۱٫ Smart Services – what’s new?

۲٫ Program of “Smart Service Welt”

۳٫ How to develop Smart Services?

۴٫ Outlook

References

Industry 4.0, Smart Products, Smart Data – But what do we make out of it now? The past years intelligent systems and products were developed. They are connected to each other and react rapidly to specific situations. Thus, they produce a huge amount of data. To collect those data there is software provided which visualizes it. Beyond that software which is able to analyze the data in order to improve performances and systems exists. Today the point is reached where the potential is almost fully exhausted. Therefore, this article deals with the upcoming trend of Smart Services. The development of Smart Services will be illustrated at the lowest stage/level of the technical infrastructure, followed by the existence of Smart Products and the application of Smart Data. As those are the requirements needed for the implementation of Smart Services, they are clarified by specific scenarios.

۱٫ Smart Services – what’s new?

A Smart Service is a digital service that reacts on collected and analyzed data based on networked, intelligent technical systems and platforms. In contrast to the technology of Industry 4.0 which can exist in just one specific sector, Smart Services require cross-functional areas. These areas provide services which respond to analyzed data of other areas. Areas can be different departments in one company or more typically different companies which function as players in a network. The following figure describes the relation of the interaction between the different players and the technological progress and the resulting product of Smart Services. In contrast to normal products, “Smart Products” are products or components with embedded systems, which can collect, communicate and network data (Jasperneite & Pöppelbuß). In dealing with Smart Services there need to be clearly defined premises. One of them is the usage orientation. The added value needs to be in focus as well as adapted to specific situations and contexts. The average customer activities must not be interrupted but must completely be understood to integrate the value-added activities. A further premise is the availability of Smart Data. In order to generate the data, Smart Products are used. Thus, status and usage data can be collected continuously. The data are combined in real-time from various sources. This allows to make forecasts for future situations. Smart Services are marketed and accessed through digital platforms. They are available to the customer at any place and time. The digital access offers fast release cycles and is well scalable for providers. (Pöppelbuß)