For more than 35 years, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. has connected products and technologies you interact with every day. Most recently, they’ve devoted efforts to creating a wide range of cutting-edge innovations, from smartphones and gaming devices to technologies that support smart vehicles, smart industry, and smart cities.
Last month, I had a chance to speak with Art Miller, vice president and global head of retail IoT for Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. about how Bluetooth® technology can be used to enhance operations across retail spaces.
Q&A With Art Miller From Qualcomm
How has Bluetooth technology evolved in the retail sector over the past few years?
Bluetooth technology has advanced in the retail sector in recent years, thanks in part to swifter image and data transmission, channel hopping, more robust communication protocol, and a reduction in battery consumption. These improvements have opened the door to new applications that can revolutionize customer experience and business operations, including locationing and geofencing-based use cases and proximity sensing with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE)-enabled devices.
While proprietary networks alone can provide a number of functions, their proprietary nature can also bring limitations when exploring new functionality. Bluetooth LE brings a breadth of new capabilities to complex retail environments that demand electronic shelf labels (ESL), digital shelf systems (DSS), and other IoT devices.
What emerging trends in Bluetooth technology do you see having the biggest impact on the retail industry?
A notable trend in Bluetooth technology for the retail sector is the increasing use of Bluetooth LE for IoT devices, including growing momentum in electronic shelf label implementations. This advancement enables the creation of a unified retail system where IoT devices from various manufacturers can seamlessly communicate and integrate into a single management platform. This has the potential to revolutionize retail operations, driving efficiency, cost savings, and improved security and scalability.
“A notable trend…for the retail sector is the increasing use of Bluetooth® LE for IoT devices.”
Bluetooth technology offers retailers two main benefits: security and scalability. Through our alliance with VusionGroup, Bluetooth technology helps us deliver retailers a comprehensive solution for contextual real-time data, analytics, and positioning capabilities that can be scaled rapidly and reliably.
One of the main challenges that retailers face when adopting electronic shelf labels (ESL), digital shelf systems (DSS), and other IoT devices is scalability. How can they install, manage, and update tens of thousands or even millions of IoT devices across multiple stores without compromising performance, security, or efficiency? How can they ensure a smooth and seamless transition from legacy systems to digital solutions? Bluetooth LE implementation offers several advantages over other wireless protocols.