Skip to content

IoT – Internet of Things

The Dirty Truth About Magic Mirrors

Brick and mortar retail stores are looking for ways to incorporate technology in ways that improve customer experience and create measurable ROI. Especially appealing are technologies that lend themselves to a more omnichannel experience. Web makes retail easier! Metrics, analytics, insights galore.

  • What is the best way to do this?
  • Where does it make sense to connect the online to the in-store experience?
  • How can you readily incorporate the Internet of Things into your physical stores?

Theoretically, the “Magic Mirror” should be one answer to these questions.

There are a few different versions of these magic-machines, but they all rely on a complex recommendation engine that draw from catalog and in-store inventory, as well as allow in-store shoppers to save items to their in-store shopping cart.

Despite the bells and whistles, Magic Mirrors remain far from ubiquitous – or even common. Why hasn’t this “sexy” technology been more widely adopted?

And no- it’s not just because of the finger prints…

Read More »The Dirty Truth About Magic Mirrors

Implementing the Internet of Things in Retail: Challenges and Opportunities

It seems that wherever you look retailers are talking about implementing new technology to stay a few steps ahead of their competition.

Though there are a number of ways to implement technology into a retail setting, many retailers are beginning to place more attention on the Internet of Things (IoT). Why? Because it’s beginning to change the way businesses connect with their customers.

Read More »Implementing the Internet of Things in Retail: Challenges and Opportunities

smart connected systems infographic

What are Smart Connected Systems and Why Should My Business Care? [Infographic]

By now you’ve probably heard about the Internet of Things or IoT. We’ve mentioned it in several of our previous posts.

But do you really understand what it is…and how you can expect to see it become a part of your life and business?

Postscapes collaborated with Harbor Research on an infographic to tell a more complete story about the Internet of Things. This infographic explains how “Smart, connected systems are a technological and economic phenomenon of unprecedented scale, encompassing potentially billions if not trillions of nodes — an Internet of infinite interactions and values…”

Read More »What are Smart Connected Systems and Why Should My Business Care? [Infographic]

retail iot

The Internet of Things in a Retail Store [Infographic]

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or “things” embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data.  -Wikipedia

So how can retail stores benefit from IoT? In the infographic below we share the most common types of “things” that integrate IoT technology and give a brief explanation of how retail IoT implementation can be a key to success.

Read More »The Internet of Things in a Retail Store [Infographic]

The Internet of Things As It Applies to Retailers [Infographic]

What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?  How can IoT be used in retail to improve efficiency and customer service?

The IoT is the sensors that are embedded everywhere combined with the technology that helps the sensors communicate in order to connect people and processes.

In the infographic below, we show how IoT is being utilized in retail stores and explain the most common opportunities and challenges.

Read More »The Internet of Things As It Applies to Retailers [Infographic]

IoT smart store

Surprise and Delight Retail Customers with a Smarter Store

We hear a lot about the Internet of Things (IoT) and we have provided definitions and offered suggestions for practical applications for the IoT in a retail setting. But when it comes to seeing how the power of the IoT can apply to everyday business, there is no better example of how it works than a day in the life of an article of clothing in a connected retail supply chain.

Read More »Surprise and Delight Retail Customers with a Smarter Store

ways retailers can use the IoT

5 Practical Retail Applications for the Internet of Things

Every day, we send information to this mysterious place known here on earth as “the cloud.” This information is shared seamlessly between connected devices as required, without so much as a second thought. Have you ever wondered how your iPad knows where you stopped watching that show on Netflix on your TV? It’s not magic, it’s just one example of the Internet of Things (IoT) in action.

That’s a lot of data going up into the cloud every day! Are you wondering if it’s too much to handle? More importantly, how can all of this data help retailers increase sales and improve the customer experience?

McKinsey & Company recently asked business experts, “What’s the one piece of advice for a business leader interested in the Internet of Things?” When you combine the wisdom gleaned from the McKinsey research with our own retail expertise, you get five practical uses of the IoT for retailers.

Read More »5 Practical Retail Applications for the Internet of Things

data collected in a retail store

How Useful is the Data Collected in a Retail Store?

How much data does your store collect every day? More importantly, how is that data used to help your store improve its sales, systems and services?

For many retailers, the answers to these questions are unclear. Does that sound like you?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the hottest buzzwords in retail right now. In its simplest definition, it is the connection of one device to another. Usually, data (commonly referred to as “big data” because of how much information is gathered) is collected alongside this connection to improve retail store decision-making.

[Tweet “How are you using #bigdata to improve your retail store’s decision-making? @alerttechinc”]

The question many retailers are now asking is, how useful is the data collected in a retail store and what type of data should you be gathering?

Read More »How Useful is the Data Collected in a Retail Store?