Subverting the retail industry is not just about IoT 3D printing or letting stores disappear

The emerging 3D printing technology may announce the closing of retail stores in the near future, and even make manufacturers feel pressure. 3D printing will bring about a shift in business model. In the past, a considerable part of the productivity controlled by the manufacturing industry has spread to countless individuals, and people will have the identity of producers, consumers and users.

In 2017, known as the "first year of the Internet of Things", the unmanned offline stores, which were still in the midst of people's delusions, suddenly emerged and became popular in many cities around the world. In the face of the empty storefront, people can not help but sigh: the cashier, the guide's rice bowl will be stolen by the Internet of Things. Operators are considering how to improve the remaining manpower required in unmanned stores such as loading and replenishing.

However, another emerging technology may announce the closing of retail stores in the near future, and even make manufacturers feel pressure, this is 3D printing.

Recently, the Michigan Institute of Technology released a research report that shows that DIY3D printed toys can steal about $60 million a year from toy manufacturers. As the output of 3D printers continues to rise, prices continue to fall, and 3D printing education and training become more popular, this number will undoubtedly become larger.

The 3D printing crisis facing the toy industry is only a microcosm of manufacturing. Food, clothing, jewelry and other personal consumer goods are also in danger of being robbed of business by 3D printing. The more people use 3D printing equipment to directly create the items they need, the less people will go to the store to shop, and the end result is that the store disappears and the manufacturer cuts production.

In addition, even some self-manufactured goods (such as furniture, home appliances), after the birth of 4D printing, DIY has become less and less problematic. In the future, people may only need to purchase the favorite semi-finished 4D printed materials, and then take them home for automatic assembly.

Is this situation negative? Not exactly. To be precise, this is a shift in business model. In the past, a considerable part of the productivity controlled by the manufacturing industry has spread to countless individuals, and people will have the identity of producers, consumers and users. At the same time, the business of 3D printing materials vendors and 3D printing equipment vendors (if you don't consider the self-replicating 3D printer RepRap) will thrive.

Faced with the unprecedented challenges of 3D printing, manufacturers are naturally unable to sit still, the best strategy is to embrace this technology. Furniture giant IKEA has made a good demonstration. When IKEA first discovered that consumers used various technologies such as 3D printing to transform their products, it was strongly protested and strictly rejected. But gradually, IKEA realized that consumers' creativity could not and should not be restrained, so they turned to encourage users to modify their creative behaviors, and even planned to launch a special website for these brightly-lit "IKEA hackers." In this way, IKEA not only guarantees the sales of its own products, but also meets the individual needs of consumers.

However, then again, the individualized consumer demand of the contemporary people is unprecedentedly strong, and the future will only be even worse. Even if manufacturers try their best to make the products adaptable and customizable, they have sufficient material conditions and skill reserves. What is the attraction and selling point of the products that consumers want to make their own 3D printing?

Perhaps, the future manufacturers' production targets are mainly those with too high degree of specialization or people with relatively low personalization needs, and there is not much interest and time to make their own products. The main service targets will be those who have no will, ability and Time to make DIY3D prints for consumers. Or, manufacturers need to compete with consumers in a creative contest to persuade people to take the initiative to pay for their extraordinary products.

(Editor)

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