JumpStart Innovation! Overcome Ambiguity and Create Value with a Technology Future State or Digital Ideation Workshop

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Danny Vally, Chief Operating Officer, Kopius

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According to Deloitte’s 2024 Mapping Digital Transformation Value report, there is a sea change in how companies are investing their innovation budgets. Fewer dollars are being invested in transformational change. Instead, “Budgets are going toward more concrete business cases: entering new markets, launching new products, and modernizing the core.”

And a primary driver for this change is value.

The survey indicates increased investments technologies respondents perceived as driving the most value—GenAI, traditional AI, and data architecture are chief among them.

Overcoming Innovation Ambiguity and Identifying Value

Innovation is inherently ambiguous. It is in complete opposition to a concrete business case. You may have a concrete problem but be unclear about whether or how an emerging technology can solve it. Or maybe you know you need to start experimenting with new technology, but you haven’t defined what it can do for your organization. Both those scenarios are a long way from a business case and even further from demonstrating value.

So how do you bridge the gap?

While it may seem counterintuitive, putting some structure around the innovation process can be advantageous, particularly when it comes to narrowing in on a business case and demonstrating value. It can provide you with space to think things through, home in on a problem, and explore solutions from several different angles. It can unearth the unknowns and root out costly gotchas that might prevent you from moving forward. A structured innovation process provides an opportunity to figure out if something.

Innovation often ends with proof of concept that demonstrates that something can be done. That may solve the business-case challenge, but it’s not enough show value. Proof of value is a more modern approach. Proof of value is about more than if something can be done—it’s about whether it should be done. It’s intended to show whether it solves your business problem, is financially and operationally viable, and what it will take to pilot and scale.

JumpStart—A Value-Based, Guided Process for Technology Innovation

Kopius’ flexible future state and product ideation program, JumpStart, is a framework for innovation designed to help you explore possibilities, narrow down business use cases, and demonstrate value. And while JumpStart is a great launchpad for exploring both traditional and GenAI, it’s also a good fit for other types of innovation. Manufacturing, healthcare, and retail organizations, for example, may want to get a better understanding of their physical environment through IoT. And companies of all types have ideas for digital products they’d like to develop, but just don’t have the capacity.

JumpStart is technology agnostic—often, the solution to a particular challenge includes many integrated approach involving AI, IoT, AR/VR, etc.

The possibilities are endless.

Regardless of what you’re interested in exploring, the foundational process is similar, and typically entails—and it typically wraps up with a proof of value.

Research – First, we explore emerging trends in your space, how early adopters in are using new technologies, and what’s happening in other industries that might be applicable.
Dialog & Discovery – Next, we bring all the key stakeholders to the table to explain any relevant new technology, present the research, and discuss challenges and opportunities.
Brainstorming & Whiteboarding – Then, we brainstorm and whiteboard potential solutions, prioritize by need and impact, and provide space for you to consider next steps.
Proof of Value – Last, we bring together a team to prototype a solution that tangibly demonstrates whether something can be done, and what it will take to make it happen.

The goal of the JumpStart process is to for you to have the information you need to determine if the innovation path you are considering makes sense—whether it’s achievable, what the business case is, what the obstacles are, and if it will drive value for your organization.

While JumpStart typically ends with the proof of value, it’s rarely the end of the project lifecycle. If you’re looking to launch a pilot initiative or scale a program or technology across your organization, we can help with that, too.

JumpStart in Action—Three Real-World Examples of How

Innovation looks different.

To get a better understanding of how JumpStart future state and product ideation workshops can help you innovate and solve your most pressing challenges, I’ve pulled together three real-world examples.

An AI solution for triaging automotive warranty claims – A leading auto manufacturer with a large warranty business wanted to explore how AI could help them triage claims. They needed to understand if it was a practical solution and what implementing it would entail. The JumpStart and proof of value process proved their idea was achievable, but it brought to light some underlying issues around data and integrations. They came away with not only a better understanding of what was possible, but also what it would take to get there.
An IoT solution for monitoring vaccines storage temperatures – A global healthcare nonprofit that provides vaccines needed to monitor the temperatures of refrigerators in remote locations with inconsistent power supplies to ensure the vaccines’ efficacy. The JumpStart and proof of value process was the launchpad for a viable solution that included everything from building a circuit board, to operationalizing it with 1G connectivity in the Azure Cloud. Once the initial project was a starting point for a host of related solutions, including refrigerated backpacks and fanny packs.
A competitive gap analysis for a robotics company’s app – A manufacturer of robotic household appliances wanted to benchmark their app experience and physical against their competitors’ solutions. They needed objective real-world insights into their strengths and opportunities for improvement, so they knew where to focus future development efforts. The JumpStart and proof of value process led to tangible enhancements to both their app and product that improved customer experience.

JumpStart Your Technology Project—and Stay on Track—with Kopius!

At Kopius, we harness the power of people, data and emerging technologies to build innovative solutions that help our customers navigate continual change and solve formidable challenges. To accelerate our customers’ success, we’ve designed a JumpStart program to prioritize digital transformation together.

Let’s connect!

Increase Innovation with Kopius' JumpStart Program

From Innovation to Fully Scaled—A Roadmap for Experimenting with New Technology and Identifying Practical Applications

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Danny Vally, Chief Operating Officer, Kopius

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Enterprise technology adoption typically follows an S curve, with organizations first undertaking frontier innovation, then experimenting, piloting, and scaling, as McKinsey explains in their latest Technology Trends Outlook. But innovation has never been easy, and staying ahead of the emerging technology frontier is an infinite race. It’s hard to take care of today’s problems when you’re focused on tomorrow. Consider AI or GenAI—you may not have in-house expertise, or if you do, their efforts are focused on existing programs. Maybe you just don’t have the time and space to figure out what types of problems emerging technologies can solve and what the best use cases are in your business. 

To take advantage of AI and GenAI, innovation and experimentation are necessary first steps. It’s the only way to figure out what’s going to work for your company and to get buy-in before investing.

That’s why more companies are looking to external partners for help.

Technology Experimentation and the Art of the Possible

When IoT was first introduced, it was complicated, and companies didn’t know what it meant for their businesses. So, at Kopius, we started holding future state workshops to help our clients understand what it was all about, the types of problems it could solve, and to identify some specific use cases within their businesses. We quickly came to think of it as the art of the possible.

We’re seeing much the same thing with AI, and to meet the need, we’ve designed a full-fledged innovation and experimentation service offering we call JumpStart.

Our JumpStart process provides a roadmap for frontier innovation and experimentation. It entails:

Research – Over the years we’ve learned how valuable it is to come to the table with a big picture understanding of your business, what the emerging trends are in your space, how early adopters in your industry are using it, and even if other industries are using it in ways that might be applicable.
Dialog & Discovery – Once we’ve wrapped our heads around all that, we bring all the key stakeholders to the table to explain the technology and present the research, which then generates good discussions about the business problems you’re having and opportunities you could potentially take advantage of.
Brainstorming & Whiteboarding – This is where the art of the possible comes to life. Using a design thinking approach, we brainstorm and whiteboard potential solutions to your most challenging problems and opportunities. Then, we prioritize them based on greatest need and impact. We also give you some space to think about what the best opportunity to move forward with is.
Proof of Value – The last step of the process is to demonstrate proof of value. We bring together a multi-functional team to do some light, rapid prototyping that tangibly demonstrates the use case. Proof of value isn’t just about whether something can be done—it’s about whether it should be done. Does it solve your business problem? Is it financially and operationally viable? What will it take to pilot and scale?

While the proof of value typically marks the end of the JumpStart process, it doesn’t necessarily mark the end of our partnership. For many of our clients, it’s just the beginning. Kopius can also pull together the right resources to pilot the project and scale it across your organization.

JumpStart in Action – For a Leading Auto Manufacturer, JumpStart Brought Critical Information to Light

A leading auto manufacturer with a large warranty business wanted to use AI to make more informed decisions about what claims to automatically approve vs. look into more deeply. Before fully investing in the project, they needed to better understand if it was a practical solution and what implementing it would entail.

JumpStart was a perfect fit for their needs.

After some initial research, we brought key stakeholders to the table for in-depth discussions about the possibilities, the opportunities, and their business challenges. Then, we brainstormed and white boarded potential solutions. A big part of this was mapping out a detailed service blueprint that detailed every step of the warranty claim process.

Next, we tackled the proof of value, which brought critical information to light. While the AI solution was possible, they needed to address some upstream challenges before it could be implemented. Since claims were being submitted by so many different people through so many different systems, they would first need to build integrations and standardize the way data was coming in.

This gave the auto manufacturer the necessary insight to weigh the effort and expense vs. the long-term benefits of the undertaking and make an informed decision about moving forward.

