The shopping mall of things: Black Friday in an IoT world

FRIDAY Nov 27, also known as Black Friday 2015, saw a surge in online spending, particularly in the UK where online sales totalled £1.1 billion (S$2.3 billion). However, high street footfall was lower than expected. The success of Black Friday as the number one date in the shopping calendar was one reason fewer analysts are reporting "the death of the high street" than in 2012 when smartphone ownership tripled. Shopping that required moving about looked set to become a distant memory.

While we have seen examples of some high street retailers closing their doors for good, there are still opportunities for bricks and mortar retailers - particularly those that use technology to their advantage. In early November, Amazon, the original nemesis of the high street, opened its first-ever physical bookstore at University Village, Seattle, after 20 years of selling online only. So, in the age of omni-channel retail, how can retailers use the Internet of Things (IoT) to deliver the ultimate connected shopping experience and gain an advantage at the most competitive time of year?

When demand on stock is at its highest, the grip over supply chains needs to be at its tightest. Poor stock and supply chain management leads to customers being frustrated by empty shelves and limited choice - the perfect enticement to try an alternative outlet that can better serve their needs.