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The Internet of Things
is shaping the future of Retail in the MEA region
According to a recent study by IDC, spending on the Internet of
Things (IoT) among retailers, in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South
Africa and Turkey, will grow by an average of around 19% an-
nually for the foreseeable future.
IDC said that the spending of these retailers will represent near-
ly $1.6 billion from 2014 through 2018.
Despite the visibility of the signs, the great majority of IoT proj-
ects will relate to in-store promotions and personalized promo-
tions as well as ad-hoc improvements to supply chains, in-store
inventory systems, and transportation or delivery systems. This
stems from a need for basic infrastructure and process optimi-
zation. Retailers are also seeking online and mobile sales chan-
nels and customer relationship initiatives, all steps on the path
towards the creation of true multi-channel shopping.
19
September
2015