Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

The rapid evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed the way organizations design, deploy, and manage e-commerce platforms. As institutions seek to modernize legacy processes, Internet of Things (IoT) offers new opportunities to improve service delivery, reduce manual overhead, and respond more effectively to user needs.

Despite this potential, many existing e-commerce platforms were not originally designed with internet of things (iot) in mind, resulting in persistent gaps in user authentication that limit their overall effectiveness. This study examines how Internet of Things (IoT) can be applied to help close that gap.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Current e-commerce platforms in many organizations struggle with inadequate user authentication, often relying on manual processes or outdated architectures that were not designed for today's operating environment. Without a structured approach to integrating internet of things (iot), these limitations are likely to persist, exposing organizations to inefficiency, risk, and a poor user experience. This study is motivated by the need to design and evaluate a internet of things (iot)-based approach to addressing this problem.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To design and implement a internet of things (iot)-based approach to improving user authentication in e-commerce platforms.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of Internet of Things (IoT) in enhancing user authentication within e-commerce platforms.
3. To identify the key requirements and constraints relevant to deploying internet of things (iot) in this context.
4. To assess user and stakeholder perception of the resulting system.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How can internet of things (iot) be applied to improve user authentication in e-commerce platforms?
2. How effective is Internet of Things (IoT) at enhancing user authentication within e-commerce platforms?
3. What requirements and constraints are relevant to deploying internet of things (iot) in this context?
4. How do users and stakeholders perceive the resulting system?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its immediate technical contribution, this study offers value to organizations evaluating whether to invest in internet of things (iot) for their own e-commerce platforms, and contributes to the broader literature on applied software technology / IT by documenting a concrete implementation and evaluation case.

1.6 Scope of the Study

As a PhD-level study, its scope is confined to designing and evaluating a internet of things (iot)-based solution for e-commerce platforms, focused specifically on user authentication; broader deployment considerations fall outside this scope.