Salesforce is bringing wearable computing to the corporate world with the launch of Salesforce Wear.
Salesforce Wear is the industry's first initiative for wearable computing in the enterprise and builds an ecosystem for devices which can be worn on the face, wrist and body, for a variety of use cases.
The company has also launched the new Salesforce Wear Developer Pack, empowering developers to kick-start their ability to connect companies with their customers through apps for wearables in entirely new ways.
In addition, ARM, Fitbit, Pebble, Philips, Samsung, Google and others have joined the Salesforce Wear initiative to accelerate adoption of wearables in the enterprise.
Salesforce.com senior vice-president, Daniel Debow, said wearables were the next phase of the mobile revolution.
"With Salesforce Wear, companies can now capture the massive opportunity these devices offer to connect with customers in new ways," he said.
Until now, there had not been an enterprise cloud platform for businesses that wanted to embrace wearables.
Developers who wanted to create business-focused wearable apps did not have access to a platform, reference applications and code, ecosystem support or customer data.
Now, the more than 1.5 million Salesforce1 developers can kick-start their ability to connect companies with their customers in entirely new ways through wearable apps.
Enterprise developers can immediately access a growing library of devices, sample code, documentation, demonstrations and reference apps to learn from.
With the new developer pack, it is easy for developers to start building and deploying build and deploy new enterprise wearable apps, connecting companies and their customers like never before.
Salesforce vice-president, developer relations, Adam Seligman, said all of the new devices on the market had different application architectures, UX patterns and data flows.
"The Wear Developer Pack handles the identity, secure API access and plumbing necessary to connect the device to the Salesforce1 Platform, letting the developer focus on innovative new use cases," he said.
Developers will now be able to create apps that connect wearable devices to any business process.
Apps can be built for everything from a "nudge" on a smartwatch when an urgent approval is required, to secure facilities access via a wristband, to encouraging healthy workforces through fitness challenges using fitness tracking devices.
With a connected wearable, going to a casino, resort or amusement park could mean never having to pull out your wallet, juggle a hotel card key or search for an app.
With wearable devices like a wristband seamlessly connected to customer data, destinations can deliver customised journeys for guests.
Samsung Mobile, director of Technical Solutions, Business Innovations Group, Nick Rea, said wearable technology opened up a new realm of possibilities for the enterprise.
"We're thrilled to work with Salesforce.com to extend mobile innovation," he said.
"Salesforce Wear will create new mobile solutions that leverage the technology of Samsung Gear devices to help business customers adopt wearables in a meaningful way."
According to an IHS white paper titled Wearable Technology - Market Assessment, roughly 50 million wearable units will be sold in 2014, and more than 180 million are predicted to sell in 2018.
According to a Salesforce company statement: "With the massive number of devices coming into market, it is imperative that companies understand how consumers will operate in a hands-free world," he said.
"Wearables are the future of mobile, and companies can now discover new ways to market, sell, service and more. Salesforce Wear will enable companies to deliver," the statement said.
Salesforce Wear Developer Pack is now available and is included with all user licenses of Salesforce CRM and the Salesforce Platform.