The Value of a Fresh Perspective

When you are laser focused on solving today’s problems, it’s hard to break away and orient yourself to the larger world of advancing technology. That’s why an external technology partner like Kopius can be a real asset. We bring fresh perspectives, objectivity, and use cases from within your industry and outside of it to help you drive innovation, experiment, pilot, and scale.

Wherever you are on your AI innovation journey, we’d love to help you explore the art of the possible.

JumpStart Your Technology Project—and Stay on Track—with Kopius!

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Looking Down the Innovation Curve: IoT, Data, and AI

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Jim Darrin

One of the earliest known instances of IoT being used for remote monitoring took place at Carnegie Mellon University in 1982. A Coke® vending machine was connected to ARPANET, a forerunner of the Internet, to keep track of how cold the sodas were and whether the machine was full. This notion of collecting data from an end point and sending it to a network to monitor a device is as valid a use case now as it was then. In fact, it’s at the heart of an initiative we work on with the Gates Ventures—monitoring fixed and mobile refrigeration units in remote locations to ensure the vaccines stored in them remain safe to use.

Today, however, IoT is much more than this.

IoT has grown into a massive industry that spans virtually every vertical. In fact, McKinsey estimates that by 2030, the economic potential of IoT could rise as high as $12.5 trillion globally. It plays a critical role in industries as broad ranging as energy management, healthcare, agriculture, and retail. But IoT is only one piece of a much larger data strategy. It’s no longer just about monitoring endpoints and measuring activities. It’s about gaining insight, solving business problems, and driving better outcomes.

Why a Data Strategy Matters

To move from monitoring endpoints to driving outcomes, you must establish a solid, overarching data strategy around all your relevant data sources, including IoT devices. You will need to explore how to combine data from disparate sources, determine where to store it, for instance in a data lake, decide how best to structure it to make it queryable, and address how to visualize it. You will also need to put appropriate data governance and security policies in place.

These decisions will serve as the bedrock on which your ability to use and manage your data in the future will be built. To ensure that it is a strategy that supports long-term business agility, you would be well served by collaborating with an external partner with deep domain expertise in structuring and visualizing data who can help you explore challenges your organization is likely to encounter in the future and how will need to access and use its data to address them.

Developing a data strategy and structuring your data, is not a one-and-done project. It is a journey—you will need to put processes in place to manage your assets over time. Where you are on that journey, essentially your level of data maturity, determines your point of departure. For instance, organizations taking early steps may need a business intelligence solution like PowerBI, while others that are farther along may be ready for a data lake or solution like Snowflake that leverages a type of SQL database better suited to support AI applications.

The Impact of AI on IoT

Looking down the innovation curve, AI in general, and generative AI (GenAI) in particular, will have a significant impact on the IoT ecosystem. AI will enable edge computing, which means data can be stored and used much closer to the actual IoT device, whether it is a component of a smart grid or a robot, so it can autonomously respond in real time to changing environmental conditions. Further, by layering AI and GenAI applications on top of your structured data, you will be able to use natural language to query it to find insights that humans would not ordinarily be able to see.

Increasingly today, and well into the future, IoT, Data, and AI will serve as three-legged stool that organizations can build on to gain deep insight into their business, make data-informed decisions, and ultimately drive better outcomes.

And virtually every industry can benefit from it.

What’s the Next Step on Your IoT, Data, and AI Journey?

At Kopius, we harness the power of people, data and emerging technologies to build innovative solutions that help our customers navigate continual change and solve formidable challenges. To accelerate our customers’ success, we’ve designed a JumpStart program to prioritize digital transformation together.

Let’s Connect!

How Retail Analytics Transforms In-Store Operations

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Kopius

Although in-person shopping has recovered well from the pandemic, many customers feel frustrated with the experience of visiting brick-and-mortar stores.

Unified retail analytics solutions, which combine in-store technology with integrated software and advanced algorithms, can help your store learn more about your customers’ common pain points and desires so you can better cater to them.

When your customers are freer than ever to abandon your business for a competitor, you need a solution that can help you make your store the best place to shop. Using data analytics for retail operations is the key to gaining an edge in this hyper-competitive sector.

What Is Retail Analytics?

Retail analytics is the science of collecting and analyzing business data to improve your business outcomes on an ongoing basis. Depending on which sales and marketing channels your company uses, your data sources might include:

In-store devices and sensors.
Online storefronts.
Catalog orders.
Social media platforms.

Once you’ve collected all the data you need, you’ll run analytics to create reports that reveal valuable insights into your store’s business. Several types of retail business analytics exist with varying levels of complexity:

Descriptive: Descriptive analytics provides the most basic level of data insights for your business, such as which locations carry certain products, how much of each item is on the floor, and how often store employees restock shelves. This data informs more sophisticated analytics programs.
Diagnostic: Running diagnostic analytics on your descriptive data helps you identify and understand the issues you’re facing in real time so you can find actionable solutions.
Predictive: Predictive analytics algorithms use AI to analyze your historical data and predict likely future events based on different variables, including evolving economic circumstances and supply chain disruptions.
Prescriptive: Similar to predictive analytics, prescriptive analytics uses AI algorithms to recommend solutions to the forecasts from the predictive analytics system.

The Role of Data Analytics in Retail

Historically, the retail industry has relied on intuition to make decisions about inventory, store layout, customer communications, and more.

Even the slightest adjustment can cause major consequences for inventory movement and profitability. For example, choosing to offer a 15% discount on a product over a 10% discount can cost you thousands in lost revenue — especially if you apply it to the wrong product.

Retail tech solutions eliminate the guesswork by using data and advanced digital technologies to enable more informed decision-making. Data-driven decisions can help you commit to continuous improvement and sustainable business growth.

That’s what we do at Kopius. Our team takes a collaborative approach to every project, working closely with your company’s best and brightest to design custom retail analytics solutions.

With the most accurate data at your fingertips, you can empower your team to streamline retail store operations, whether you’re focusing on an online storefront or a brick-and-mortar shop.

Key Benefits of In-Store Analytics

A well-designed retail store analytics solution helps boost business for retail companies of all sizes. Whether you’re a small local business or a multinational corporation, retail analytics can help you gain a competitive edge in the market by:

Enhancing operational efficiency: Retail store analytics makes a proactive approach to inventory management and customer service possible by alerting you to potential issues and recommending appropriate solutions before anything happens.
Boosting sales: Trends in the data you collect on customer preferences and in-store shopping behaviors help you identify ways to improve marketing, store layout, upselling, and cross-selling to bring in more sales.
Enhancing organizational visibility: Retail location analytics enables you to generate insights from all your physical stores and warehouses in real time, so you always have the most up-to-date information at your fingertips for data-backed decisions.
Improving customer experiences: When you start paying attention to customer preferences, it becomes easier to anticipate their needs and expectations. This enables you to deliver convenient, engaging shopping experiences that delight consumers.
Strengthening your supply chain: Retail analytics solutions are cloud-based, which enables them to scale as needed. This flexibility means you can monitor your entire supply chain for even more accurate decisions.

Remember that these solutions work best when they’re purpose-built for your company. A solution that claims to be “one-size-fits-all” usually leaves some gaps in data collection and analysis, which can cause you to miss important insights.

Emerging Applications for Data Analytics in the Retail Industry

Retail store analytics solutions have enormous potential for enhancing performance across all types of stores, including in-person and online. Here are some of the most promising ways businesses have leveraged retail analytics solutions to get ahead in the industry.

Enhancing Omnichannel and Multichannel Retail and Shopping Experiences

Omnichannel and multichannel strategies rely on accurate, up-to-date data to generate the results you’re looking for.

Although many sources treat omnichannel and multichannel experiences the same, they’re actually different strategies:

Multichannel: A multichannel strategy uses multiple channels, including websites, social media platforms, brick-and-mortar stores, and mobile apps, to facilitate customer interactions. Because each channel acts as a separate entity with its own goals, the customer experience can vary. This can help you appeal to a different segment of your customer base through each channel.
Omnichannel: An omnichannel strategy integrates all your sales and marketing channels to provide a seamless, consistent experience in every interaction. This approach allows you to combine the strengths of each channel for greater customer satisfaction.

For both types of experiences to work, you need a reliable source of customer data, which is where your in-store retail analytics technology comes in.

Integrated IoT sensors collect data on stock movement and customer shopping behaviors, and AI-powered analytics assess that data to identify trends that could help you improve your experiences.

For example, a customer might use your mobile app to put an item they like in their shopping cart, but they abandon their cart before checking out. If they visit your store, your analytics solution could serve them an ad featuring the product.

Leveraging Customer Behavior Insights for Business Growth

Understanding typical customer behaviors can reveal the rationale behind their purchasing decisions, which is important for effective marketing and sales.

