How the Internet of Things Can Benefit Grocery Stores
Let’s start with the basics. The Internet of Things is a computing concept that describes the idea of everyday physical objects that are connected to the Internet and can identify themselves to other devices so that they can send and receive data, such that they can “talk”. ” to each other. And some large businesses are deploying IoT technology to improve their operations in ways big and small.
So what kinds of things can IoT technology do? “There could be sensors to alert when shelves need to be restocked or to track where products are in the supply chain,” said Forrester analyst Sucharita Kodali. He cites the use of IoT Amazon Go: stores and smart carts.
Walmart: was using IoT devices to monitor energy production, among other things, according to Sanjay Radhakrishnan, the company’s vice president of global technology. In a Walmart blog post, Radhakrishnan describes how the company manages more than 7 million unique IoT data points in its US stores. “Every day, this network of connected devices sends almost 1.5 billion messages about temperature, operational functions and energy usage,” he writes.
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The impact of IoT on the environment
IoT technology affects more than just the bottom line; it’s also good for the planet. Throughout the food industry, connected devices are being used to improve food safety and reduce unnecessary energy consumption, according to World Economic Forum. For example, one IoT application used by Walmart monitors refrigeration units that store products such as ice cream and milk. It feeds back to the maintenance team if sensors indicate equipment problems so they can be fixed early, with minimal downtime and no major breakdowns. To put the technology’s impact in a global perspective, IoT solutions have saved food retailers $37 million over the past five years, reducing food waste while avoiding more than 2 million tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (equivalent to Malta’s annual emissions. )
IoT-enabled waste management and recycling also promise more environmental efficiency. Retail waste and recycling solutions use IoT-enabled sensors to monitor bin location and capacity levels to optimize collection schedules and routes, allowing retailers to reduce operational costs and increase on-site waste management efficiency. IoT-enabled retail waste and recycling solutions also eliminate the need for retailers to physically monitor their waste containers and pay for additional collection.
IoT solutions also allow food retailers to store energy in battery banks and redirect heat from refrigeration systems to nearby homes. In short, IoT technology can not only ensure the proper temperature is maintained in food to reduce losses, it can maximize the efficiency of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, appliances and more.
STUDY: Find out what technology tools stores can use to improve the in-store shopping experience.
Weak security can be a drawback of IoT technology
Despite its many benefits, IoT technology can present security vulnerabilities. “Data is being hacked,” says Kodali. (Consider CDWs to protect your data and infrastructure Amplified™ Security Services, which can help you protect your network with a number of options, including penetration testing.) It’s also important to understand what IoT data your business needs and whether you have the infrastructure to support it. When designing an IoT architecture, organizations must be aware of the legacy technology being used that is not IP-compliant and therefore not IoT-ready.
After all, the potential of IoT applications is “limited only by the human imagination.” World Economic Forum. CDWs Amplified™ infrastructure services can help you design, organize and manage a modernized IT environment that will leave your business poised for growth.
