Stop letting that data go to waste

An on-the-ground report from Retail’s Big Show

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IoT For All
January 23, 2025

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Last week, retail heavyweights from around the globe converged in NYC for the National Retail Federation’s flagship expo, Retail’s Big Show, and IoT For All was there to scope it out. Amid the bustling aisles of dazzling demos—featuring everything from robot assistants striding purposefully down store aisles to 3D body scanners—one game-changing theme emerged: the power duo of IoT and AI, transforming retail by turning raw data into actionable intelligence.

“On our sites, I know what the consumer is clicking on, how much time she’s spending, her experience through checkout,” said Trang To, Vice President of Omni at fashion house Tapestry. “I have all of that information in the stores. But I’m not harnessing it in the same way.”

There’s more than one way to crack a nut. Companies like Nexite and Wiliot demoed battery-free tracking sensors that can give retailers a whole new level of insight into supply chains and storefronts alike. Outfits like Vusion Group and Datalogic, meanwhile, are leaning on computer vision, using AI-processed camera footage to track stock levels, identify items at checkout, and prevent theft. 

But these are not far-flung future applications. Companies like Lowes are already using AI to process video footage and sensor data about where customers linger in the store and how product moves through the supply chain. 

The message from NRF 2025 was loud and clear: IoT and AI are no futuristic novelties. They're the new baseline—the price of entry for retailers who want to stay in the game.

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🎙️ The IoT For All Podcast

This week, we spoke to Matt Hatton, Founding Partner at Transforma Insights, about IoT trends and predictions for 2025. The conversation covers the integration of AI into IoT, the role and future of AIoT, eSIM orchestration, monetizing 5G for IoT, the viability of public LPWAN, the evolving landscape of satellite IoT, the impact of regulatory changes, vertical IoT solutions, and optimizing sales strategies.