Retail and Foodservice

Retailers are always on the hunt for new ways to learn more about their customers and engage with them in fresh new ways. And IoT technology allows them to collect important inputs on the back end, such as inventory levels and turn those behind-the-scenes data points into actual benefits that enhance the customer experience.

For example, this pizza oven and food warmer may resemble some you’ve seen before. But it’s actually quite different. It’s the first self-service, heated mobile order pickup station. Using an app on their phones, customers can build and order a pizza, pay for it and be notified when their pie is ready. Customers then go to the restaurant, bypass the line, scan or enter their code and grab their food without having to wait or even talk to anyone. And the retailer can gather data about the entire process to use for more meaningful customer service and marketing. Win-win.

Smart Home Technology

From Alexa in our kitchen to apps that control our thermostat, IoT tech brings unprecedented convenience to our everyday lives. These devices can do much more than turn a thermostat up or down, they can monitor energy consumption to maximize efficiencies, allow us to see who’s at the front door from our office.

Many of these devices rely on voice commands and touch to operate. Either way, compact components are necessary for status indicators.

Connected Classrooms

In addition to work, home and shopping, IoT is changing the way classrooms operate. It isn’t uncommon to find interactive whiteboards, 3D printers, tablets, chargers and more advanced versions of tools that measure acceleration, force and other scientific data. As these devices provide a more connected learning experience, they should also be easy to use with little to no instruction while ensuring reliable and durable operation.

As IoT continues to evolve, user experience will remain at the forefront, meaning designers should use light to enhance human-machine interaction.

When illumination decisions are made early on in the design process, OEMs can reap the rewards of smaller, sleeker design while still capitalizing on efficiencies in manufacturing and assembly.