More and more brands have jumped on the IoT bandwagon. We have an excess of wearables – activity trackers, smartwatches, smart glasses and sneakers, and more that track seemingly endless datapoints. However, most consumers have no idea what “IoT” means. Creating more wearables that track data shouldn’t be the aim of brands; delivering meaningful, tangible relevance to their users should be.
We’re in a period in which the IoT pendulum is still swinging. Initially, it swung toward «smart for smart’s sake,» and many brands remain in that corner. But many brands are also gradually opting for more strategic approaches. They’re taking a breath and stepping back to examine both existing and potential IoT experiences, asking themselves whether their products lend real value. Once we reach this goal, the implications for personalization are staggering. Consumers will expect devices they use and items they wear to be connected and add value to their lives. We’ll expect scales to weigh us, assess our body fat, and sync with our mobile device for personalized recommendations. Connected devices will be just another touchpoint in our increasingly digital lives. As a result, we’ll have the data, personalized touchpoints, and context to achieve great success with spot-on relevance that continues to evolve.