Enthusiasm for IoT devices is soaring. The Internet of Things is making it easier for everyone to do everything–whether they’re finding a new recipe for roast turkey (I’m talking to you, Alexa), decorating the house for Spring, or turning up the thermostat because it snowed again. Here is IoT and healthcare, when technology comes into play to improve lives.

There is always a lot of fun surrounding IoT, it’s easy to overlook what is arguably the technology’s most important focus: healthcare.

From tracking people’s fitness real-time to monitoring health remotely, IoT devices are making healthcare increasingly convenient and accessible. Let’s take a look at some of the ways IoT is improving lives:

Encouraging physical health.

A yearly physical exam won’t necessarily get people to stick to their exercise regimens–but smart fitness tracking devices might.

IoT devices like the Fitbit and the Apple Watch allow users to track physical activity metrics such as their number of steps or miles walked per day. Having a fitness tracker close at hand reminds users to keep an eye on physical health and keeps them self-aware of their activity levels throughout the day.

The Internet of Things further supports day-to-day health by boosting awareness about personal sleep hygiene. An estimated one-third of adults aren’t getting enough sleep, and sleep health technologies–from apps to smart beds–aim to fix this problem.

While sleep monitoring apps such as Sleep Cycle analyze sleeping patterns to wake people up in moments of lighter sleep, more sophisticated tools, like the interactive Balluga bed, react to sleeping patterns in real-time, such as elevating the sleeper’s head to minimize snoring.

Improving treatment methods.

IoT is further used to target specific diseases and improve the treatment process.

The smart monitoring system CYCORE helps cancer patients undergoing treatment. The monitoring system sends updates to patients’ physicians regarding their symptoms and responses to treatment so that physicians can identify emerging issues right away.

Another example is MyndYou’s chronic disease management solution, which harnesses cognitive-driven changes through voice and activity monitoring to predict and prevent exacerbations and hospitalizations.

The company’s Cognitive Complexity Algorithm passively monitors activity patterns (such as speech, walking, driving, and sleep), which serves as a proxy for predicting health outcomes by measuring their brain ability.

For healthcare professionals and clinicians, these AI-driven insights and predictive tools are especially helpful because they can raise a flag on changes in their patient’s functional health status that could indicate elevated risk, allowing them to intervene early to prevent deterioration.

Monitoring infant health.

On the other end of the spectrum is IoT support of infant health. The IBM Watson baby movement monitor uses sensors to anticipate when an infant will wake up, helping parents preemptively meet the baby’s needs.

Another device, Pacif-i, is a smart pacifier that measures the infant’s temperature to allow parents to monitor illness and treatment progress. There’s also the Owlet baby monitor, an ankle-worn tracking device that monitors a baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate to alert parents of potential health concerns.

Upgrading hospitals.

Just as IoT improves healthcare monitoring within the home, it also enhances hospital operation and management. IoT-enabled radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags track the real-time location of medical equipment–such as defibrillators, oxygen pumps, and more–to administer life-saving procedures right away.

Similar IoT-connected sensors can be used to determine whether the equipment is out of date and needs replacing.

The Internet of Things also assists in maintaining hospital hygiene. Special sensors can detect the cleanliness of hospital staff to ensure a clean and hygienic hospital environment.

Conclusion

Smart technology isn’t just about work or play; it’s also saving lives. The Internet of Things helps alleviate an array of health concerns, boosting physical fitness and cognitive health while preventing health issues for infants and older adults alike.

Intelligent, connected technology is about staying aware of the data real-time–something we all need when it comes to health.

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IoT has added so much convenience to my life that I don’t plan on giving it up anytime soon. Still, I can’t help but wonder whether my connected devices are properly secured, or whether I’m merely accepting them with a kind of blind trust. How can companies leverage data protection to restore confidence in IoT?

Recent news has shown that companies like Amazon give employees access to our personal information. Just this year, it was reported that Amazon hires people to listen to voice recordings captured by its smart home devices. These recordings put the elderly and marginalized individuals at additional risk.

