness significant growth in the coming years due to their multifunctional properties, such as audio input and output, ranging USB ports, and Ethernet connectivity. 

Manufacturers in the industry have been incorporating wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and WiGig, in their products, considering the growing demand. For instance, recently, Samsung Group launched Samsung DeX, a wireless docking station, along with Samsung Galaxy S8. The docking station allows smartphones to connect to power supplies, monitors, wireless mouse, keyboards, and network ports. It also enables smartphones to convert into touchpads.

Moreover, the development of technologies, such as USB-C, USB 3.0, and Thunderbolt, is contributing to the market growth. Manufactures in this market are focusing on improving their product designs to provide easy-to-use devices with more and enhanced functionalities. They are incorporating various wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and WiGig, in their products considering the growing demand.

Furthermore, the rising popularity of multiplayer video games owing to easy access to high-speed internet and compatible hardware is expected to boost the demand for docking stations. Moreover, vendors operating in the gaming industry offer tailored products in several portable options such as Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Console.

In the early days of the pandemic, the need for docking stations grew as more enterprises spread out their personnel to maintain social distancing requirements or asked employees to come in once a week. The majority only opened the office on a need-to-know basis, requiring the majority of their teams to work virtually entirely from home. When more employees began working from home, the use of docking stations grew as efficient home working stations necessitate docking equipment that is secure and advanced enough to handle the tools that employees use the most.

Product Insights

The laptop segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 70.0% in 2020. Expanding the application scope of docking stations in several industries, including e-commerce, supply chain, and warehouse management, is likely to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.

The smartphone and tablet segment is expected to expand at the highest CAGR of 8.1% from 2021 to 2028 owing to the increasing application of smartphones and tablets in the IT industry for testing new apps for device compatibility. Moreover, with the rising trend of convenient work culture in corporate offices and the growing number of startups and remote workers, the demand for flexible workplaces is increasing worldwide. The use of these docking stations aid in upgrading meeting rooms and lounges, making workplaces more convenient and converting workstations into standing desks. Thus, the abovementioned factors are expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.

Distribution Channel Insights

The offline distribution channel segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 75.0% in 2020 and the trend is expected to continue throughout the forecast period. According to statistics, about 60% of Americans prefer buying products from stores. Thus, an increasing number of retail stores, especially in emerging markets such as India, China, and Brazil, is expected to boost product sales through offline channels. Exclusive and company-operated stores offer genuine products and limit the sale of counterfeit products. This factor is expected to fuel the growth of the offline distribution channel segment during the forecast period.

The online segment is anticipated to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period. E-commerce is likely to witness significant growth in the coming years on account of the availability of a variety of branded docking stations comprising various features at convenient prices, along with lucrative discounts.

Moreover, online channels are hosted by businesses that are into e-commerce as well as by manufacturers that have realized the potential of these channels, and thus have hosted their websites to better cater to customer needs. E-commerce players such as Amazon.com, Inc.; Flipkart; Alibaba; Walmart; Home Depot Product Authority, LLC; eBay; and Best Buy are among the major sellers of docking stations for both retail customers and commercial and industrial customers. In addition, online portals provide 24*7 assistance, have a variety of products to choose from, and offer heavy discounts on branded products. Most prominent companies also have their sites. Thus, all these factors are contributing to the segment growth.

Connectivity Insights

The wired segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 70.0% in 2020. Wired docking stations are widely used in the IT industry owing to the high degree of convenience associated with these products. These devices enable high-speed data transfer, which is crucial in the IT industry.

Furthermore, wired docking stations connect portable devices to monitors or desktops through an HDMI cable or DisplayPort. These wireless systems can be easily affected due to channel congestion and internet issues that may reduce data transfer speed and reliability. Thus, wired products are widely preferred over wireless devices. However, the wireless connectivity segment is likely to witness the fastest growth from 2021 to 2028 due to the incorporation of advanced wireless technologies, such as WiGig, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, with better efficiency.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2020. The need for docking stations in the region is increasing as millennials and youngsters have become more interested in e-sports. Investors are flocking to the burgeoning esports business, now that the U.S. government has declared esports players to be professional athletes. These consumer trends are expected to increase the demand for laptops, PCs, and smartphones, thereby increasing the demand for docking stations over the forecast period.

Moreover, according to the data provided by the ‘SelectUSA.gov,’ a U.S. government-wide program led by the U.S. Department of Commerce, there are estimated more than 525,000 IT services and software companies present in the U.S., out of which approximately 40,500 companies are tech startups, which were established in 2018 alone. These industry trends are anticipated to boost the demand for laptops, PCs, and smartphones, which will, in turn, augment the demand for docking stations over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.0% over the forecast period. The region is a technology and IT hub owing to the presence of some of the largest technology giants including China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Over the past few years, Asian countries have witnessed a rapid growth of the IT industry, rising automation in manufacturing industries, and ascending penetration of online video games. These factors have opened up new growth avenues for docking stations owing to the large-scale application of computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones in the aforementioned industries. The subsequent rise in demand for laptops, PCs, and smartphones is, in turn, projected to drive the market for docking stations over the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights        

The market for docking stations is characterized by the presence of various key players. Companies are enhancing their product visibility through partnerships with online retailers to maximize their consumer base. For instance, Plugable Technologies, an American company, primarily sells its products through Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) platform. This entails the company storing its products in Amazon's fulfillment centers after production, while Amazon arranges for the pickup, packaging, and shipment facilities associated with these products. Some prominent players in the global docking station market include:

• Targus

• StarTech.com

• Dell Technologies Inc.

• ACCO Brands Corporation 

• Lenovo Group Limited

• HP Development Company L.P

• Plugable Technologies

• TOSHIBA CORPORATION

• Acer Inc.

• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Docking Station Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global docking station market report on the basis of product, connectivity, distribution channel, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Laptop

  • Smartphone & Tablet

  • Others

• Connectivity Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Wired

  • Wireless

• Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Offline

  • Online

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

  • Asia pacific

    • China

    • India

  • Central and South America

    • Brazil 

  • Middle East and Africa

    • Saudi Arabia