3 Ways Technology Has Changed the Pet-Care Industry – Entrepreneur

Silicon Valley has seized on an ever-expanding market.

November29, 20193 min read

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Silicon Valley seems to have itself a new pet project. But its not just any kind of project. Its for an industry thats projected to be worth $281 billion by 2023. The pet-related business has been gaining grounds, with sales exceeding $225 billion in North America alone in 2018. The market size among Gen Z and millenialsis huge, andwhether the economy is tough or not, owners haveto take care of their furry friends.

As withall other aspects of a savvy young consumer's lifestyle,there's an expectation of techie solutions to their pet-related problems. And frankly, since mostpet owners are not afraid to spend, all technology had to do was to grant their wish. Hence, several revolutionaryinnovations are springing up in the pet-care industry. Here are three that you -- and your cat or pup -- might find intriguing.

Related: 6 Reasons You Can't Go Wrong With the Pet Industry

One of the most prominent ways technology has changed the pet-care industry is by creating an ecosystem in which owners can easily connect with reliable services. A good example of this is Rover, which helps match dog sitters with pets in the area has recorded considerable success. However, there also more robust applications . For example, BabelBark makesit possible to connect pet owners to a network of vets and myriad other pet services.

Yes, technology has touched the nutrition and fitness routines of your pets as well. For example, PitPat is a fitness tracker that monitors your dog'sactivityand determines if it'smeeting required levelsfor the day. Of course, PitPat is not the only kind in the market. FitBark also works in the same way. And how about the smart food bowl, Obe ProBowl, which determinesjust the right amount of food and waterfor your pet based on its breed and weight?All these products suggest that we're slowly starting to mirror our regard for fitness and nutrition when it comes to pet care, and technologymakes it that much easier.

Lets face it: As much as you'd like to, you cant be with your pets 24/7.One of the ways technology has helped tackle this problem is by creating smart physical products that pets can interact with.A nice example of this is CleverPet's hackerpet, a console that helps not only to preoccupy your pets -- especially dogs --but also improve their cognitive behavior.

Not home in time to take your pooch for a walk?Wagis here to the rescue,helpinglocate someone who can help, a la how Rover connects pet owners and sitters.

Related: These Startups are Making Pet Care Easy

These examples are just the beginning. As the demand for smarter products and innovative services increases, so will creative inventions in the pet-care space. The thought of integratingsmart solutions, theInternet of Things (IoT) and even AI makes exploring this trend intriguing as both a user and developer. Andfor uspet owners, these advancements are a blessing. Now you can snuggle up with that furry friend of yours and know that techs got both of you covered.

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3 Ways Technology Has Changed the Pet-Care Industry - Entrepreneur