Retail analytics solutions can help you uncover valuable insights into how your customers think, which can help you grow your business by:

Maximizing customer lifetime value: The more a customer purchases from your company, the higher their lifetime value and the more revenue you gain. Detailed customer insights can help you understand where to apply your focus to keep your most valuable customers satisfied.
Minimizing customer churn: Analyzing trends in customer behavior can predict when customers are most likely to abandon your brand, which reveals opportunities to improve the customer experience.
Improving your marketing results: Effective omnichannel and multichannel marketing strategies rely on customer data to keep audiences engaged with your brand. Collecting customer behavior data in physical stores and online channels provides a more comprehensive understanding of your customers that can boost results.
Identifying opportunities for expansion: If you’re considering expanding into other regions, accurate customer data can help you gauge which markets your business will most benefit from.

Personalization: The Key to Immersive Shopping Experiences

Personalized customer experiences are no longer just “nice to have” — they’re now a necessity for keeping your customers engaged in your business.

One study found that 81% of customers prefer to buy from companies that deliver personalized experiences. That goes for both e-commerce platforms and in-person shops.

Catering directly to your customers is essential for delivering more immersive shopping experiences both in-store and online by:

Delivering relevant discounts and offers to individual customers’ phones based on their history with the brand.
Identifying previous interactions to identify and guide customers to the specific items they’re looking for.
Sending customized marketing messages via the customer’s preferred communication channels.
Recommending relevant products and deals to specific customers for upselling and cross-selling.
Using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to allow customers to preview products in upcoming releases.

With all the choices customers now have for both in-person and online shopping experiences, it’s important that your store meets customer expectations and differentiates itself from all the other retail businesses in your sector.

Inventory Management and Sales Forecasting

Accurate sales forecasting is critical for ensuring you have the right amount of stock on hand. Too much and you end up with dead stock and lost revenue. Too little and you run into stockouts and frustrated customers.

A comprehensive retail analytics solution that integrates with an inventory management platform improves sales forecasting through predictive analytics. The platform can analyze historical trends to generate insights into what to expect over the next period, such as:

Identifying characteristics of products that sell well.
Predicting when you should expect higher demand than usual.
Making stocking recommendations for specific products.
Determining which sales channels to divert more inventory to.

You can even use this technology to ensure proper stocking on your sales floor. For example, you can predict which products will sell faster, which can help you determine exactly how many units to put on the shelves and the best intervals to restock.

Digital Technologies Driving Retail Analytics

In-store retail analytics solutions are complex, with both online and offline components:

The Internet of Things (IoT): The IoT is a network of internet-connected objects, such as sensors and mobile devices, that communicate wirelessly with each other and the cloud. This technology allows streamlined data collection and communication, which is essential for a unified retail analytics system.
Artificial intelligence (AI): AI is a branch of computer science that allows machines to “think” like humans. In terms of data analytics, an AI-equipped software program can identify patterns and draw conclusions much like a human data analyst.
Machine learning (ML): ML is an AI technique that analyzes previous outcomes and “learns” from them, incorporating feedback on an iterative basis. Essentially, ML enables your AI-powered software to continuously improve the predictions it makes so you can easily meet rising customer expectations.
Business intelligence (BI) solutions: BI platforms leverage AI and ML capabilities to analyze business data and generate actionable insights for effective, data-driven decision-making.
Point-of-sale (POS) systems: Your POS system is the point at which your business makes sales. This system can be a physical device you use to check customers out in-store or virtually, such as a payment form in your e-commerce channels.
Inventory management platforms: These systems allow your warehousing and logistics teams to track products as they move through the supply chain, which helps you fulfill online orders more efficiently while keeping your brick-and-mortar locations stocked appropriately.
Customer relationship management (CRM) systems: A CRM platform consolidates all your customer data into one centralized hub, making it easier for customer service reps and marketing teams to deliver personalized experiences and build brand loyalty.

Deep integrations between each piece of your retail analytics solution create a seamless data flow across every channel and tool in your system. This process ensures easy access and analysis. That’s why it’s so important to design a comprehensive system where each component is compatible — as long as they can work together, your solution should provide smooth, streamlined results.

The Future of Retail Analytics and Store Operations

Analytics has become essential for more efficient in-store operations in retail businesses across all sectors, and its importance will continue growing well into the future.

The evolution of retail analytics will follow advances in the technologies behind it, especially in AI, ML, and IoT. AI and ML have only become mainstream in the past couple of years, and IoT is still developing in many ways.

As more businesses begin implementing automated processes, these digital technologies will become more necessary in their day-to-day operations. Getting ahead of the curve and investing now can help your company become more competitive in the long run.

Getting Started With Retail Tech for In-Store Operations

Diving in headfirst without taking the time to plan your transformation is one of the biggest mistakes in starting out with retail tech.

Instead, it’s best to take a phased approach that accelerates results while empowering your front-line employees to focus on customer services. Start by identifying your most important goals and focus on achieving these first.

Consulting with a team of retail tech experts is one of the best ways to begin outlining your implementation strategy. The team at Kopius is uniquely qualified to help.

How Kopius Can Help

A team of experienced retail tech consultants can help you identify the right solutions for your business, designing a custom in-store retail analytics solution tailored to your unique requirements. That’s where the JumpStart program from Kopius, Inc. comes in.

The JumpStart program is our data-driven approach to the common pain points retail companies face daily. Our people meet with yours to discuss your needs and expectations, and we work closely with you to determine the right configuration of digital technologies for your goals.

Read our case studies to see how we’ve helped businesses like yours implement robust retail tech solutions and achieve excellent returns.

JumpStart Your Retail Operations With Help From Kopius

If your company is considering investing in retail analytics solutions, you can count on Kopius to help you create a comprehensive system that meets your store’s unique needs.

We designed our JumpStart program to spark innovation and drive customer, digital technology, and data success. By combining tech smarts and collaboration with a user-centric approach, we can help you fast-track business results and platform solutions.

Add our brainpower to your team and see where we can take you. Contact our specialists today to JumpStart your future success.

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How IoT Is Leveraged in Retail Automation

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Kopius

While technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and automated tools have become mainstream in many industries, they’re only just emerging into the retail space.

Investing in an integrated retail and automation solution now can help you launch your business ahead of the competition and build your reputation as a thought leader.

Introduction to IoT in Retail Automation

Before diving into the details of IoT and retail automation, it’s important to understand how these technologies work together to create a comprehensive retail system.

In retail, the term “IoT” refers to the network of internet-connected devices in your stores and throughout your supply chain that collect, analyze, and report on business data. Some essential data you can track with retail IoT include:

Customer behaviors: Sensors and cameras equipped with video analytics capabilities can reveal how customers typically move through the store, which displays they pay the most attention to, and where your customer service could improve.
Inventory movement: Tagged inventory sends continuous signals to your inventory management system, updating inventory levels in real time for rapid replenishment and insights into customer preferences.
Ambient conditions: Temperature and motion sensors can determine when people are most likely to be shopping, allowing these devices to automatically adjust the environmental conditions when more people are present.

IoT technologies allow you to complete your digital transformation by connecting the digital side of your company to the physical world. In other words, your IoT devices measure data from your real-world storefront and then input that information into a digital solution for analysis and reporting. These insights make it easy to identify areas for improvement, such as customer service personalization and supply chain optimization.

Types of IoT Devices Used in Retail

IoT systems can be either simple or highly complex, depending on their scale and the diversity of technologies you use.

Some of the most commonly used IoT retail devices include:

RFID tags: Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags continuously transmit location data via radio waves, which allows you to track stock movement in real time.
Sensors: Sensing devices monitor in-store conditions like foot traffic, lighting levels, temperature, and more to help you enhance the shopping experience and improve your energy efficiency.
Cameras: You can use video analytics technologies to see how customers move through your store, which is valuable data for improving store layout. Real-time video analytics can also enhance store security by enabling you to catch criminal activity like theft in video feeds, streamlining investigations and preventing repeat offenders.
Beacons: These Bluetooth devices sense when customers are nearby and automatically trigger preset actions relevant to each person. For example, a beacon could automatically award loyalty program members points every time they set foot in one of your stores.

Different stores will need different arrangements of devices, so it can help to work with a team of expert retail tech consultants to determine your specific requirements.

What Role Does IoT Play in Retail Automation?

IoT is transforming the industry as we know it, but how does it connect to automation in retail? Think of automation as the missing piece of the retail IoT puzzle.

Automated technologies enable seamless communication and trigger specific actions between each of your IoT devices, creating a complete system that operates with only minimal human intervention.

For example, a smart shelf can automatically update stock levels in your inventory management system. The software solution can automatically request a replenishment once those levels hit a predetermined point.