Some employees even picked up a sexual assault — which makes me wonder what else they’ve been able to hear in our offices and homes.

The hacking of IoT devices also has dire ramifications, particularly within the workplace. IoT hacks can jeopardize a company’s intellectual property or financial information, expose the personal information of customers. The result can be severe legal consequences for companies not deemed to have secured their customer data responsibly.

IoT devices seem to be collecting more data than most of us realize — a serious company breach could leave highly personal data exposed. We’ve already seen this happen in numerous companies.

Declining Trust in IoT

Because of the increased awareness of the security risks associated with IoT, few consumers trust the Internet of Things.

According to a recent Cisco report, only 9 percent of consumers have a high level of trust in IoT devices. One of the main reasons, the study reveals, is that consumers don’t have a clear understanding of how their data is collected and used.

This isn’t just an issue for users of IoT within the home. Even more critically, this lack of trust translates to a lack of trust in business, whose integration of IoT devices leaves customer data more vulnerable.

So, how do we restore this trust?

For the time being, we can’t depend on the parent companies of IoT devices to strengthen their security. Realistically, most of us will continue to be cynical about whether companies like Amazon will actually take steps to improve data security for consumers.

Still, we shouldn’t neglect the fact that IoT has brought a great deal of efficiency and convenience to the business world. Rather than eliminate IoT devices due to cynicism and distrust, workplaces must take more thorough measures to secure IoT devices themselves.

How Companies Can Better Secure IoT Devices

For companies, a core part of strong cybersecurity involves improving data protection within the Internet of Things. Companies need to mitigate the risks associated with using IoT devices, focusing on IoT security as a core part of their overall cybersecurity strategy. To protect their data and secure IoT devices accordingly, businesses must take the following steps:

Make an inventory of IoT devices and their vulnerabilities.

Many companies install IoT devices throughout their organization without keeping track of what they do and don’t have. Not possessing an inventory of all connected devices and data is dangerous — since any unsecured devices present a vulnerability through which attackers can access company servers.

Companies should begin their IoT security strategy by creating an inventory of all the IoT devices in their organization, their network and cloud integrations, and their associated vulnerabilities.

Use a comprehensive IoT security team or platform.

With the proliferation of IoT across businesses, companies should use a cybersecurity team or platform with specific expertise in IoT device security. Security experts should know how to secure the devices themselves as well as any integrated platforms. Your security and safety personal — such as IT and other Dev should be well-versed in authentication, device hardening, and encryption.

Develop a response plan.

Once a reliable data security system is in place, companies should run exercises that simulate an attack. Security teams should run IoT-specific attack simulations to make sure they’ve minimized all vulnerabilities. Based on the simulated attack, security teams should develop a clear response plan so they can act quickly in the event of a real-life IoT breach.

Continuously monitor and scan for threats.

Threats are always evolving. Even after a strong security system is in place, IoT devices should not be deemed secure unless they are constantly monitored and assessed. Companies should make a point always to scan their networks for IoT-related breaches, as well as update their devices with the latest security measures.

Restoring Trust in IoT.

IoT devices can be a great help if managed correctly, but it can cause great harm if executed wrong. Companies can secure their data by keeping a clear record of all company IoT devices. Businesses need to have a record or all of their integrations, developing a response protocol to IoT breaches. 

All businesses should be required to continually monitor their network for IoT-related threats.

By protecting all of their data against IoT vulnerabilities, businesses will mitigate security risks while restoring trust in IoT for their consumers — and all of us.

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First, ticket buying went digital. Over time, more and more players entered the events tech industry, developing new technologies to lessen the burden on consumers and make it easier to access our favorite events.

The sports industry is using the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the consumer experience.

Ticketing platforms are bolstering their apps to make event searches and purchases more efficient. Venues are now equipt with technologies to make event attendance both convenient and appealing.

