How to get your business ahead of the curve by developing smart technology solutions

You may have heard the phrase “The Internet of Things” tossed around quite a bit lately. This concept refers to the explosively popular movement in developing smart product technology.

Businesses are scrambling to jump on the smart product technology bandwagon, and for good reason. They recognize that there is a fierce consumer demand not only for smart products but for software and services that beautifully and conveniently integrate with those products.

What is a smart product?

In simple terms, a “smart product” is the result of combining a physical product with virtual components. This often involves a network connection of some sort between the product and a piece of software technology, such as a mobile app. One example of this combination could be a home security system (the product) that you can control from your smartphone (the virtual component). What makes the security system “smart” is its ability to communicate with you and respond to your commands via a mobile app.

From cars, to watches, to thermostats, the need for hyper-connectivity is making its way into all sorts of products that were previously just mechanical in nature. This integration of cutting edge technology with everyday products is turning entire industries on their heads and wiping out competitors who don’t get on board with these new smart technology solutions.

Consumer demand for smart products and the corresponding demand for the other services that work well with those products will only keep growing in the coming years. The demand will grow exponentially as people continue to discover the ways that intelligence can make all sorts of products and services infinitely more desirable.

>> Is your business ready to ride this third-wave of the internet? Schedule a free consultation.

The 5 Features of Smart Technology that Make it So Desirable

Smart products and their associated smart technology solutions are:

1. Personalized: These products are able to process or take into account vast amounts of information that enable them to customize themselves to the needs of a particular user.
2. Adaptive: They learn from the current environment, situation, and user activity to make appropriate changes for the product user.
3. Intuitive: They anticipate a user’s next moves, making their experience feel effortless.
4. Logistically aware: These products can take various logistical factors into account such as location, business, and legal constraints.
5. Integrative: They are able to communicate over a network with other products, devices, and services in order to streamline a user’s experience and eliminate unnecessary extra steps.

The five features of smart products mentioned above have the ability to not only improve a user experience but to completely transform it. In this way, developing smart technology solutions can revolutionize entire industries, and that’s exactly what is happening.

In other words, smart products are no passing fad. Technology will continue to shape the future of the products we all use every day, and businesses that don’t evolve to fit in with this trend will be left behind.

Whether your business involves a particular product that could benefit from technological enhancements that will make it smarter, or you need a way to make your business more smart-product tech friendly, it would be wise to consult with an experienced web development team. Even if your goal isn’t to become a pioneer of smart product technology in your particular industry, you’ll want to ensure that you’re not falling behind your competitors in this arena.

Learn more

Interested in speaking with a product strategy expert to explore how developing smart product technology can put your business ahead of the game? Schedule a free consultation with our team.

Check out our free ebook for some real examples of failed software projects (and how not to make the same mistakes).