When you think of “wearable technology,” activity trackers are generally the first item to come to mind.

But there are many more types of wearable technology that all organizations, especially smaller ones, are starting to integrate into their daily operations, explains Kirstin Simonson, CPCU, ARM, AU, ASLI, second vice president for Travelers Global Technology, based in Minneapolis.

“With the potential to bring fundamental change to business operations, we’re seeing a sincere effort among small businesses to introduce wearable technology,” Simonson says. The types of devices being used are contingent on the business’s needs and industry. For labor-intensive industries, such as construction, manufacturing and hospitality, the focus lies on increasing productivity while enforcing workers’ safety. Smart glasses and sensor-infused gloves are among the pioneering wearables slowly entering these industries.

Evolving technology

Wearable technology and the Internet of Things are poised to redefine mobility, Simonson says. SNS Research estimates that wearable device shipments accounted for nearly $20 billion of revenue in 2015 with projections for market growth at a compound annual growth rate of 40 percent until 2021. Another research firm, Soreon, predicts that the health care wearables market alone will top $40 billion by 2020.