Core Components of IoT in Retail

Although every system is different in its individual configuration, most contain the same parts. The core components of a retail IoT solution include:

1. Smart Inventory Management

When combined with a cloud-based inventory management solution, your IoT network can help you keep better track of inventory levels to prevent issues from interfering with the customer experience.

Here’s how:

Enhanced visibility: With the ability to track the whereabouts of each item in real time, you can minimize your potential losses by proactively mitigating issues like overstocking and stockouts across all your locations.
Replenishment and demand planning: Real-time visibility into inventory levels through weight sensors and smart shelves enables automated systems to recognize when you’re getting low and prompt an immediate replenishment order, optimizing inventory levels based on current demand.
Reduced risk of theft: RFID tags make it harder for shoplifters to steal from stores by alerting employees when unpurchased items cross a certain threshold. Additionally, retailers can use data from incidents to identify opportunities to tighten security.

2. Supply Chain Optimization

Supply chain disruptions can have serious consequences for retail companies. Retail IoT technologies and real-time analytics allow you to take a proactive approach to supply chain issues, saving you valuable time and money.

Some ways IoT helps optimize the supply chain include:

Shorter lead times: The ability to receive real-time inventory updates enables greater business agility and efficiency, allowing you to pivot as soon as issues arise.
Environmental monitoring: Sensors can track ambient conditions in warehouses and transport vehicles to ensure perishable and other delicate products meet quality standards when they arrive.
Demand responsiveness: Insights into fluctuating customer demand enable companies to quickly adapt, which helps ensure the right products are available at the right times.
Streamlined collaboration: When all your supply chain partners have total visibility into your inventory and demand forecasting data, they can use that information to better coordinate production, warehousing, and logistics.

3. In-Store Analytics for Enhanced Customer Support

IoT devices collect a lot of data, but you need to be able to use that data to make any real change. That’s where in-store analytics solutions come in.

Here are some ways IoT and data analytics solutions can help improve the in-person shopping experience:

Staffing: Foot traffic data from your in-store IoT devices can help you predict peak hours, enabling you to plan staff schedules around these periods.
Personalized service: In-store analytics help you understand typical customer needs and preferences, which can make it easier to meet specific customers where they are on an individual level rather than as part of a segment.
Optimizing floor layout: Analytics can reveal how customers typically move around a store, enabling retailers to determine how to arrange products and displays in a way that helps customers find what they’re looking for faster.

The Impact of IoT on Retail Strategies

While IoT and retail automation are still emerging technologies, they’ve made a large impact on the industry. Here are some of the most important applications to pay attention to when considering the use of IoT.

Omnichannel Retailing and IoT

Omnichannel retailing has become a big deal in the past few years, and for good reason — creating a consistent experience across all your sales and marketing channels delivers a convenient, satisfying experience for customers. From one channel to the next, shopping or interacting with your brand is seamless.

This level of service is only possible because of IoT, which bridges the gap between your online and physical stores. The customer data you collect through your in-store IoT devices, as well as through your e-commerce and social media channels, provides valuable insight into what customers want from interactions with your brand. When you know what customers want, you can apply those changes across all your channels for a cohesive brand experience.

Personalized Marketing Strategies

According to one global study, 80% of consumers say they like receiving personalized product recommendations from brands. Brands that fail to deliver personalized service often lose customers because the experience lacks an emotional connection and is often less convenient.

But for many customers, the expectation of personalization has only risen. Hyper-personalization goes beyond traditional personalized marketing strategies by using advanced technologies like AI and IoT to collect and analyze individual customer data in real time.

So, rather than simply changing the name of the recipient in your marketing emails, you can reach each customer on an individual level. Automated retail software solutions let you apply hyper-personalization on a massive scale through digital channels, enticing more customers to visit your stores.

Understanding Automation in the Retail Industry

Automation and IoT technologies go hand in hand — you can’t have one without the other. Many automated solutions connect to IoT devices, which creates a seamless transfer of data and action across your entire store.

Automated Retail Technologies and Their Applications

Some of the ways retailers are incorporating IoT and retail automation into the shopping experience include:

Self-checkout systems: One of the most popular examples of retail automation is the self-checkout, which enables customers to quickly pay for their items and leave. Self-checkout lanes now make up about 38% of all checkout aisles at grocery stores, with their heaviest users being shoppers aged 19 to 24.
RFID tags: RFID tags are essentially smart labels that use radio frequency to track product movement and communicate it to other components in the system. You can use them to ensure you have enough product on the floor and help customers find what they need easier.
Smart shelves: By using a network of connected RFID tags, digital displays, and IoT sensors, smart shelves can detect the location of items and communicate that information to you. This data can help you identify trends in consumer behaviors and preferences, which is essential for optimizing marketing and store layout.

Store Automation Solutions

Even a basic level of in-store automation is now essential for a retail company’s success, but why? The benefits of implementing these solutions include:

Reduced costs: Higher efficiency means your staff can do more faster, and in retail, that means they can deliver excellent service to more customers. This combination can help you reduce costs associated with returns, human error, and reputational damage while also boosting your profitability.
Operational efficiency: Automation augments your human staff by streamlining their workflows and taking the burden of repetitive tasks off their hands, which empowers them to tackle more valuable work in less time.
Easier scalability: Automating routine processes reduces your hiring needs by boosting your human employees’ productivity, which provides more flexibility for expanding your business in the future.
Better customer service: Automated solutions can take care of tasks that eat up store employees’ time, which allows them to focus all their attention on helping customers on the floor.

Navigating the Latest Retail IoT Trends

According to market projections, the global IoT market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 29.3% over the rest of the decade. The retail IoT market is especially suited for positive growth, with excellent potential for innovation and high activity in merger and acquisition.

Much of this growth is due to the rapid advancements in technologies like:

AI: AI-powered analytics solutions can identify patterns like humans, which enables them to generate valuable insights into your company’s historical data. You can use these insights to inform your inventory and store management decisions for greater efficiency and better customer service.
Machine learning (ML): ML is a branch of AI that enables AI algorithms to continuously learn from previous interactions, which means the recommendations and actions your program delivers will become more relevant to your business and your customers.
Blockchain: This technology enables transparent data sharing through a series of linked blocks, which cannot be edited after completion. Some companies are incorporating blockchain into their shipping and fulfillment operations to enhance accountability and trust with business partners.

Preparing for the Future of Automation in Retail

Future-proofing your organization with advanced automated solutions is essential for gaining a competitive edge. One of the biggest challenges every company will face in implementing retail automation is setting up the proper infrastructure for the system:

A strong, stable internet connection
A robust, centralized cloud database to store and analyze IoT data
Wireless or Bluetooth connectivity between all IoT devices

Companies also need to ensure their employees receive the proper training to use these technologies to enhance their everyday work. You’ll have to carefully consider what support mechanisms you can provide to assist your staff in troubleshooting any issues that pop up.

Kopius’s Approach to Retail Automation Solutions

Retail tech is complex, with many moving parts that need careful planning and attention to ensure they work properly.

If you’re unsure where to start, Kopius can help. We take a collaborative approach to retail tech, which enables us to deliver unparalleled results for retailers of various sizes and sectors.

Our team of experts will work closely with you and your people to understand your specific pain points, goals, and expectations. We’ll then design a custom solution tailored to your business that takes into account all existing physical and digital infrastructure.

Want to learn more about the companies we’ve helped? Read our case studies to see real examples of our work.

Begin Your Retail Tech Journey With Help From Kopius

IoT and retail automation present exciting opportunities for companies that invest in the proper infrastructure and support. That’s why we’re here.

When you take advantage of our JumpStart program, you gain access to our emerging tech team’s knowledge and expertise, which will help you spark innovations and strategize new projects that support your business goals.

What’s more, your solutions are tailored to your business — no matter how complex the specifications, we can create a custom retail analytics project that meets your organization’s unique requirements.

Are you ready to get started? We are, too. Contact us today to set up a consultation with our experts.

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The Power of IoT in Industrial Innovation

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Kopius

Industrial companies are prioritizing digital technologies to keep pace in a challenging market. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a common foundational technology powering this digital transformation, helping manufacturing companies connect, monitor, analyze, and make informed, data-driven decisions. Industrial IoT solutions enhance efficiency, maximize revenue growth, and reduce costs across your organization.

Explore how IoT technology works, its benefits, and how to leverage it for your manufacturing processes.

Introduction to IoT in Industrial Innovation

IoT is a network of interconnected devices with sensors, software, and connectivity that collect and exchange data. These devices communicate with each other and with centralized systems to perform tasks based on the data they receive.

