The increasing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) can be guaged from the results of a recent survey of retailers that showed that most of them were ready to adopt it.
Global leader in products and services Zebra Technologies released its survey results that revealed nearly all retailers it had spoken to were ready to make the changes required to adopt the IoT. The survey, conducted in October 2014 by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Zebra Technologies, also showed that a majority of retailers believed the IoT would be the most important technological initiative of the decade.
Key Facts
• Nearly 96 per cent of retail decision makers were ready to make changes required to adopt IoT. 67 per cent of respondents had already implemented the IoT, and another 26 per cent of retailers were planning to deploy within a year.
• More than half of surveyed retailers expected the IoT to provide operational and actionable data on the location and condition of tracked objects which can help empower process and cost optimization in the supply chains – and ultimately improve operations, create new revenue streams and enhance the customer experience.
• Retail decision makers listed real time locating systems (RTLS), mobile computing and barcoding as the most important technologies for enabling IoT implementations. Data analytics, security solutions and sensor devices were cited most often as required solutions for IoT adoption.
• 56 per cent of respondents listed integration challenges as the top barrier to IoT implementations, while 47 percent mentioned security and privacy as a chief concern.
Nick D’Alessio, Global Retail Practice Leader, Zebra Technologies, said: The advent of new technologies has completely changed the way shoppers interact with retailers, but the shopping experience can be the retailer’s strategic differentiator. With the Internet of Things, retailers will be empowered with the intelligence to make strategic, informed business decisions that improve customer loyalty and associate effectiveness while creating exciting experiences for their shoppers.
You may also want to read: Zebra Tech joins Open Mobile Alliance to promote Internet of Things standards
Image Credit: Zebra Tech
– Advertising Message –