Technology is taking over, but not in the ways you’d expect. It’s not like the sci-fi films, where humanoid robots join the workforce or help save the world. Instead, smart, connected, mostly invisible technologies are being ubiquitously embedded into infrastructure, transforming entire industries like retail, finance and health care. Our personal dependence on devices has grown to a point where we rely on them for everyday comforts, like sending money through text messages, controlling home heating systems and doing the weekly grocery run.

While it’s easy to get lost in the excitement of new shiny devices, it’s important to take a step back and think about where our trust in machines stems from. How have these connected devices earned mainstream trust in handling some of the most sensitive, personal tasks in households and the workplace?

I believe it stems from three pillars: continuous dependability, high-quality user experiences and added convenience. Anyone can clearly see these traits in the recent successes of Apple’s FaceID and Amazon’s Alexa commands, both of which are known for their dependability in performance and usability. These are the areas businesses need to focus on while optimizing, building and measuring for the best possible customer experience.

Looking ahead, I see these IoT experiences advancing in three major ways that will bring new levels of convenience and value to consumers while deepening trust in IoT technology:

Payment Services Will Advance

Pulling crisp dollar bills from your wallet is becoming a rare occurrence as mobile technology continues to advance — without signs of stopping. Our devices have moved from merely providing a simple means of communication to becoming our trusted financial assistants that we can access anytime, anywhere.

For example, Venmo transmitted $17.6 billion in 2016 alone. Companies in the mobile payment service industry have paved the way for new payments experiences such as pay-by-text messages, which I see earning the trust of more users in 2018. Riding the success of this new experience, pay-by-Face ID (which is already being trialed in China) will eventually follow suit if businesses can nail the UX and performance.

Logistics, Delivery And Supply Chain