With the advent of online shopping, a lot of people find shopping at retail stores time-consuming. Why go to the shop, when you can bring the shop to you, right? But it’s not all gloom and doom for retail. IoT can help them make shopping an experience. Something much more than just taking random items off shelves. Here’s how:
Personalization and Localisation
Make shopping a personal experience. For instance, a ‘beacon’ is a technology that channelizes highly contextual information to the shopper at the right time. It’s a small, uncomplicated device that can communicate with smartphones and other devices in its vicinity via Bluetooth and wireless tech. It’s perfect for the average store visitor, with whom you can have meaningful interactions.
Supply Chain Management
Today, supply chains require greater monitoring and need more control than ever. It’s not just about knowing about when the stock arrives at the store. IoT will help you track the product’s movement from the point of manufacturing right to the consumer’s address. This is where RFID, or radio frequency identification, comes into play. It focuses on transportation and warehousing assets and gives you a holistic picture of the supply chain.
Streamline Store Operations
IoT-enabled sensors and devices can help retailers not only automate operations within the store but also enhance the efficiency of store employees by providing critical information to help them serve valuable customers.
Enhancing the Retail Ecosystem
Several home improvement, general merchandise, and electronics retailers have home automation or smart home sections in their store. IoT is equally in demand for both enterprises and the general consumer as well.
There’s a lot more happening in the retail space with IoT – especially with smart after-sales service support. Indian retail is on the cusp of technological greatness, only if they choose to go the whole way with IoT!
