OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. --With the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas continuing to inspire us with the promise of more sophisticated technologies, its impact on convenience retailing can range from profound to nonexistent.
As I prioritize my technology reporting for the convenience-store industry, I struggle to balance the fantastical with reality. I hear about drones, “big data” and the “Internet of Things” only to listen to retailers still struggling to get their suppliers to communicate with them electronically.
That said, last week’s CES provided the world with a wellspring of ideas, potential and promise, inspiring any retailer to take what consumers will soon be playing with and bring it into the store.
With 3,600 exhibiting companies, 200 conference sessions and 150,000 attendees CES’ influence on the mainstream is undeniable. So what’s the buzz? In my mind, general themes that may affect convenience retail include car innovations, connected devices, wearables, 3-D (printing and filming) and drones.
Here’s my take on why:
- Car technologies. With so many car manufacturers exhibiting at the show, it’s apparent that they’re using technology to redefine and differentiate their vehicles. Be it electronic or driverless, car sophistication will affect fuel volumes, onsite traffic, consumer marketing and communication and in-store merchandising. What will consumers with high-tech cars need from convenience stores in the future?
- Connected devices. Folks from Samsung are introducing a panel on refrigerator doors that can automatically order groceries. If c-stores tie into that supply chain, they can become a provider for those goods. Suffice to say that connectivity and delivery issues exist, but why can’t c-stores with specialty products jump into the pool with supermarkets and Amazon?
- Wearables. The thing about wearables—fitness devices in sneakers, for instance—is that they are functional. Like a car needing fuel, these devices track need states such as when someone might be thirsty or outside during a high-pollen alert. C-stores tying into those devices can communicate solutions.
- 3-D. One of the services Dallas-based 7-Eleven is contemplating is using 3-D printers to make duplicate keys. As 3-D technologies transform into tangible services and visual experiences, the c-store will need to reflect those products and images.
- Drones. Like smartphones and tablets, the current surge in drone development and use may inspire a new wave of services. While c-store home delivery may be a stretch today, what’s stopping drones from being an integral part of c-store supply? Many chains already have distribution centers. Perhaps initially, drones can play a part in increasing their supply-chain efficiencies.
Certainly any new idea can turn out to be a hare-brained goose chase. That said, the technology is or will soon be here. What’s stopping you from playing too?
Angel Abcede, who writes the Mobile 2 Go blog, has covered technology in the convenience-store industry for more than two decades. Share your thoughts with Angel at aabcede@winsightmedia.com.
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