FMCG giant Reckitt Benckiser is said to be considering the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), according to a report published by Computing, in order to connect with the consumer directly.

“It’s about how we provide the right products at the right time for customers, so that they can, for example, pre-order dishwasher tablets or other household products,” CIO Darren Stein told Computing. “We have hooked in with people from R&D, and have technical and marketing people working in a team to go away and try some things and look for some innovative solutions.”

Stein is due to visit Israel and the US to assess the potential of IoT products. Reckitt Benckiser is not the only personal care manufacturer said to be interested in the potential of IoT. In September, GCN reported that L’Oréal was also investigating the possibility of smart cosmetics.