Thanks to AI and IoT, the online events industry is becoming far less tedious to navigate. In the sports events industry, in particular, AI and IoT are making huge improvements for consumers. Here’s how they’re doing it.

Engaging Fans with Chatbots

Several players in the sporting events industry are experimenting with AI in the form of chatbots designed to better serve the customer while drawing more people into the game. E-commerce tools — including ticketing platforms — are using AI chatbots to engage with consumers and provide support for events.

Through Facebook Messenger and iMessage, companies are using chatbots to have human-like conversations with fans and users about their favorite events and teams. Chatbot messages and helps are becoming more sophisticated, and engaging than email. As a result, the bots are becoming increasingly popular in the ticketing industry.

The use of chatbots doesn’t stop there — once fans are at the game — they can continue to engage with chatbots. Wimbledon uses a chatbot called Ask Fred which is a cognitive assistant for event attendees. The virtual assistant, which is enabled by IBM’s Watson technology, uses AI to interact with Wimbledon attendees and answer event-related questions about anything from souvenir shopping to dining spots. If Ask Fred is well-liked and successful, sports arenas around the world could adopt similar in-game AI technology in the future.

Improving the Search Experience

In addition to making the most of chatbots on Facebook Messenger and iMessage, companies are improving the online search experience by integrating AI into their apps. The sports ticketing app Gametime, for example, applies the concept of virtual reality in their virtual seating chart, allowing users to check out the view from their seats before purchasing. Such ticketing apps can then use AI and machine learning to remember customer seating preferences and make relevant suggestions for subsequent games.

Apps are also using AI technologies to identify fans who haven’t been to a game in a while and to offer them ticket deals based on information about their favorite players and teams. This kind of targeting isn’t only a great marketing strategy, but it also improves the search process for fans, who, rather than having to sift through heaps of options, are immediately presented with games and prices that appeal to their interests.

Making Stadiums Smarter

As smart stadiums enter the scene to draw fans off their couches and into the arena, the stadium itself has embraced the Internet of Things. An increasing number of stadiums are adding cameras, sensors, and digital signs, connecting them to networks and servers to provide real-time information for fans.

IoT technology in California’s Golden1 Center helps attendees find their friends and provides fans with information ranging from parking spots to bathroom lines to the number of hot dogs available.  Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara has installed over two thousand battery-powered beacons from Aruba Networks to identify the location of fans. This information then integrates with the team’s mobile app, which helps attendees find their seats, order food to their seats, and more.

As part of the evolution of smart stadiums, Intel’s True View technology incorporates augmented reality into the game experience. While the integration of technology in stadiums is still in process, True View would connect cameras on the field to AR headsets that allow attendees to zoom in on their favorite players and watch the game from a variety of angles. The various cameras and beacons connected throughout the stadium for the purposes of fan entertainment and convenience are turning stadiums into one big IoT platform.

Conclusion

From searching for a match to purchasing the tickets to attending the game itself, AI and IoT are disrupting the sports events industry from start to finish. At a time when many fans prefer to watch the game from the comfort of their homes, stadiums and teams are working hard to adopt engaging new technologies that draw fans back to the arena for live experiences. For us fans, the lure of these technologies makes event attendance more appealing than ever before.

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Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), despite their somewhat esoteric name, aren’t unknown to everyday users. Many people, including myself, use VPN apps or Chrome extensions like Hola to get onto sites that are blocked or otherwise inaccessible in certain countries.

Many people find themselves using a VPN for the sake of convenience, very few implement one for the purpose of security.

With the ever-growing popularity of IoT devices, however, it’s important to consider using a VPN as an extra security measure. IoT devices gather a variety of confidential data, which makes companies more than a little bit annoyed and apprehensive.  

For IoT devices within the home, a VPN helps prevent sensitive personal information from passing into the wrong hands. For businesses, it helps shield confidential company data from potential exposure.

