Kohler’s new venture, Kohler Health, reimagines the bathroom as a connected health space with Dekoda, a toilet accessory that decodes hydration and gut data
First, it was smart mirrors and circadian lighting. Now your toilet wants to join the wellness revolution.
Kohler, the well-known bathroom brand, has launched Kohler Health, a new digital health division focused on turning everyday routines into health insights. Its first product, Dekoda, is a low-profile device that attaches to the toilet bowl and tracks hydration, gut health and other wellness indicators, including traces of blood.
It’s that last part, especially, where the timing may prove meaningful. Colorectal cancer has become the third most diagnosed cancer in the U.S. and one of the leading causes of cancer death for both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society. More alarmingly, rates are rising among younger adults, where one in five new cases now occurs in people under 55. Dekoda’s ability to discreetly detect traces of blood in stool could help flag potential warning signs earlier, offering a glimpse of how smart-home health tools may one day support prevention.
“For more than 150 years, Kohler has challenged convention with innovations that transform how people live,” Kohler chair and CEO David Kohler said. “With Kohler Health, we extend that legacy by combining technology, design and science to help people live more gracious, healthy and sustainable lives.”
Retailing for $599 and available now for pre-order, Dekoda uses optical sensors and validated machine-learning algorithms to gather and analyze data. The information is then sent to the Kohler Health app, which displays health indicators and trends while keeping user information private through fingerprint authentication and end-to-end encryption.
“We built Kohler Health with a clear mission: to make the bathroom the center of health and wellness,” Kohler Health CEO Kash Kapadia said. “We’re establishing an entirely new vision for the bathroom — a room where many start and end their day — as a powerful space for proactive insights.”
It’s certainly not Kohler’s first move in bringing wellness deeper into the home (or even at social wellness club Remedy Place). The company has partnered with Control4, a smart home automation platform, to integrate its Anthem+ digital showering system into connected home environments. The collaboration enables homeowners to integrate Kohler’s water delivery technology with Control4’s automation tools, allowing them to customize temperature zones, control up to 12 outlets and activate spa-like presets via voice or mobile app commands.
In July, Kohler also introduced Kohler Saunas, a premium line of indoor and outdoor models designed to expand its wellness portfolio beyond fixtures.
From a broader view, Dekoda is part of a growing wave of innovations turning the home into a health-supporting ecosystem. It joins companies like Eight Sleep, with its newly-launched AI pillow covers, and Ultrahuman Home, which pairs with the Ultrahuman Ring to correlate environmental markers such as temperature, humidity, and noise with physiological metrics.
