NEW REPORT: How IoT And AI Make Pet Commerce Smarter

When it comes to improving connectivity, IoT-enabled devices aren’t just getting smarter – they are also getting better at helping people more easily connect with one another and their devices. And now, that same technology is also helping people connect with their pets.

The January Intelligence of Things Tracker looks at how smart pet technology is changing the way pet owners interact and engage with their companions, which connected devices took center stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and how new tools are keeping the food supply safe.

Around the IoT World

In today’s world of lengthy global supply chains, it takes more than just human eyes and willpower to check on freshness and food safety. To fill in those gaps, newly launched IoT solutions are coming to the rescue of consumers – and food suppliers are bringing them the lowdown.

Supermarket chain Hy-Vee, for example, recently announced it was teaming up with supply chain management solution provider Zest Labs to help consumers better track their food and its freshness. The pair are working together on an IoT-enabled service that autonomously tracks food freshness across all stages of delivery.

Meanwhile, another collaboration between IBM, Walmart and Chinese retailer JD.com aims to use blockchain to bring new transparency to the food supply chain. The companies will use blockchain to track food items from their origin, to where they were stored, to where items were inspected before being delivered to a vendor.

Other IoT developments are focused on reinventing how humans use their wheels. That includes Japanese automaker Honda, which recently partnered with Chinese payment solution provider Alibaba to integrate payment functionality into its vehicle lineup. With new payment capabilities available, motorists will be able to pay for services like gas and parking, or make reservations at a restaurant, right from their vehicles.

And at the CES in Las Vegas earlier this month, a pair of companies debuted their foray into connected payment cards.

Telecom company Sprint and their banking partner Dynamics unveiled the Wallet Card, a battery-powered connected payment card. The card includes a 65,000-pixel display and interface that allow users to toggle between credit, debit and prepaid cards. It can also change card numbers if fraudulent activity is detected.

For Cats and Dogs, It’s Raining IoT Connectivity

When their owners say goodbye and leave for the workday, most pets are left behind waiting for their return. But increasingly, connected pet technology is helping those owners stay in touch with their pets while they’re at work. They can feed them remotely, watch and speak to them, dispense treats as rewards for doing tricks and even buy new treats when supplies run low.

For the January feature story, PYMNTS spoke with Yaroslav Azhnyuk, CEO and co-founder of connected pet tech manufacturer Petcube, about how heightened connectivity is changing the nature of pet ownership, and about the potential for artificial intelligence and machine learning to change how owners monitor pets’ health.

To read the feature story, plus get the latest IoT headlines and trends, and rankings of 250 major players in the space, download the latest Tracker.

About The Tracker

The Intelligence of Things Tracker showcases companies that are leading the way in all aspects of the Intelligence of Things. Every month, the Tracker looks at what these companies are doing across the ecosystem and in several categories, including Personal, Home, Retail, Transportation, Wearable, Mobile, Infrastructure, Data and more.