Elements of IoT include:

Devices: IoT uses physical objects like actuators, sensors, and other gadgets that are connected to the internet.
Connectivity: Protocols like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are critical elements in IoT and manufacturing, as they facilitate communication between devices and central systems.
Data: IoT devices use the information they collect through sensors to transmit and process it for decision-making.
Cloud: The cloud provides storage, processing power, and analytics capabilities to handle large and complex volumes of IoT data.
Applications: These are the software applications that utilize IoT data for monitoring, control, automation, and optimization.
Security technologies: These include encryption, authentication, and access control mechanisms to share data in a highly controlled and secured way.

There are endless possibilities for the Internet of Things in manufacturing. The digital technology is shaping the industry, allowing for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision-making. Drive growth with IoT by using it to reduce your downtime, increase efficiency, and improve product quality — all critical in a rapidly evolving market.

Benefits of IoT Adoption

IoT optimizes your processes, enhances supply chain visibility, and drives operation excellence. Here are a few benefits of leveraging manufacturing IoT technologies.

Visualize Operations

IoT provides real-time data insights and identifies bottlenecks to make continuous improvements in your warehouse. Consider a warehouse that handles thousands of products for an e-commerce company. By leveraging data from IoT, the warehouse can automatically track the quality of each product and raise an alert or automatically place an order to replenish the stock when needed.

When you leverage IoT, you can measure real-time product output, adjust your production schedules and inventory levels accordingly, and maximize resource utilization. You can also enhance the efficiency of your operations by using IoT-powered predictive analytics to forecast demand patterns.

Easier Maintenance

Use IoT to remotely monitor your equipment’s health and performance. This way, you can come up with predictive maintenance strategies that reduce downtime, extend the life span of your equipment, and enhance its overall effectiveness. By remotely accessing equipment status and performance data in real time, your team detects issues early, schedules maintenance quickly, and prevents costly breakdowns that could impact your production schedule.

Cost Reduction

Manufacturing IoT reduces operation costs associated with maintenance, energy use, and inventory management by optimizing processes and tasks. Additionally, IoT insights into your equipment and energy use patterns allow you to implement energy-saving measures and resource-efficient practices that lead to long-term cost savings and sustainability goals.

Quality Assurance

IoT contributes to quality assurance in many ways. It can monitor your production processes in real time to detect defects early. It can also ensure compliance with quality standards so you deliver products that meet customer expectations for reliability and performance. Ultimately, IoT improves product consistency, reduces defects, and ensures customer satisfaction by delivering high-quality products.

Industrial IoT Applications

The uses for IoT are endless, and many companies have become more efficient because of it. Consider the various IoT applications and use cases.

Optimizing Supply Chains

Industrial Internet of Things solutions include greater supply chain visibility. Get real-time insights into each stage of the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to delivery. The digital technology collects and analyzes data from connected devices, helping you track inventory levels, monitor shipment status, and identify inefficiencies. Use IoT in supply chain operations to process data and gain insights into performance metrics, trends, and opportunities for optimization.

Amazon, Volvo, and Nissan are all examples of companies successfully leveraging IoT to manage and optimize their supply chains for greater efficiency. Volvo uses IoT to track and deliver products worldwide, Nissan uses it to link multiple industrial units, and Amazon uses an IoT event simulator that creates and transmits location telemetry to a centralized system.

Powering Additive Manufacturing

IoT also improves additive manufacturing technologies and processes. Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, involves building objects layer by layer with digital 3D models. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printers reduce material waste and offer faster prototyping, production, and customization — without needing expensive tools.

IoT enhances additive manufacturing technologies by:

Enabling real-time monitoring of printers.
Optimizing machine performance.
Ensuring quality control through sensors that detect deviations.
Facilitating predictive maintenance to prevent downtime.
Streamlining production workflows for increased efficiency.

GE Aviation is successfully leveraging additive manufacturing and IoT technologies to optimize the performance of its jet engines. The company is also improving the efficiency of its jet engine production lines with machine learning. IoT allows them to efficiently and accurately analyze data for aircraft testing, improving aircraft models and performance.

Integrating With Cobots

Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are being used in manufacturing processes like picking, packing and palletizing products, welding, assembly, material handling, and quality control. When integrated with IoT, cobots can produce goods more quickly and efficiently while reducing costs associated with human labor. Cobots also offer better precision and repeatability, increasing production quality.

Cobots also promote workplace safety. For example, Ford uses cobots to support skilled workers with injuries or illnesses that limit their physical work capacity. Ford developed Robbie the Cobot to work with the assembly line employees to press in and attach covers for the engine block’s variable camshaft timing.

Enhancing the Role of Digital Twins

Digital twins provide a real-time virtual representation of a physical device or asset. Manufacturers might use digital twins to test product customizations and modifications. They can also recreate production lines with bottlenecks and simulate corrections digitally before executing the physical corrections.

Implementing IoT with digital twin capabilities in a factory or machine plant allows better visibility, accurate predictions, documentation, and communication. An example is the multinational aerospace and defense company Rolls-Royce, which uses IoT digital twin technology to monitor its engines, extending the time between maintenance for engines by up to 50%.

JumpStart Your Manufacturing Innovation

Industrial IoT solutions make many processes much more efficient, reducing costs and optimizing supply chains. While it can transform your business for the better, IoT can be challenging to implement without the right resources on your side. Kopius’ JumpStart program helps you successfully integrate manufacturing IoT into your processes and unlock opportunities for innovation.

Our program fast-tracks new manufacturing solutions so that you achieve faster business results. Connect with us today to meet your digital initiatives and gain a competitive edge.

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Understanding IoT Security and Its Importance in Retail

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Kopius

Digital technology is revolutionizing how retail businesses operate and interact with their customers. The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a key role in the industry’s evolution, helping stores gather valuable customer data to supercharge decision-making and deliver enhanced shopping experiences.

Internet of Things security is crucial to leveraging advanced digital technologies successfully. Understanding the importance of robust IoT security is key to ensuring your retail business is ready to innovate, adapt, and meet modern consumer demands without compromising confidential data.

Learn more about how IoT security works and why it’s so pivotal in the retail sector.

What Is IoT Security in Retail?

IoT security’s key elements in the retail industry include:

Data protection: Customer and business data collected by IoT devices requires robust security solutions, like encryptions and advanced access controls to ensure compliance and privacy.
Device security: An important element of IoT security is protecting individual IoT devices with routine software updates and authentication mechanisms. This helps prevent unauthorized access and safeguard data integrity.
Network security: The network infrastructure used in connecting IoT devices requires firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure communication protocols to combat data breaches.
Physical security: IoT security also employs physical protections, like surveillance cameras, access control systems, and tamper seals, to combat theft and tampering.
Vendor management: Third-party vendors that retail businesses work with through IoT devices must meet strict security standards to mitigate potential risks.
Team education and training: Cybersecurity and physical security awareness training ensures your team keeps devices secure and responds to incidents effectively. Human error is to blame for at least 88% of data breaches, so education on IoT cybersecurity best practices is essential.

Any organization that leverages interconnected technologies that collect, store, share, and manage personal or payment information — especially from customers — must prioritize robust security measures. IoT-enabled retail businesses need strong protections for their networks and physical devices to combat potential threats that can wreak havoc on their operations, reputation, and bottom line.

Robust cybersecurity in the retail industry is essential in today’s high-risk digital landscape, especially as cyber threats grow rapidly and more companies rely on IoT than ever before.

IoT Security Examples for the Retail Industry

Some common IoT devices used for retail security include:

Surveillance cameras: IoT-enabled closed-circuit television security systems can enhance retail store security through round-the-clock surveillance.
Sensors: Specialized IoT sensors can monitor environmental changes, detect issues, and share alerts about potential intruders in a retail or digital space.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and readers: These digital technologies can enhance how retailers track and manage their inventory and assets. They can boost anti-theft measures through real-time location tracking and identification.
Smart locks: Smart locks and IoT-enabled access control solutions allow retail businesses to oversee entry into different areas of their store, including restricted zones.
Point-of-sale (POS) systems: Retailers also use IoT-enabled POS terminals to securely process customer transactions, track sales data, and improve accurate inventory management.

Why Is Retail IoT Security So Important?

Security in IoT is critical for keeping customer data protected and private. IoT systems in retail environments collect sensitive information about your shoppers, including personal insights, purchase histories, behavioral data, and payment details.

Without adequate security measures, the data from IoT devices, including surveillance cameras and sensors, may be vulnerable to cybercriminals looking to capitalize on system vulnerabilities.

Retailers need a deep understanding of their IoT and security issues. This ensures they take the necessary measures to combat unauthorized access and data breaches that can lead to theft, misuse, or fraud. Protecting customer privacy should always be a top priority.

