What Is the Internet of Things, and How Will It Impact Marketing?

WhatIs.com defines the “Internet of Things” (IoT) as “… a scenario in which objects, animals or people are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. ”

In 2014 there were 12.1 billion Internet-connected devices, according to Cisco Systems, and that figure is expected to grow to 50 billion devices in 2020. With this anticipated growth in interconnectedness, businesses are going to be challenged with staying relevant and accessible but at the same time will be presented with new ways to reach customers. To help put some context around what the IoT is, let’s take a look at some examples…

Common IoT objects that you may have already encountered or heard about are fitness/health trackers like the Fitbit. The Fitbit is a wearable device that tracks and monitors physical activity (such as steps taken throughout the day) and sends that data (without a manual upload) to the Fitbit’s cloud and/or other compatible health apps such as MapMyRun® in an automatic/seamless fashion.

To learn more about how IoT will provide opportunities for marketers, please e-mail us at: info@digitalbrandexpressions.com for the POV.