Embracing Digital Transformation: The Power of the Internet of Things for Retailers | Page 3

1. INTRODUCTION

There’s no stopping it. The Internet of Things will continue to grow as technology improves. And the result? An interconnected world where businesses know what customers really want, when they want it.
Based on research conducted by the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, the number of internet-connected devices will increase from 10–12 billion today to more than 50 billion by 2020.
For retailers, it’s time to embrace digital transformation. Doing so entails greater access to products for customers, more fluid shopping experiences, and more competitive prices.
Traditionally, publishers acted as intermediaries between retailers and consumers. Today, nearly any retailer with a strong editorial voice can go toe-to-toe with the world’s foremost print and digital brands. Shoppers can browse a variety of curated products from a digital magazine, for example, and then visit a retailer’s website directly from it. That’s power.
What retailers need to focus on is consistently and reliably executing a business strategy that meshes well with consumers’ (especially millennials’) penchant for technology.