New capabilities of Wi-Fi are constantly being created. For example, new “smart” devices have started appearing in the last couple of years that fall under the Internet of Things (IoT) category. Some of these devices have already begun to be adopted into homes, like smart thermostats.

However, one industry that IoT could greatly benefit would be public transportation. There are multiple advancements that “connected transportation” would bring to the public transportation sector. Being connected could mean more maintenance monitoring that would prevent out-of-service vehicles; better rerouting would prevent lost time in traffic, plus cameras where consumers are waiting and riding to monitor safety in real time. Tracking this and other details would provide insights that weren’t available to public transportation industry previously.

Connected transportation will also mean better connections between advertisers and consumers. Currently, rail and subway rides meant cell service wasn’t always practical or attainable, and it is difficult for digital ads to reach people during commutes. Complimentary Wi-Fi would be available, creating more opportunities to reach riders with mobile ads. Cisco is even selling digital OOH ads to advertisers that would dynamically change, whether in or out of a vehicle, dependent on route location.

It’s interesting to think that the future could mean leaving your “smart” home to ride in a “smart” bus. With these advancements, advertisers will be able to reach consumers in smarter ways.