Preventing Eavesdropping and Leaks

The eavesdropping potential for IoT devices — particularly for smart home speakers like the Amazon Echo — has caused skepticism and even fear about IoT devices in general. South Park captured these fears in one of its latest episodes. It’s a spoof in which Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos use Alexa to spy on and manipulate an unsuspecting public.

Of course, South Park’s account is a hyperbole. But IoT devices, by their very nature, do collect hoards of personal or confidential information, leaving personal data especially vulnerable to hackers or spies. Within the home, for instance, a smart security camera gathers data about when family members are and aren’t home. A smart fitness device will know information about a person’s location, physical health and exercise habits — and what anyone in the house is talking about with their friends.

VPNs not only encrypt data, but they also mask a user’s geographical location and IP address. Protecting this data helps prevent third parties, whether hackers, Internet Service Providers, government agencies, or others who might try to gather information about your activities. This means that other entities cannot infiltrate an IoT device and start eavesdropping or leaking confidential information.

Protecting Against Common Attacks: Botnets and MITM Attacks

A VPN can help protect against two common IoT attacks: botnets and MITM attacks.

A botnet is a network of computers or other internet-connected devices that are infected with malware. The devices are controlled as a group, making it possible for hackers to launch large-scale attacks. These attacks can be conducted not just from computers but from all IoT devices as well; hackers can infect a large number of IoT devices with malware to create a botnet that they can use to debilitate a company or access its data.

Using a VPN helps mitigate these risks by ensuring that the channel between an IoT device and its server are completely protected.

Likewise, VPNs help prevent MITM (Man-In-The-Middle) attacks, which involve third parties intercepting network traffic — for example, between an IoT device and the network’s central access point. VPNs, by encrypting traffic, ensure that the data gathered from the IoT device is unreadable–even in the event that a malicious actor intercepts that traffic.

VPNs and IoT Go Hand-in-Hand

While consumers and businesses love IoT devices for the sake of ease and convenience, there is a great deal of outcry over the security of such devices. No device, whether a smart home speaker or smart vacuum cleaner, is without such controversy.

Business, as well as individuals, need to be cautious about the security loopholes that can come with such devices. For companies, there are plenty of recommended business VPN providers that will help ensure more secure operations without compromising on network speed. For everyday consumers, free VPN services, many of which are quite reputable and secure, work just as well.

It’s ultimately the responsibility of the production side to make such devices more secure. As it stands, however, IoT devices have too little computing power to include inbuilt security features and encryption software.

For now, it’s up to the users to take the first step in protecting themselves. In order to account for the lack of sufficient inbuilt security mechanisms, we need to make VPN use an inherent part of responsible IoT device use.

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Passed in May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an EU law designed to give users more control over their personal data – and to protect against data breach and misuse.

Unlike in Europe, in the US, there is no single, national law that regulates the collection and use of personal data.

Instead, US companies’ data protection, is regulated by a system of federal laws, in addition to many guidelines developed by governmental agencies,

The US companies’ data cannot be considered as actual laws, but are part of self-regulatory frameworks. These “frameworks” are recognized as “best practices.” If you are as bother by this as I am — you are really bothered.

This is a particularly important topic when considering the fast-growing IoT industry, which collects and hoards immense amounts of user data. This very sensitive data passes this data through a number of hands, and relies on this data to make accurate predictions about its users.

Our devices are particularly vulnerable to data breaches. Companies are using and producing IoT devices, and most don’t know the difference between IoT, IT, and IIoT. Each of these are facing a unique set of challenges.

The Importance of Data Security for IoT Home Devices.

In the world of IoT, data security is tricky for a number of reasons.

• First, there’s so much data collected by IoT devices that it can be hard for companies to keep track of it.
• IoT home security cameras, for example, have information about individuals’ comings and goings from their home as well as their facial features.
• Smart home speakers gather data about which music and news channels each family member likes to listen to.
• Smart fitness devices collect data about a person’s weight, sleeping and eating habits, and exercise routines.

The amount of personal data these devices collect is almost infinite, and the list goes on and on.

