May 9, 2017
Retail giant Wal-Mart is reportedly investigating using Internet of Things technology to develop a new way to track products in consumers' homes and help consumers when it comes to replenishing needed products.
A CB Insights Cruncher report points to a new patent filing regarding the technology effort.
"Using our patents search engine, we have unearthed a newly published Walmart patent application (originally filed in October 2016) for an IoT platform to track the way products are used in shoppers' homes. The system places automatic re-orders when the product is used up or needs to be replaced," states CB Insights.
The research firm said the application is the first that mentions IoT as a prime focus for Wal-Mart and that the consumer home approach is also a new foray for Wal-Mart. According to CB Insight, the patent filing notes a tag that would monitor a product's use and auto refill as needed.