In addition to safeguarding your customers’ information, IoT security is vital for supporting smooth business operations. Protecting your critical infrastructure against potential attacks helps prevent disruptions, financial losses, and reputational damage due to incidents.

Establishing strong security measures helps retail businesses safeguard their daily workflows and processes. They can also use IoT insights to drive efficiency, reduce downtime, and ultimately improve performance.

Retailers need a secure, agile, and scalable IoT ecosystem to adapt to the ever-changing market. That way, they can maintain operational efficiency and deliver the most intuitive and satisfying customer experiences.

The Benefits of Robust IoT Data Security in Retail

Retail businesses can reap many benefits from prioritizing a strong security posture to safeguard their data and private information. Keeping your IoT systems secure is essential to your company’s longevity and bottom line. Explore some of the key advantages below.

1. Data Breach and Cyberattack Prevention

IoT networks in the retail industry store sensitive data that cybercriminals want to access and exploit. Businesses need strong monitoring mechanisms, encryption protocols, and access controls to effectively combat data breaches, theft, and cyberattacks. These incidents can devastate retail operations, so a proactive approach to IoT security is essential for identifying and mitigating potential risks.

Rigorous data security measures are also key to protecting your retail business’s intellectual property. IoT systems often store confidential data relating to products, services, and company operations. Guarding these insights with proper cybersecurity measures is key to maintaining a competitive edge and capitalizing on proprietary processes or solutions.

2. Brand Reputation Protection

Demonstrating your retail business’s commitment to data protection is essential for fostering customer trust. Robust IoT security is key to portraying your brand’s reputation as reliable and safe. If consumers feel confident that your company will protect their payment details and personal information, they will be more likely to engage with your business and make purchases. Your level of security directly impacts customer loyalty and satisfaction, and a good reputation supports greater retention and growth.

If a data breach or cyberattack occurs, a powerful response plan effectively minimizes the impact on your customers and brand. Keeping your customers’ private data safe through robust security measures is integral to managing your brand’s trustworthiness.

3. Operational Continuity

Another benefit of robust IoT security is ensuring continued operations. Cyberattacks and data breaches can result in significant disruptions, leading to:

Revenue loss.
System failures.
Downtime.
Data loss.
Reputational damage.
Customer dissatisfaction.

Everything from inventory management to POS transactions can encounter disturbances from a security incident, leading to friction and negative experiences for your shoppers. Consumers demand uninterrupted service and reliable operations. Secure IoT networks and devices are necessary to avoid these issues, supporting productivity, efficiency, and continued operations.

4. Competitive Advantage

Retail businesses can also enjoy a competitive advantage by implementing strong IoT security measures. By establishing a reputation for prioritizing data security, companies can enhance their brand credibility and attract security-conscious consumers.

Today’s shoppers want to know they can trust the retailers they buy from, and maintaining a secure digital environment is key to demonstrating your commitment to protecting customer data. Investing in IoT security can give you an edge over the competition by delivering seamless customer experiences and benefiting your brand reputation.

Secure IoT systems also support enhanced data-backed decision-making to grow your business.

5. Cost Savings

The consequences of a data breach or cyberattack can be expensive. Regulatory fines, legal fees, theft, and data recovery can add up quickly. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach in the United States was a whopping $9.48 million, which can put a retailer out of business. Robust IoT data security measures can save costs and protect a company’s bottom line.

Retail businesses need strong protections to support long-term operational efficiency and business growth. Fostering a reputation for strong security and avoiding security incidents can also help companies protect their brand value and equity, reducing the costs of customer acquisition, retention, and even marketing.

Internet of Things Security Challenges for Retailers

Explore the key challenges of IoT security for retail businesses:

Large attack surface: As companies introduce new digital technologies, Internet of Things device security is increasingly complicated by the growing attack surface. Cybercriminals have more entry points for potential attacks and data breaches, and retailers must implement greater defenses to combat the new vulnerabilities.
Legacy systems: Another common security hurdle for retail businesses is integrating IoT devices with legacy systems. Compatibility issues can pose a serious threat, as many older solutions do not feature adequate protections in today’s digital landscape. Finding ways to protect older systems with the latest security standards can be complicated, expensive, and time-consuming.
Supply chain risks: Third-party suppliers, partners, and vendors can introduce security risks throughout a retail business’s supply chain. Companies must find ways to secure their entire digital ecosystem and combat vulnerabilities, including devices, software, and services from outside organizations. Limited transparency and supply chain complexity can make tracking every component’s security posture difficult. Working with partners that prioritize robust IoT security is essential.
Standardization: There are no universal IoT security criteria for retailers to follow, making uniformity and standardization difficult. Ensuring consistent security practices across diverse IoT devices and networks can be challenging and lead to potential vulnerabilities.
Insider threats: Employee negligence or misconduct can be a huge IoT security challenge for retail businesses. Comprehensive training, education, and monitoring can help companies manage insider threats and ensure their team members do not intentionally or accidentally compromise IoT data.
Physical security: Safeguarding physical IoT devices and infrastructure from unauthorized access, theft, and vandalism can be another major challenge for retailers. Proper surveillance and access control systems are necessary for ensuring physical security.

Compliance Standards for IoT Security in Retail

These IoT and security compliance requirements help ensure ethical data handling practices:

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): The PCI DSS outlines requirements for how cardholder data is collected, stored, and transmitted by a company’s IoT devices, such as POS terminals.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework: Retailers must secure IoT devices and networks according to NIST guidelines to ensure the strongest cybersecurity posture.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines: The FTC outlines guidance for securing a business’s IoT system.

Retailers must also follow industry- and state-specific regulations, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Compliance is necessary to avoid fines and reputational damage while demonstrating a company’s commitment to security to potential customers and partners. Meeting these standards helps retailers ensure they maintain a secure IoT environment.

Best Practices for Securing Retail IoT Devices

A few key strategies and best practices can help retail businesses maintain ongoing IoT security and protect their data:

1. Carry Out Regular Testing

Retailers should regularly test their IoT systems to identify possible vulnerabilities. Taking a proactive risk mitigation approach is key to maintaining the most secure network, and testing is an essential part of tackling potential dangers before they become larger and more serious threats.

2. Segment Your IoT Network

A top tip for ensuring optimal IoT network security is segmenting your network. By splitting up the system into smaller networks, you can gain greater insight into each segment, allowing your team to pinpoint security threats more efficiently than looking at the network as a whole.

3. Update Systems Often

Regularly patching and updating your network is essential for ongoing IoT device security. Cybercriminals and hackers are continuously searching for new vulnerabilities on your attack surface. Routine updates will help your systems remain protected against threats and ensure you have the latest security measures in place.

4. Implement Advanced Access Management

Retailers should prioritize unauthorized access prevention measures to ensure IoT data is safe from cybercriminals and hackers. Advanced controls and multifactor authentication can help businesses protect their systems, safeguarding confidential business insights and sensitive customer information.

5. Maintain Ongoing Monitoring

Monitoring every facet of your IoT network will help your business manage and mitigate security risks. Retailers need greater insight and visibility of their attack surface to ensure secure devices and uncompromised data.

6. Prioritize Comprehensive Team Training

Retail businesses can maximize IoT security by informing employees of potential threats and training them on the best practices. Continuous education and training update team members on securely using IoT devices, ensuring ongoing data protection.

Starting Your IoT Security Journey

The best way to ensure IoT security is to partner with an experienced provider who understands the best practices for protecting your environment against threats and vulnerabilities. With the JumpStart Retail partnership program from Kopius, your business can leverage IoT to foster tech-enabled innovation, elevate customer engagement, and create more satisfying digital and in-store experiences.

We designed our solution with robust IoT security to protect your business’s sensitive information and combat data breaches. Our experts will work with your team to determine the best measures for safeguarding your digital and physical environment from unauthorized access.

We make securing your data simple. Browse some of our case studies to see how we’ve empowered businesses to take a more innovative approach to data security.

JumpStart Your Retail IoT Security Strategy With Kopius

Innovating your retail business to keep up with the competition and ensuring a robust cybersecurity posture is essential. Kopius makes it easy to JumpStart digital technology and data success. Our data and AI ideation and prioritization program fast-tracks and enhances your company’s results.

We’ll help you boost customer satisfaction through an informed, data-driven approach. Our tech team’s extensive expertise allows us to supercharge IoT security solutions for retailers worldwide. We’ll tailor your program to your business’s unique needs and industry requirements, helping you improve customer experiences and benefiting your bottom line.

Contact our experts to partner with Kopius and JumpStart your business today.

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Benefits of Digital Twins in Manufacturing

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Kopius

The manufacturing industry can leverage digital twins to understand operations better and optimize processes. With greater insight into your systems and equipment from these cutting-edge digital technologies, your team can effectively drive efficiency and innovation to stay competitive.

