How Is Technology Adding Value in the Workwear Market?

—

Technology is having a profound impact on the workwear market, bringing huge value in areas such as product innovation, operational efficiency and customer experience. In a new era of technological development, workwear is seeing major shifts in design and production.  Here are some of those key areas:

Materials

Technology is making huge advances in terms of developing new materials and fabrics that can wick away moisture caused by sweat or inclement weather, regulate temperature for comfort or be resistant to microbes for cleanliness. There are now even so-called Smart workwear options which come with sensors that monitor heart rate, body temperature and other health indicators. Importantly, this data can be fed back instantly to enhance worker safety and comfort, which is very valuable in construction, manufacturing and healthcare roles.

Customisation

Technology is allowing workwear to be produced on a customized basis so that specific needs can be met.  Design methods are embracing digital developments and manufacturing is seeing higher levels of automation.  This means that workwear personalization – in the form of tailoring, embroidering and corporate branding – can be achieved in a cost-effective way. This enables employee workwear to be integrated into, and aligned with, the broader company image.

Green developments

Sustainability has grown in prominence across society at large, and technology is enabling workwear companies to embrace this shift by reducing waste in manufacturing, by improving recycling processes and by developing biodegradable materials. All of this helps to lessen the environmental impact of production.  Supply chains can now leverage technology to be transparent to consumers, helping them make informed choices from a sustainability perspective. And technology is also helping to track and measure the end-to-end carbon footprint of activity, which can assist workwear companies in sharing their sustainability progress and therefore build trust among their customer base.

Digital

The pivot to online purchasing has brought much change to the workwear market.  Virtual fitting technologies, augmented reality (AR) and 3D visualization tools allow customers to visualize and tailor their workwear before buying. This naturally removes the need to physically visit stores and minimizes returns, which fosters a more efficient and engaging customer experience.

Supply chain enhancements

Technology is bringing dramatic improvements to workwear supply chains.  Advanced analytics can forecast demand, track inventory on a real-time basis and initiate restocking. This helps firms respond to market changes nimbly, reduce disruptions in their supply chain, minimise waste and optimise stock and delivery schedules.

Safety

Technological developments in the workwear industry have enabled significant improvements in worker safety. Examples include monitoring worker health and hazardous conditions thanks to embedded clothing sensors – this data can be fed back instantly to alert workers to potentially dangerous circumstances such as toxic gases or high temperatures. This technology improves overall health and safety by lessening the risk of accidents and helps companies comply with their statutory obligations in this area.

Overall, the value of technological development to the workwear industry cannot be overstated. It is enabling new materials to be developed, bespoke tailoring to become a cost-effective option, safety standards to be improved, sustainability objectives to be achieved and supply chains to be optimised. With artificial intelligence gaining traction too, there is every reason to believe that these technological advances will transform the workwear sector even further in the coming years.

—

This content is brought to you by Chris Reyes

iStockPhoto