To the average person, Wi-Fi is simply known as a technology used to play online video games, launch Netflix, connect their laptop to the Internet, or enable other common applications. While this mostly holds true today, the future of Wi-Fi is much more appealing with the advent of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). After significant progress in standardization, ISAC is inching closer to prime time.

The year 2024 provided numerous technology trends shaping the future of nearly every industry. ABI Research analysts have been covering these developments for some time, and now it’s time to reflect upon our studies in our annual trends whitepaper. Before we dive into the list, here’s a statement from Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer:

Over the past 2 decades, the connected devices market has revolutionized daily life. With more than 55 billion connected devices forecast by the end of 2024, it’s evident that these technologies touch almost every aspect of our lives—from mobile devices and wearables to smart homes and industrial applications.

Working in a competitive industry demands that you become a data-driven organization. As a technology solution provider, effectively leveraging data can unlock significant advantages, such as driving market expansion and fostering innovation. Unfortunately, all too many companies lack an analytical approach to decision-making.

One of the most exciting capabilities of Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) audio is Auracast™ broadcast audio. Have you ever had trouble hearing a flight announcement at the airport? Or wish you could hear the audio on a muted TV while using a treadmill at the gym? Auracast™-supported transmitters can address pain points like these by sending direct-to-ear audio signals to an unlimited number of nearby users. Not only will Auracast™ unlock new audio-sharing experiences for mainstream consumers, but the technology will improve the quality of life for hearing aid users. With Auracast™, people who require assistive listening devices can tune into a low-latency broadcast using their own personal device instead of needing a Radio Frequency (RF)-capable device provided to them from the venue.

Introduction: The world of embedded systems is multi-faceted – from hardware and software to services and tools. ABI Research’s Senior Director Andrew Zignani and Senior Analyst Reece Hayden attended the Embedded World Exhibition & Conference in Germany last week. Here they present their key takeaways from the event.

Every week, countless technology stories emerge across industries around the world. However, identifying and reading each development can be challenging while balancing your other day-to-day tasks. But if you want to stay ahead in your industry and evaluate the most promising technology solutions for your organization, it’s vital to keep up with the latest and greatest tech.

Digital transformation is synonymous with the widespread use of connected devices (Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) within an industrial environment. In many cases, enterprises will seek to enable connectivity of these IIoT devices with low-cost, low-powered solutions capable of being deployed at scale. For these reasons, Bluetooth^® technology is increasingly essential in digitalizing factories, warehouses, smart buildings, farms, hospitals, retail stores, mining sites, and other enterprise settings. The wireless technology facilitates various industrial applications by providing short-range communication capabilities. ABI Research forecasts more than 600 million annual shipments of Bluetooth^®-enabled industrial devices by 2028, nearly a six-fold increase from 2022.

One key challenge retailers face is inaccurate pricing on product shelf labels. If one of your customers expects a product to cost US$4.99, but learns upon checkout that the actual price is US$9.99, how do you think they will respond? Some customers might shrug it off and not think twice about it; however, most will be left with a bad taste in their mouth and perhaps lose their brand loyalty. Retailers are increasingly adopting Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs), replacing traditional paper labels to prevent this scenario. While ESLs have existed for years, the installed base is low. Newer connectivity technologies are unlocking far more value for retailers beyond dynamic pricing, spurring greater demand for ESLs in a post-COVID-19 world.

Market research goes hand-in-hand with maximizing profits at a business enterprise. Whether you’re a vendor or an enterprise implementer of a new technology, in-depth, data-backed intelligence can safely guide your organization toward sustained success. Technology research deliverables identify potential roadblocks and lucrative revenue opportunities for organizations, while giving you a reliable partner to consult with when questions about your respective market inevitably arise. Take, for example, the technology market research case studies we recently compiled, showcasing how our forward-looking methodologies help some of our biggest clients with their digitization journeys. In this blog post, let’s review four of these case studies to give you a better idea of what kind of results you can expect from ABI Research as a technology intelligence partner.