Another reason IoT data security is tricky is that more than with the other typical tech companies, user data passes between many different entities along the supply chain.

• Access to user data is never just limited to the company who produces the device.
• Many IoT companies rely on data analytics and data processing in the cloud for their devices to function as well as they do.

This means that ALL these analytics platforms can also access ALL the collected data.

The data gathered from IoT home devices is highly personal. Cases of data breach or exploitation can have drastic effects on both individuals and society at large.

• A malicious actor, for example, could use a person’s data to spam them with aggressive advertising.
• Now there is the ability and information to conduct financial scams.
• Information can be to exploit user data to influence society for political purposes.
• Situations can now occur similar to Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal — and that was surely hushed up quickly.

Strong security needs to be inbuilt in IoT devices in order to avoid such mishaps — but it is not required. 

The Importance of Data Security for IoT Company Devices.

IoT data protection isn’t just about protecting personal user data collected within the home. Data security report site Secure Thoughts notes that IoT devices are used by companies put user data at great risk. This is in addition to those in individual homes and work places that put user data at great risk.

If those devices aren’t secure, hackers can use them to infiltrate a company network, thereby obtaining access to that company’s data.

As Internet of Business (IOB)reports, 81 percent of professionals working in risk oversight or corporate governance believe that a serious data breach –  caused by an unsecured IoT device within their company – would likely occur within the next two years. The research conducted jointly by the Ponemon Institute and the Shared Assessments Program.

• This information indicates that approximately half of respondents said their companies don’t keep an inventory of IoT devices or their applications.
• Meanwhile, only 46 percent say their company has a policy for disabling a risky device.
• Following this only 29 percent actively monitor IoT device risks.

While these very same companies likely have other cybersecurity systems in place — their users’ data protection regulation is questionable if their IoT devices aren’t secure. Indeed, these devices could very well be an open window for hackers to access sensitive user information collected by these companies.

An embarrassing example of this occurred just this past April when hackers were able to obtain data about casino customers by gaining access to the smart thermostat inside the casino’s connected aquarium.

IoT security compliance isn’t only about the IoT industry collecting, storing, and sharing user data in a secure and responsible way. Other tech companies that use IoT devices within the workplace also have to ensure that these devices are truly secure in order to avoid putting their own customer data at risk.

IoT Security Compliance Is a Crucial Aspect of Data Protection.

When there’s so much data accessible to many different entities, it’s difficult to ensure that all involved actors meet the security standards required by each state.

Without effective data protection across the whole supply chain, information about the most personal details of users’ lives could get into the wrong hands.

For companies that use IoT devices, security needs to be twofold.

We need IoT developers to work to ensure built-in device security.

• Companies that use these devices need to create a protocol for securing and monitoring these devices, just as they do with the rest of their system.
• Ill-intentioned companies and hackers are looking to exploit user data for their own gain. Increased attention needs to be regulated to making sure the security of IoT devices is the only way to avoid putting users at risk.

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Recent news has pointed to the increasing popularity of human microchipping in Sweden. Within the past three years, thousands have opted to insert a microchip underneath their skin that carries all sorts of personal information, ranging from credit card details to digital house keys to gym passes.

For the 3,000 Swedes who’ve opted for the chip, the ability to use their own bodies, rather than keys or cards, is a revolution in convenience. For the IoT world, it’s a different kind of revolution. No longer is the Internet of Things the exclusive domain of things; it now includes living, breathing human beings.

IoT has become–quite literally–an inextricable part of every aspect of our personal lives. While that’s part of the beauty and fascination of modern technological advancement, it’s also a cause for concern when it comes to data sharing and potential security breaches.

With the increasing involvement of IoT in our personal lives, it isn’t enough to tell consumers to read the fine print. Those on the production side–developers and tech companies–and perhaps, eventually, policymakers, need to be responsible for ensuring that the IoT ecosystem is genuinely safe and secure for users.