Explore how digital twins can benefit your manufacturing operations and drive future growth.

What Is a Digital Twin in Manufacturing?

A digital twin in manufacturing refers to a virtual replica of physical assets, systems, or processes informed by Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. This twin functions as a virtual representation of one of your machines, production lines, or products by mimicking its real-world behavior. You can use this digital technology to simulate different scenarios and analyze performance for more informed decision-making and monitoring.

Digital twin technology is commonly confused with simulations, but the two differ. A simulation typically relies on a computer-aided design system or similar solution to forecast how physical assets will work or behave. Digital models use IoT data collected from your specific equipment and systems.

The Role of Digital Twins in Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry’s use of these virtual models is among the most advanced of any sector. Some common digital twin applications for industrial production include:

Design and development: Manufacturers use these solutions to create digital prototypes of their production systems on products. Digital twins offer a low-stakes way to test configurations, identify potential hurdles, and optimize performance before production.
Performance monitoring: Digital models enable teams to monitor assets and system processes continuously. The data collected from IoT sensors can track key performance indicators, flag inefficiencies, and make proactive adjustments to support efficiency.
Quality control: Manufacturing plants leverage digital twins to compare real-time data with the virtual model to detect potential deviations and bottlenecks early, enabling early intervention to ensure consistent quality standards.
Training and simulations: Digital twins can also function as simulations for training manufacturing personnel on new equipment and production processes in a safe and risk-free virtual environment. Operators can use this digital technology to undergo training and practice to prepare for real-world scenarios.
Lifecycle management: Businesses can leverage these digital tools to gain insight into each stage of a product or system, from design to production. Manufacturers can use the insights from digital twins to optimize lifecycles and enhance overall quality.

7 Benefits of Digital Twin Technology

Explore the key digital twin benefits for manufacturing operations below.

1. Predictive Maintenance

Manufacturers can leverage digital models to enhance equipment and production reliability through data-driven predictive maintenance. Real-time data from the sensors can predict when a breakdown is likely to occur. By flagging issues and inefficiencies early, your team can stay on top of upkeep to ensure asset performance and productivity. Your personnel can use virtual replicas to proactively identify and address repair needs before they result in costly unplanned downtime or equipment replacements.

2. Process Optimization

Digital twins can facilitate manufacturing process optimization by giving your team a virtual representation of your operations to simulate different scenarios. You can use these insights to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.

Manufacturers use these solutions to refine their production processes at every level, ensuring optimal workflow design. Fine-tuning processes based on digital twin insights can help industrial production personnel reduce lead times, support better performance, and achieve higher productivity.

3. Cost Reduction

A huge advantage of digital twins is reducing costs by informing optimized maintenance schedules, minimizing unplanned downtime, and reducing the time and expenses associated with operator training. Your manufacturing operation can use the insights from digital models to use resources more efficiently and reduce waste. These technologies can also improve profitability for manufacturers by informing decision-making.

4. Real-Time Monitoring

Live data tracking capabilities from IoT sensors inform virtual models and enable businesses to quickly identify trends and problematic operations. These robust insights are integral to timely interventions and quality assurance measures.

The continuous stream of real-time data is key to efficiently responding to anomalies before failures occur, helping manufacturers support the smoothest operations.

5. Product Innovation

Digital twin technology can help businesses drive product innovation. Virtual prototyping and simulation can help manufacturers test different configurations, materials, and features to explore new ideas more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Digital models can help you bring innovative products to market or implement optimized processes faster, giving your operation a competitive edge.

6. Data-Driven Planning

Another advantage of using these virtual models is having access to real-time data to drive decision-making and support accurate predictions regarding manufacturing operations. Digital twins can guide the following:

Resource allocation
Production planning
Quality control
Supply chain management
Opportunities for improvement

Strategic, data-driven planning helps manufacturers mitigate risks and make smarter decisions to drive profitability, sustainability, and longevity.

7. Scalability

The manufacturing industry can also leverage digital twins to swiftly adapt to changing market demands and scale. These tools can easily accommodate increased data volumes as your business introduces new products, production lines, and facilities into its operations. Your team can make informed, data-backed decisions thanks to these tools’ predictive and monitoring capabilities.

Overcoming the Challenges of Adopting Digital Twin Solutions

While utilizing digital twins can be highly advantageous for manufacturers, a few key challenges can impact adoption and implementation:

Data integration: IoT systems collect data from multiple sources, and differing data formats can complicate integration and interoperability.
Data quality: The insights that inform digital twins must be accurate, consistent, and reliable. Issues with data quality can result in misleading behavior and negatively impact decision-making.
Security and privacy: Robust data security measures are necessary for safeguarding intellectual property and combatting cyberthreats.
Skill gaps: Your team may lack expertise in IoT systems and digital twin technologies, which can slow implementation. Training and ongoing education may be necessary to maximize the benefits of these solutions for your manufacturing business.

Future Trends for Digital Twins in Manufacturing

Digital technology is constantly evolving, and digital twins are no exception. The following are a few future digital twin trends to watch out for in the manufacturing industry.

Edge Computing Adoption

Edge computing can process data locally and in real time, close to the data source, for incredible accuracy. It can offer several benefits to digital twin systems, including reducing latency, improving reliability, and optimizing bandwidth usage.

Extended Reality

Businesses are using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to enhance their use of digital twins. AR and VR allow businesses to provide users with a more immersive and engaging experience when interacting with virtual models. Manufacturers can use AR and VR to assess product viability and enhance testing.

Best Practices for Implementing Digital Twins With IoT

Following a few best practices will help your manufacturing operation maximize the benefits of digital twins and IoT solutions:

Prioritize data quality: Monitoring and verifying data quality is key to ensuring that the insights from your IoT sensors deliver the most accurate and relevant data for your digital models.
Implement robust security and privacy measures: Strong data security solutions are essential to protect private information transmitted between your digital twin platform and IoT devices.
Establish a feedback loop: Encourage users to share feedback about your manufacturing operation’s digital twins to support continuous improvement and inform newer, more accurate virtual model iterations.

JumpStart Your Manufacturing Transformation With Kopius

If you’re ready to enhance your manufacturing operations, turn to Kopius. We’ll help you transform your business with tech-enabled innovation.

With our JumpStart program, you will streamline new manufacturing solutions and fast-track business results to drive long-term growth. Our experts will assist you in tackling your digital manufacturing initiatives and overcoming common challenges through our data-driven approach. We’ll help your operation gain a competitive edge through the latest digital technologies and solutions.

Are you interested in learning more about elevating your business and unlocking your potential? Contact Kopius to JumpStart your smart manufacturing success today.

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Beyond the Sensor—IoT as a Starting Point for Solving Your Organization’s Most Pressing Tech Challenges

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Jim Darrin

Man in a hard hat reviewing data on a tablet

Across virtually every industry, in healthcare, industrial, retail and other settings, IoT is a go-to way of monitoring everything from user behavior, to equipment to the environment. It can even be used to keep track of what’s happening within our bodies. But the bigger question is why? Why are you monitoring those endpoints, and what problem are you trying to solve? Fundamentally, IoT is about data, and it’s often just a starting point. It is part of a large ecosystem of other data sources and technologies that you can bring to bear to solve your organization’s—and in some cases, the world’s—most pressing challenges.

And in fact, long-term, sustainable solutions often extend beyond technology. People and processes may be at the root of your challenges, and you will need to look beyond the sensor to effect change.

From When to Why: How IoT Brought a People and Practices Issue to the Forefront

Case in point: a leading lumber company’s door manufacturing business was among its most profitable segments. They were looking to increase their return on investment by making their machines more productive. That meant finding ways to make them run faster and reduce idle time. They reached out to Kopius, and as a first step, we worked with them to put sensors on their machines so we could pull data to better understand when they were idle and for how long. It was valuable information, but to increase productivity, we needed to understand why they were idle.

It wasn’t because of mechanical issues. Instead, the answer had to do with the way orders are processed and initiated for manufacturing, which is a people and process issue. The company’s order fulfillment process was largely manual. When an order came in, a physical bill of material was created, then someone walked it over to the area of the facility dedicated to door manufacturing. Often, they were pulled away, distracted by a more time sensitive task or by a coworker. In other cases, materials for the doors would get delivered to the wrong area. So, to solve the problem of humans being prone to error, we recommended a change management process and leveraged automation to support better tracking of materials. The expected impact was a 40% increase in production and $50M increase in annual revenue for the door division.

For this company, the initial request for IoT sensors was just the starting point for long term efficiency, agility, and sustainability. It sparked ongoing discussions that have opened a world of possibilities for what other insights could be gleaned from their data. What kinds of sensors would generate data that would help them predict when their equipment needed servicing? How could they lay a foundation for storing and structuring their data so when the time is right, they can leverage AI to gain insights into their business that humans can’t see?

