Blog Images

Wearables are electronic devices that can be worn and used hands-free. Their processing power and access to the internet makes life easier for users. Today's wearables are in the form of a watch, glass, earbuds, fitness tracker and jewellery. This article will outline key features of wearable devices and how businesses are incorporating wearables into their business model.

Types of wearables

Smartwatches

A Smartwatch is a digital display on your wrist, that syncs to your smartphone in real-time. You can access it through voice commands and touch. Apple watch is the market leader with approximately 47% market share. Apple Watch is now a stand-alone device because of its:

  1. Value-added features compared to a mobile phone (eg. fitness tracking, sleep tracking)
  2. Independent operating system (watchOS)
  3. eSIM technology to make calls and access the internet.
  4. Unique third-party applications.
  5. Durable battery life.
  6. Frictionless usability.

For example, there is a trend of users leaving their mobile behind during workouts and leisure activities. It is also important to understand that smartwatches are becoming the most prominent wearable device. Market acquisitions like Google acquiring Fitbit and Samsung advancements to their Galaxy watch series suggest that the market is only getting more and more competitive.

Earbuds

Ever since Apple introduced AirPods, the concept of a Bluetooth headset changed. With the use of voice command technology and AI assistant Siri, users can manage calls, order food and sort their playlists with simple voice commands. Google's Pixel Buds and Alexa powered Echo Buds by Amazon are becoming popular in this wearable category.

Other Wearables

Smart glasses are the only exception but it is yet to be proved if they can become commercial products.

Application of smartwatch technology

In 2019, Apple allowed independent apps on its watchOS. Since then, companies have been developing wearable apps to connect with their users to take advantage of the inbuilt features of the Apple watch. Many have developed companion apps for their existing iOS apps. It's important to understand that watch apps need to be unique in many ways. It needs to;

  1. Make use of the inbuilt features of the smartwatch.
  2. Provide a value addition to the user.
  3. Provide a simplified user experience.

To understand the concept of wearable apps, let's talk about some examples from various business models

1) Fitness and wellbeing

If you are a personal trainer or a fitness centre, a wearable app can help you interact with your members in a personalised manner. You can:

  1. Push your members to achieve their nutrition and workout goals.
  2. Monitor their performance daily and put their achievements into leaderboards to keep them motivated, whilst being able to reward them with discounts or gift vouchers.
  3. Provide virtual assistance for their workout sessions or morning runs.
  4. Provide guided recordings or instructions for home workout.
  5. Allowing them to play their favourite iTunes charts in the app background could be a value addition.

Even if you are not a fitness centre, but you sell products related to fitness and sport, you can use wearables to engage with customers in an intuitive manner. Nike has done that with their wearable app versions of Nike Runners Club and Nike Fitness Club.

2) Grocery shopping

An ideal wearable app for grocery shopping can include shopping lists. Users should also be able to share and customise shopping lists. Once the user visits the supermarket, iBeacon technology could cross-check the item list with each shelf that the shopper passes by, and pop up notifications of the items that he/she needs to buy from each shelf. This saves shoppers from having to wander around searching for items and they can be notified if an item on the list is out of stock.A dedicated wearable app can speed up checkout lanes by processing contactless payments using NFC technology.

3) Fashion

one apple device, handoff technology syncs it with all the other Apple devices you own.) allows users to switch between devices and proceed to checkout instantly. How can this be different from a mobile experience? When it comes to online promotions, you never know how busy your customers are. Imagine you send a notification to their mobile, they have to stop what they are doing, reach for their mobile and then determine whether it’s a promotion that they want to learn more about. If it's an unwanted promotion, this can lead to a negative impression of your brand as the user has been disturbed by your notification. But if the same ad appeared on a watch face, it takes an instant to have a glance and decide if it's worth checking out or not.

4) Healthcare

If you are a health care provider or an Allied Health professional, a wearable app can help you to provide better care for your patients. Smartwatches can continuously motor the EKG, blood oxygen levels and body temperature. You can be notified if stress levels of your patients are abnormal. You can send reminders and encourage your patients to take their pills.

5) Banking and Finance

Customers can have an extra layer of verification through their watch. You can set up a 2-factor verification to approve transactions via your smartwatch. The watch can act as a wearable wallet to perform contactless transactions, check account balances and get notified about transactions made.

What if your business is not in a position to invest in a wearable app?

You may not be 100% sold about the idea of developing a wearable app for your brand. It's understandable because wearables are still a relatively new concept. However, customers will embrace smartwatch technology faster than they adapted to smartphones. And as a brand, you will have to figure out ways to enhance the experience you offer your customers, and wearables can facilitate this. Contact us to find out how wearables can help drive sales and the connection with your customers.

How Maytech can help

We are an Australian based software development company that specialises in bespoke web and mobile application development, eCommerce solutions, process automation and staff augmentation. If you find this content relevant, we are sure that we can help you improve the way you do business. Contact us to find out how our technical expertise and 16 years of industry experience can deliver results for your business.

Let's talk to find out how we can support your digital transformation.

Reach out today for an obligation free conversations.