Certainly, there are lots of benefits to our increasingly connected, data-driven world, ranging from the personalization of online content to assistance for refugees. But before we rush to integrate anything–whether human being or ordinary household device–into the Internet of Things, we need to assess potential security risks and adapt the new technology accordingly.

Areas for Security Concern

While the microchip is the most salient example of the necessity for IoT data protection and privacy, the potential for security risk begins at a far more basic level. Even the most mundane and seemingly harmless household devices gather deeply personal data about users’ day-to-day lives

A smart household thermostat, for example, doesn’t just collect data about users’ home temperature preferences. It also collects data about when users are and aren’t home, as well as the number of people living in the household. Likewise, an IoT connected car, based on user activity throughout the day, can infer personal information about its users, such as where they work, where they live, and what their shopping preferences are.

While such opportunities for data collection might seem obvious to those in the tech industry, many consumers, content with the ease and convenience of IoT, don’t realize the extent to which their personal data is analyzed and used.

Data Misuse and Abuse

Even for consumers who simply don’t mind the legal collection of their personal information, security is still a risk. Companies aren’t just taking advantage of data for innocuous advertising or marketing. Some companies are willing to sell data to individuals or companies who have more harmful intentions. As the United States federal government has acknowledged, the gathering of massive amounts of personal data could be used in ways that reinforce discrimination based on demographic characteristics such as race or disability.

This poses particular risk in the housing, employment, credit, and insurance industries, where the collection of private data could make it harder for certain individuals to access the services they need. Companies could also use data to publicly expose information about an individual that that person would rather keep private, such as by sending them targeted content based on illness or financial status. Even when these companies don’t have bad intentions, the careless use or mishandling of personal data can have harmful consequences for individuals.

The misuse of consumer data extends beyond the individual, too, with dire consequences for society at large. We saw how, in Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal, user data was abused for political purposes, wielding a dangerous amount of influence over public opinion as a result.

These risks aren’t just applicable to social media or apps. User data collected by any IoT connected device could be used for similarly nefarious purposes if it gets into the wrong hands.

IoT Security Hacks and Vulnerabilities

Even when companies use consumer data responsibly, hacks and security breaches can result in data theft and misuse. IoT security company Senrio recently revealed just how easy it is for hackers to access consumer data through the IoT devices of large companies. Companies often have hundreds or thousands of IoT devices, which makes it difficult to monitor them, install updates, and check for bugs. A hacker can infiltrate an entire network, and steal consumer data in the process, just by accessing a single webcam. In other words, connecting so many IoT devices to a single network is like putting all your eggs in one (highly vulnerable) basket.

Hackers can misuse and tamper with consumer data by hacking personal devices, too. Home assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, are particularly notorious for opening up windows for intrusion into people’s personal lives.

As medical devices join home assistants and smart home appliances as part of the Internet of Things, data security becomes even more important. The hacking of certain medical devices can pose a physical threat to the very same individuals those devices are designed to help. A 2017 report from CNN reveals the particularly dangerous example of cardiac devices at St. Jude’s hospital, which had vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to drain the devices’ battery or administer incorrect shocks. Owlet’s 2016 wifi baby heart monitor, which was similarly vulnerable to hackers, further highlights the growing necessity to assess all possible security vulnerabilities before the release and sale of a product.

IoT security also becomes increasingly urgent as companies like Tesla and Waymo race to make self-driving cars the way of the future. The lack of a human driver isn’t the only safety risk. Ensuring protection against hackers, who could potentially direct a car off the road or into a crash, is an even more critical concern.

How to Protect Against IoT Vulnerability

This isn’t just a bunch of old-fashioned paranoia or technophobia. Professionals are also worried about the security vulnerability brought by an increasingly connected world. Gartner recently predicted that worldwide spending on IoT security will reach $1.5 billion this year. This is a 28 percent increase from spending in 2017, which amounted to $1.2 billion, and it might just be the next lucrative opportunity for the cybersecurity industry.