A Problem-First, Technology Second Approach

This experience underscores my initial point. IoT is just one element of a larger ecosystem of technology, data, and process improvements that can be brought to bear to solve your business challenges. If you stay focused on the why—your underlying business problem—and let that guide your technology approach, you can take your business farther, faster.

JumpStart IoT Success

Innovating technology is crucial, or your business will be left behind. Our expertise in IoT technology and business helps our clients deliver tangible outcomes and accelerate growth. At Kopius, we’ve designed a program to JumpStart your customer, technology, and data success.

Kopius has an expert emerging tech team. We bring this expertise to your JumpStart program and help uncover innovative ideas and technologies supporting your business goals. We bring fresh perspectives while focusing on your current operations to ensure the greatest success.

Partner with Kopius and JumpStart your future success.

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Experiential Retail and Immersive Shopping

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Kopius

At a time when customers can make almost any purchase online, many retailers are rethinking the way they approach in-store shopping. Experiential retail is a powerful concept that can turn a brick-and-mortar storefront from a place to purchase items to a place to engage with your brand in innovative, revolutionary ways. It’s all about turning shopping from an everyday occurrence into a memorable experience.

This tactic has helped many retailers stand out from the pack and give customers a truly unique, powerful connection to the brand.

What Is Experiential Retail?

Experiential retail refers to a marketing strategy in which physical retail spaces provide experiences beyond traditional shopping. Some are fairly common, like access to knowledgeable associates and hands-on product testing. Others, such as in-store events, communal lounge areas, or art exhibits, are harder to find. Whatever it looks like, these experiences offer a unique form of engagement that draws people in for a reason other than the products.

Some examples of experiential shopping include the following:

Classes, workshops, and digital resources
Attractive spaces for photo ops
Lounges, cafes, and restaurants
Immersive digital displays
Art exhibitions or studio spaces
Celebrity interactions and endorsements
Community engagement, like fundraisers
Live events, such as concerts and launch parties
Assistance or tech support from informed associates
Access to new products or up-and-coming technology
Virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) installations

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a major driving force in experiential retail, facilitating new digital technologies. IoT refers to a myriad of connected devices, like sensors and displays. For instance, digital price tags could connect to your website to show the most updated pricing, while motion sensors might detect nearby customers and start playing a video. The impact IoT can have on retailers and customers is virtually endless – that’s why it matters and makes it so compelling!

As you can see, you can use an experiential retail strategy in many ways. The best approach usually depends on your product, audience, and goals. Some brands use interactive retail experiences to appeal to the younger crowd, while others focus on their audience’s interests or shopping habits. However you choose to use it, experiential retail design can drastically change your customers’ connection with your brand.

In my previous experience working with Microsoft Retail Stores, we developed a custom IoT agent to capture customer engagement & product interest. Utilizing the data, my team and I designed a “Retail Experience Dashboard” to help Microsoft make informed decisions around store layout and product placement.
Matt Wright, Principal Software Architect at Kopius

Experiential Retail vs. Traditional Retail

The biggest difference between traditional retail and experiential retail is the latter’s focus on engagement. Sales are no longer the biggest priority. Instead, the experience focuses on boosting engagement. It’s about creating a positive on-brand experience, building loyalty, and making strong connections with your customers.

For many brands, that includes facilitating close ties with the customer’s digital experience. The in-store experience should feel like it naturally builds upon online shopping, with a consistent and smooth transition between the two.

Why Is Experiential Retail So Important?

Experiential retail differentiates in-store shopping from the online experience. Nowadays, online shopping usually provides better availability, anytime-anywhere access, and a wealth of options. The in-store environment must stand out with value-added experiences that shoppers can’t get online.

Stores can have various goals for experiential retail, but these immersive shopping experiences are often used for the following:

Building loyalty: Giving customers a unique reason to stick with your brand can help build long-lasting loyalty. Connecting in-store opportunities with on-brand messaging builds powerful relationships.
Creating share-worthy content: Instagrammable stores are excellent for promoting user-generated content and organic social media interactions. This approach usually works best with gentle encouragement — never make a photo op or a hashtag feel forced.
Speaking to customers directly: Some brands use brick-and-mortar locations to learn from and engage with customers directly, through a more natural setting, rather than going through a third-party retailer.
Nurturing community engagement: Experiential retail fosters connections among people. The store supports togetherness and may even become a well-respected organization in the community.
Engaging the senses: Many brands benefit from giving customers a physical sensation, especially for items like food and beauty products. Experiential marketing provides a setting for people to get hands-on interactions with the product.
Helping customers try out the products: One of the biggest reasons people shop at a store is to get an in-person trial. Experiential retail can offer this benefit and go further with in-depth product demos or associate knowledge.

Experiential Retail and Shopping Trends

Many brands align experiential retail design with today’s shopping trends, such as omnichannel shopping and social media engagement. By understanding what drives your customers, you can appeal to their habits. For example, one of the top attributes that consumers look for in physical stores is the ability to use the retailer’s website or app to shop for products they want to find in-store. This integration between digital and physical shopping experiences is vital to many retailers’ experiential approaches.

Other popular trends include influencer marketing, AR experiences, and shopping through social media platforms — which is now the primary way Gen Z likes to discover new products. We designed a data and image processing platform for a teledentistry company that integrated into a modern mobile app. This allowed customers to take “selfies” and see what their smile would look like post-treatment. The end product boosted both customer engagement and conversion! Brands might hold meet-and-greets with influencers, introduce an AR try-on tool, or create share-worthy photo ops for social media. Experiential retail trends often align closely with more generalized shopping trends and the buying habits of a retailer’s customers.

Top Experiential Retail Examples

Many brands are pushing the envelope with interactive retail experiences that engage and delight customers. Here are a few examples of experiential retail stores making waves.

1. House of Vans

The retailer behind these iconic skate shoes has opened up several House of Vans locations in major cities, redefining what it means to be a beloved brand. Instead of a simple retail store, these industrial-looking locations function as venues for skating events, concerts, art installations, and classes. Each House of Vans embodies the culture of its city, and creativity is a key driver. These exciting, unique stores offer a place for the community that helps visitors dive deep into the Vans philosophy.

2. Glossier

Glossier sells beauty products and an Instagram-worthy shopping experience. If you walk into one of their stores, it might take you a minute to realize you’re in a retail space. Glossier focuses on the aesthetics of its spaces and considers the character of the locations it chooses. Its Los Angeles store, for instance, is inspired by old Hollywood. It has glamorous rooms for trying out products and lighting designed for taking selfies.

3. Nike Rise

Nike has fully embraced the idea of experiential retail with its Nike Rise stores. These locations offer a wide range of activities catered to sports fanatics and powered by impressive digital technology. You can find huge screens that span multiple floors with real-time sports moments and member achievements from Nike’s fitness apps. You can also head to Nike By You to customize sneakers and apparel.

With Nike Rise, digital integration is front and center. The locations incorporate strategies like online pickups, returns, and scanning products for more information.

How to Get Started With Experiential Retail

The starting point for experiential retail depends heavily on your business and goals. Working with an experienced digital solutions provider can help you get support every step of the way. The team at Kopius specializes in experience-focused digital products and implements high-impact technologies for retailers of all types and sizes.

We’ll leverage various technologies, including IoT devices, to craft a plan that’s right for your business and goals. Some software solutions, such as Azure IoT Hub and Power Apps, enable powerful functionality, while others, like Power BI and Azure SQL Database, help make the most of your data.

Whether we’re monitoring store traffic, creating interactive displays, or building immersive spaces, our experiential retail technology solutions allow retailers to connect with customers in an entirely new way.

JumpStart your Retail Experience with Kopius

Contact Us to Jumpstart Your Retail Technology Success

Moving forward, experiential shopping will be crucial to connecting to customers and providing a top-tier brand experience online and off. This powerful approach calls for expertise in many areas, from planning and strategy to insights into the customer experience. At Kopius, our nearshore team uses innovation and strategic technology to solve problems and navigate new frontiers. We can help you explore the potential of experiential marketing and revolutionize how you connect with your customers.

Experiential retail depends on the intersection of digital and physical touchpoints, and a seamless digital experience is essential. Whether you want to connect your app to the in-store experience, create an interactive installation, or tackle experiential marketing in another way, Kopius helps you excel. At Kopius, we’ve designed a program to JumpStart your customer, technology, and data success.

Our JumpStart program fast-tracks business results and platform solutions. Connect with us today to enhance your customer satisfaction through a data-driven approach, drive innovation through emerging technologies, and achieve competitive advantage.

Add our brainpower to your operation by contacting our team to JumpStart your business.

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