Internet of things is one of the key themes across global industries, with top companies around the world completing internet of things deals, hiring for internet of things roles and mentioning it in company reports at the start of 2021.

GlobalData’s thematic approach to sector activity seeks to group key company information on hiring, deals, patents and more by topic to see which industries are best placed to weather the disruptions coming their way.

These themes, of which internet of things is one, are best thought of as “any issue that keeps a CEO awake at night”, and by tracking them, it becomes possible to ascertain which companies are leading the way on specific issues and which are dragging their heels.

Hiring patterns within the apparel sector as a whole are pointing towards an increase in the level of attention being shown to roles related to internet of things. There were 1,562 actively advertised-for open apparel roles within the industry in the second quarter of this year, up from 538 in the same quarter last year.

It is also apparent from an analysis of keyword mentions in financial filings that internet of things is occupying the minds of apparel companies to a lesser extent.

Internet of things was mentioned in five company reports of the biggest apparel companies in Q2 2021. This figure represents a decrease compared to the same period in 2019, when 25 industry filings mentioned internet of things.

Internet of things is decreasingly fueling innovation in the apparel sector. There were, on average, 84 apparel patents related to internet of things granted in the second quarter of 2019. That figure has fallen to 17 patents in the last quarter of 2020.

By Just Style