In my view, effective threat prevention is threefold. First, companies and individuals alike can make use of third-party providers for IoT device protection, rather than leaving security in the hands of device manufacturers alone. Cybersecurity companies like Imperva, which specializes in data security and breach prevention, are not only helping companies protect against traditional software threats, but are also working to detect and prevent detrimental IoT hacks. As third-party companies emerge to tackle the threats in the IoT sector, consumers no longer need to depend on device developers to ensure their online security.

Second, the production side, and not just the consumer, needs to take more responsibility in securing personal data. Companies that handle this data should themselves take preventative measures against hacking and data theft, and they need to make sure they sell the data only to companies that are reputable and thoroughly vetted for security.

At the same time, companies should be very clear and explicit with their customers about exactly how their data is being collected and used. That means no lengthy or difficult-to-read terms and conditions, and no deliberately vague or misleading language.

On the policy side, lawmakers need to take steps to ensure that those who develop IoT products, or who otherwise make use of the corresponding data, will not mishandle consumer information. This could range from increased laws for assessing the security of products before their release, to increased punishments for violation.

There’s still a long way to go with IoT security and, unfortunately, precautions are rarely taken until disaster strikes. But it’s urgent that we figure out how to harness all the benefits and conveniences that IoT brings while minimizing the potential for harm. That way, consumers will no longer have to compromise security for convenience.

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If it’s true that “IoT is the senses and big data is the fuel” of a smart connected world, then what’s the role of big data and IoT in today’s ever-evolving e-commerce industry?  

First of all, IoT is about the deployment of smart devices that use data and connectivity. The real value of the Internet of Things for businesses and, e-commerce platforms, in particular, is the delivery of intelligent insights that can provide new business outcomes.
As more devices get connected, the inflow of various types of data gathered grows exponentially. This can bring multiple advantages to any e-commerce businesses willing to harness the power of big data for providing their users with an improved online shopping experience.

In fact, gathering big data can have an enriching effect on users’ ability to find the things they need in an easy, quick, and personalized way.

Here are some of the most crucial advantages that big data and IoT can bring to e-commerce businesses:

A More Personalized Shopping Experience

Harnessing big data for improving users’ online shopping experience, is a practice every e-commerce business should be constantly relying on. When a user searches for a specific product or service, every e-commerce site should have access to as much data on the user’s internet habits as possible, in order to provide him with personalized search results. If on the one hand, this process benefits customers because it allows for an easier and faster research, on the other hand, it contributes to increasing customers’ engagement which, translated, mean increased revenues for businesses.
Data analytics can be incredibly accurate in providing users with targeted search results on e-commerce platforms. Amazon, leading platform for online purchases, is a great example of how big data should be used for products’ recommendations. When looking at a specific product on Amazon, users are being presented with other “similar products” they might be interested in, based on purchases made by previous customers. A countless number of e-commerce platforms have taken advantage of the outstanding power of big data for products recommendations and other targeted marketing purposes. Seasonal personalization, for example, is another really powerful targeted marketing strategy. The idea behind it is, again, the analysis of customers’ browsing history and past behavior, but this time the seasonal element comes into play. Seasons and holidays are taken into account by the recommendation algorithms in order to maximize the effectiveness of these recommendations. Customers behavior changes during specific times of the year and well-tuned algorithms can recognize these changes. During the winter holiday season, for example, users tend to buy gifts for other people, rather than purchasing products for themselves – recommendations are thus shifted to feature products that are popular during the holiday season.
Data is also key when it comes to taking products recommendations a step further. This means that users historical shopping habits don’t simply allow e-commerce platforms to recommend similar products but also provide them with the ability to make predictive offers for what online shoppers might want and need. The Shopify App Store, for example, enables retailers to predict customer behavior by recommending the most convenient products for their users. The predictive model for each online retailer is defined based on its products, users, and sales forecasts.
Even though most e-commerce businesses are already aware of the power of harnessing big data for products recommendations and predictions, what’s the role of IoT and connected devices in personalizing users’ shopping experiences?
Data from IoT connected devices will be increasingly used to receive insight into users lifestyle habits and to build targeted marketing campaigns. Possibilities for e-commerce businesses are endless, starting from the central role that IoT plays in predicting users’ needs and delivering a solution even before the problem occurs. Connected objects use data in an even more efficient way because they provide insights on exclusive information such as brand preferences, products conditions, and environmental factors. Is there a more personalized shopping experience than one that sends a product replacement even before the user realizes the current object is outdated?
Once again, Amazon has proven to be one of the first players enhancing the power of IoT in the e-commerce arena. The introduction of Dashbuttons, Wi-Fi-connected devices, has allowed consumers to order their favorite products with the press of a simple button. Each Dash Button is paired with a product of choice, which is selected during the setup process. More than providing users with considerable time savings, Amazon is thus able to gather a lot of data regarding consumption patterns for each brand and each product.

