Apple Watch: How Can You Capitalize on the Trend?

It’s hard to do wearable devices right.

The Apple Watch has been talked about for many years and even in October, Apple only had demo models promising ‘early 2015’. It will finally be in customers’ hands by the end of April, when it will be viewed as a big success—not to mention hugely successful compared to all other smart watches combined. (Consider this: Last year less than a million smart watches were sold worldwide!)

Wearable tech is cool and trendy, and hard to get right. On Kickstarter, many wearable projects get funded successfully but then have to delay delivery again and again. And when they finally launch they are often already outdated—or not working as promised.   So far global manufacturing crowdsourcing have not brought many successful wearables technologies beyond the Pebble or the Muse. (The latter on Indiegogo, delivered almost two years past the promised date as well.)

The Apple Watch will help bring wireless payments and location awareness closer to mainstream consumer, which will be important for retailers. Expect ‘everywhere in the store’ check out to become standard—like it has been in the Apple Store. Another feature that stands out: Force touch, which makes your phone (or computer) more ‘sentient’ the screen or touch pad, feels how hard you press not just where you press. This allows for smarter applications (and games!).

The Apple Watch is a game-changer, and another step in the trend to produce more micro-ized personal technology that blends personal and business, and becomes part of the person’s identity. The watch is attached to you, literally reflecting your heartbeat.

Connected devices are here to stay. The (Apple) watch will become the new remote control–for your TV, you home and your car. Remember Knight Rider calling Kit? It will become reality, very soon.  The Apple Watch is a reminder that everything will be connected and increasingly smart.

As a small business owner, how can you capitalize on these trends?

Jean-Luc VanHulst is COO and Director of the Technology Practice at Write2Market, recognized among the Top 10 PR Firms for StartUps in the United States. He blogs regularly at www.Write2Market.com/blog.

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