From tracking operations to IOT-the small business perspective

Mapping individual items onto a virtual representation and keeping track of their properties now finds wide acceptance in larger enterprises and networks in the form of tracking and tracing. However, even if underlying technologies are ripe enough for off-the-shelf frameworks, small enterprises are still largely left unpenetrated due to present-day tracking applications still being optimized for massive use with little variability. Also, higher-level functionalities, such as inter-organizational transparency and integration of different networks - typically attributed to the ¿Internet of Things¿ concept are still awaiting wider implementation. The paper presents a track-and-trace framework along with pilot implementations focusing on the small-business sector and highlighting enhancement possibilities towards an Internet of things.