Improved Clients’ Satisfaction and Engagement

Qualitative feedback from customers is one of the most powerful tools e-commerce businesses have to increase clients’ satisfaction and engagement. In this case, the human insights can play a really central role in a data-driven business strategy because they can give businesses a qualitative glimpse into a customers opinion about their products and services. That’s why so many e-commerce sites encourage customers to provide detailed feedback on their purchases, even if that means highlight potentially negative aspects about their experience, as this represents a hard evidence to make necessary changes. Once customers have shared their thoughts and insights, businesses can combine this valuable qualitative feedback with analytics to make necessary changes and thus, improve client’s satisfaction and engagement. In the long run, providing an honest feedback is in the users’ best interest as it can prevent other users from buying questionable products. There are many online resources to draw from when it comes to gathering and analyzing reviews, for both businesses and users.

Product Review Monitoring, for example, is a platform that automates customer reviews research, analytics and provides intelligent answers to the most important questions around products’ performance.

Customers, at the same time, can tap into products’ reviews sites such as Best Reviews Guide, for making wise decisions about which products to buy, based on plenty of other users insights and suggestions.

However, there’s more to customers’ engagement than just reviews. IoT enables e-commerce businesses to analyze customers buying patterns and behavior in order to understand their level of satisfaction. For example, Walmart uses IoT to learn about their most popular products social media. IoT allows retailers to deliver a comprehensive shopping experience, based on consumers’ preferences, for improved clients’ satisfaction and engagement. This has positive effects on customer service too, as it enables businesses to anticipate possible complaints, leading to easy and prompt resolution and a smoother customer experience.

More Accessible Inventory Management and Faster Deliveries

The use of RFID chips, tags that can exchange data with a reader using radio frequency signals, and IoT sensors have drastically lowered the hours required to track inventories, and provided businesses with more accurate results. RFID chips can also assist warehouse workers in finding the correct items and detecting when they’re running low on a product while automatically ordering more. In this case, IoT plays a crucial role in drastically reducing the workload associated with managing a stock and the risk of losing potential customers. In fact, when an item on an e-commerce site is sold out, chances are that customers will start looking for it elsewhere. A more accessible inventory management, for e-commerce companies, means more time to focus on other key aspects of the business.

At the same time, RFID and GPS can help e-commerce businesses in tracking and monitoring deliveries in real time. Not only it provides businesses with a precise estimate of when the delivery will reach the destination but it also puts an end to the issue of losing shipments or misplacing them. Real-time delivery tracking has been possible for a while now, but the use of RFID can finally add the capability of managing bigger issues such as the route and speed that logistics crew are allowed to handle.

To sum up, e-commerce is expected to become the future of retail, as more and more customers understand the benefits of shifting to the digital shopping arena. As this happens, online retailers will necessarily need to adapt their sales strategies and methods to the ever-evolving technological landscape. Big data and IoT undoubtedly play a central role in this ongoing technological disruption.

At the same time, users shouldn’t underestimate the essential impact of their data contribution, as this can benefit them in the first place, by allowing for an enhanced, customized shopping experience.

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