How tech has helped industries you wouldn’t expect

by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing Consultant

Technology is accelerating at a crazy rate, and with these advancements we have seen changes within almost every industry. From beauty to eating out, tourism to leaflet distribution, tech has changed the entire nature of some industries in ways that you wouldn’t expect.

Almost without noticing, we have altered our habits and industries have moved quickly to keep up with the changing norm. Even industries that we see as low-tech have new advancements working behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly Read on to learn about how technology has quietly changed how industries work.

The restaurant industry

There’s nothing simpler than turning up at a restaurant and ordering a meal. It doesn’t seem like an activity crammed with technological advancement. Behind the scenes however, much has changed. Online reservation systems are one thing that has made life easier for a lot of restaurateurs. Customers now have the ability to reserve a table 24/7 and all this information can be recorded.

The popularity of food delivery apps has also seen a recent surge. When restaurants utilize this technology, they could create a whole new avenue of business. Apps such as Deliveroo and Just Eat have revolutionized this industry, giving users many dining-out options..

The beauty industry

The beauty industry is at the beginning of a huge technological enhancement. There’s everything from augmented reality mirrors to 3D printed mascara wands making an appearance in the sector. Technology has changed the way we consider and purchase makeup, as well as contributing to how it is actually made. As well as this, brands are bringing in changes to make shopping for beauty products a personal experience.

The introduction of AR mirrors is set to be an exciting advancement which will soon be rolled out across many beauty stores, as well as being accessible online. The idea is that you will be able to “try-before-you-buy”, as the mirror will show your own reflection adorned with whichever makeup you’ve chosen to test.

Another example of personalizing the beauty shopping experience is Neutrogena’s Skin 360. This technology uses smartphones to allow users to take a selfie, which will then be carefully measured and analyzed. The result? A personalized skincare regime and product recommendations designed around your specific skin type.

Leaflet distribution

Paper marketing and leaflet distribution has also seen a surprising upgrade from technology. Despite this seeming to be a straightforward system, there have been vast improvements to efficiency and customer satisfaction because of innovations such as GPS tracking. Distributors in the industry carry a GPS tracking device so that customers can track exactly where their leaflets are ending up.

The distributor can now also plan their routes and travel times far more efficiently. This is due to advancements in mapping technology and changes in the way we travel thanks to new-tech.

In addition to this, advancements in print technology have improved the quality of leaflets. It has allowed them to be produced in much larger quantities to a higher standard, improving the brand identity in general.

Travel and tourism

The travel industry hasn’t just been altered by technology but completely revamped. Gone are the days of relying on a travel agent to plan your holiday. Today D.I.Y holidays have become far more popular as we now have the technology to design our own trips. Because most people own smartphones and have a constant source of information a mere scroll away, holidays are now more often planned online, negating the need for guidebooks or phrasebooks.

Technology has also allowed for easy check-ins and mobile tickets. This has generally reduced the amount of paper waste emitted by the travel industry which is another bonus. Facial recognition software at airports is yet another change that has made the whole immigration process run a lot more smoothly.

Technology has undoubtedly benefitted businesses in unexpected ways. These changes, both big and small, are constantly changing the way we shop, advertise, dress, eat and travel, sometimes without us even noticing.