Stefan Vitzithum, COO

One of the highlights at the Consumer Electronics Show this year was the “Internet of Things”, i.e. the growing number of everyday objects with the ability to connect to other devices. I hope you enjoy reading my report from the CES, with my own personal impressions from the show.

The first thing I noticed was that it was the largest CES I have ever been to, both in terms of numbers of visitors and floorspace. This is also confirmed by current figures, with the CES attracting a record-breaking 170,000 trade visitors.

These were the trends at the CES:

1. Wearables

It was obvious that the wearables product category is expanding massively. Whilst two years ago there was only a handful of exhibitors of smart wearables, in 2015 the number of exhibitors presenting bracelets, watches, rings and clothing in all their facets, from sporty to elegant, was already into the hundreds. One significant trend is that smart wearables are moving away from the wrist to other areas which were previously unthinkable. Now there is a product to suit virtually every sport and situation.

What does this mean for specialist retailers? For a start, I am delighted that the range of products available in this area has grown so rapidly, as wearables are very specific products requiring advice in store. This is very positive news for specialist retailers, as this is one area where we can make the very most of our strengths. Another advantage is that this is an immense boost for cross-selling potential, with wearables being the perfect accessories for smart phones or tablets.

2. Self-driving cars

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Apple and Google are bringing their software solutions into cars, and sensors in cars are now developed to such an amazing extent that autonomous driving really is possible. One can’t help but feel rather proud that the innovations in this field are predominantly offered by German car manufacturers such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes and VW.

I was particularly impressed by the BMW i3, which, in combination with the Samsung Galaxy Gear, drives out of a narrow garage and stops in front of your housedoor all by itself at the touch of a finger. Convenience par excellence.

3. Smart Home and Security

Smart Home and Security was another area where there were hundreds of manufacturers showcasing their new products with incredibly intelligent individual solutions such as surveillance cameras, smoke alarms, movement sensors, heating controls and a lot more besides. However, at this moment I wasn’t able to find any manufacturer or technical platform which makes it easier for consumers to start using products like these by uniting all the separate individual elements into a harmonious whole.

4. 3D Printers

The product category 3D printers is entering into a whole new dimension with the latest stage in development. It is now easy to imagine how spare parts might be supplied in future. Or merchandise items such as the latest Disney figures may be available to print on demand in store. It’ll be interesting to see which diverse uses 3D printers will be put to in future.

5. Drones

Drones were everywhere at the CES in all shapes and sizes, with HD cameras and 360° cameras. One particularly fun gadget which caught my eye were autonomous drones, which can be used to take really awesome films of yourself during sports or recreational activities.

How will these new products affect the market?

All in all, a lot of new, cool and previously non-existent product categories were introduced at the CES. Wearables in particular are set to benefit from the ongoing fitness and health trend. This is a real topic for us and the retail sector.

My personal conclusion: the pipeline is well filled with numerous new products which we can sell on to end customers. Product diversity is positively booming and this trend is set to become even more pronounced with 3D printers and robotics.