The industrial internet is changing the way consumers interact with retailers and vice versa. Retail may not be the first industry to see the value in embracing the Internet of Things (IoT); however, they are the industry that are moving forward rapidly. A survey released in November last year found that an incredible 96 percent of retail decision makers are ready to make the changes required to adopt the IoT technology. The Forrester report, which Zebra Technologies commissioned, showed that 67 percent of retailers have already implemented IoT, with another 26 percent planning to deploy initiatives within the next year.

This market snapshot shows products and installations that are changing the way consumers interact with the retail industry both offline and online.

StoreMode: Bridging the gap between the digital and physical store

Point Inside are providing the answers to the two questions that are constantly top of mind when a consumer enters a store, “Do you have it?” and “Where can I find it?” As one of the first companies to map the indoor retail space, Point Inside have now integrated into top retailers branded mobile apps to enhance the in-store shopper experience.

One such retailer is Target Corporation. Introduced during the 2014 holiday season, consumers using the app can create shopping lists and access detailed store maps to check inventory and locations of products at their local Target. The type-ahead, auto-complete functionality allows Target consumers to quickly add items to their shopping lists, which will link directly to the store maps and pin the location of the items.  Target have seen strong results since incorporating these features, “Shoppers using mobile phones to engage with Target make four times as many visits to Target stores per year.”

Point Inside were also responsible for powering Target’s unique Black Friday maps allowing consumers to see the exact location of doorbuster deals. With consumers accessing the in-store mobile maps more than 400,000 over the holidays, both Target and Point Inside are seeing significant results.

Rebecca Minkoff: Smart technology in the fitting room

Smart technology, provided by eBay Inc.’s Retail Innovation team has been incorporated into the Rebecca Minkoff New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles stores.

The experience begins with the touchscreen panels in-store, which allow you to view items from the current collection, select items you want to try on and order a complimentary beverage. Enter a mobile number and when the dressing room or beverage is ready, you will receive a text. When entering the fitting room all the items will be waiting for you and thanks to all items having RFID tags, any item you pick up on your way to the fitting room will automatically be added to the touchscreen mirror when you enter.

If you need a different size or color of an item, the touchscreen will show you what is available, and you can tap the screen to request a sales associate to bring it to your fitting room. Easily pay for your items using PayPal or delay your purchase decision and save your items. You will receive a link to Rebecca Minkoff’s loyalty account which will contain your list of items and the ability to receive future updates on sales on your specific items or similar ones.

Connected kitchen devices: Online ordering just got easier

Two devices that are changing the way we place online orders is Waitrose’s hiku device and Amazon’s Dash button.

Waitrose, the British supermarket chain, are planning to be the first retailer in the U.K. to trial home scanning, with their exclusive partnership with the Silicon Valley-based entrepreneurs behind hiku. When you run out of a grocery item, you can use the hiku device to scan the barcode of Waitrose-stocked items, and it will be added to your online shopping basket. Items can also be added using the voice recognition technology or the hiku app when you are away from your home. Complete the online purchase and the selected items are delivered.

Amazon’s Dash button allows you to easily reorder frequently used household items with the simple click of an actual button, placed around your house. Set-up is easy. Select the actual product on the Amazon app that you want reordered when the button gets pressed. Next time you run out of the item, simply click the button and an order will be sent to Amazon as well as an alert to your phone, in case the order was placed in error. Items include paper towels, dog food, nappies, etc. Unless you specify otherwise, the button will only respond to the first press and fulfill one order. So you won’t be receiving a lifetime supply of dog food because the button was pressed numerous times by your four-year-old.

Where the retail industry and IoT are heading

When asked about the future of the retail industry, Josh Marti, CEO and Co-Founder of Point Inside stated, “For consumers, digital technologies are becoming a huge part of the in-store shopping experience. In order to meet the demands of the modern shopper, retailers need to find a way to connect with consumers on their digital devices while in-store or planning an in-store trip or risk losing out on enormous revenue opportunities.

“The retailers that realize this are investing heavily in their digital strategies in order to create a more immersive, interactive shopping experience. Tomorrow’s best retailers will effectively leverage technology to better serve their shoppers by providing maps and product information for each store, personalizing the shopping experience, optimizing store execution, and offering multiple fulfillment options.”

Image via: Caden Crawford, Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0