Using IoT Technology for the Skilled Crafts.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly growing technology that connects everyday objects to the internet, allowing them to send and receive data. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way that craftsmen work, by providing them with access to real-time information and automation capabilities. For instance, devices that are equipped with sensors can transmit data about their usage and performance, providing craftsmen with valuable insights into their work. Moreover, IoT can also enable craftsmen to remotely monitor and control their tools and machines, increasing efficiency and productivity. In addition, IoT can help craftspeople to better manage their inventory and supply chain. By attaching sensors to raw materials and finished products, craftspeople can track the movement and status of their goods in real-time, improving the accuracy of their forecasts and reducing the risk of stock-outs. Thus, adopting the IoT technology has the potential to greatly enhance the capabilities of the skilled crafts, allowing them to work more efficiently and effectively, and to better serve the needs of their customers. The aim of the IoT4H project is to make IoT technology usable for craftsmen. For that, we develop a platform that helps craft businesses in exploring and implementing IoT solutions. The platform will help craftsmen to identify suitable IoT use cases and business models for their trades, provide an overview of required components, and allow them to set up use cases without technical expertise. It will also collect and manage data and allow craft businesses to share new use cases with other platform users. So far, the project has already identified many different IoT use cases for the skilled crafts sector, which are presented in this paper. In addition, initial platform architecture considerations have also been made based on these use cases and are presented in this paper. Overall, the results are intended to assist craft businesses from a wide range of trades to identify and implement new business models in such a way that they can be integrated into the existing processes of the businesses.