Preprint: To be published in: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Concurrent Enterprising (ICE 2013) & IEEE TMC Europe Conference; June 24.–26. 2013; The Hague, The Netherlands Logistics IoT services development with a sensor toolkit in an experiential training environment Matthias Kalverkamp, Jannicke Baalsrud Hauge, Klaus-Dieter Thoben BIBA – Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH, University of Bremen ; Hochschulring 20, 28213 Bremen, Germany {kvp;baa ;tho}@biba.uni-bremen.de Abstract The more complex processes, the higher need for process transparency through high-quality real-time data. The steadily improvement of Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies during the last years ensures this process transparency and the IoT vision of an interconnected world of objects is about to become reality. However, although these technologies allow real-time data collection, the potential of IoT technologies is not yet fully understood by all stakeholders. Furthermore, technology novices have difficulties participating in development processes and consequently prevent case-specific and relevant services from being described. This paper describes how an IoT toolkit can be used for collaborative service development. The toolkit incorporates the possibility of configuring IoT and ‘designing own algorithms’ without coding skills. This will allow IoT novices to understand sensor and actuator networks; consequently, needed sensors can be selected and individual algorithms can be defined based on individual associations. Keywords IoT, collaborative design, Sensor networks, Living labs 1 Introduction Qualitatively better and more precise data is needed in order to manage increasingly complex production and logistics processes. One way to collect this data would be to improve the early identification of occurring risks, allowing counter-measures to be introduced at an earlier stage. Risk sources are manifold; stemming from the lack of quality within the production process, or a delay caused by delayed, damaged, or incomplete incoming goods. Such risks may have negative and serious impacts, through either increased cycle time or decreased process quality; this affects logistic efficiency, safety and prevention of security threats. The impact, leading to unavailable or misaligned information services, is measured by its inability to synchronize logistic planning and execution processes, resulting in high rates of empty haulage and poor exception management [Giannopoulos 2004]. Most ICT applications in logistics and transportation aim at improving transparency and increasing data density. An innovative paradigm that offers a more comprehensive view is that of the Internet of Things (IoT). “IoT … could be defined as a dynamic global network infrastructure with self configuring capabilities based on standard and interoperable communication protocols where physical and virtual ‘things’ have identities, physical attributes, … and use intelligent interfaces, and are seamlessly integrated into the information network” [CERP-IoT 2009]. Today, IoT technologies allow connectable objects, sensors, actuators and even individuals’ access to an interconnected network, closing the gap between vision and implemented applications ever further [L4LIFE 2011, Moseng and Natvig 2011]. Yet, the availability of such a technology does not imply high industrial penetration rates. While industries already exist that move towards the IoT paradigm shift, the automotive sector for instance, other industries, including the logistics sector, are more conservative and less open to new approaches [Meyer- Larsen and Müller 2008, Sternberg et al. 2011]. However, there are several reasons for this lack of enthusiasm for innovative solutions within the logistics area.