Читать книгу The Digital Transformation of Logistics - Группа авторов - Страница 46

The defining element of IoT is connectivity. Therefore, the first aspects of setting up the supply chain and its management in an IoT style are to define what are the relevant Things that need to be connected, in what way data should be collected, and finally, which data needs to be collected. Simply collecting more and more data might just increase the amount of available data exponentially, but not necessarily lead to improved patterns of doing business.

When is a thing a Thing in the sense of logistics in an IoT world? Is a small component a Thing that needs to be monitored by sensors and always be online? Or does the Thing start with complex finished goods that are themselves composed of multiple components? Here, we need to distinguish between the user perspective and the logistics perspective. From the logistics perspective, i.e. the material and information flow point of view, everything is a Thing. From the classical user IoT point of view, the Thing is more related to machines and devices, such as finished products, components in a production line, transport vehicles, or whole warehouses. This chapter will examine Things from the logistics perspective.