## 2 Real Time Data Technologies for SMEs  
### Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)  
Industry 4.0 brought IoT (Internet of Things) to everyday life and it refers to the network of physical devices, vehicles, and other objects that are embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity, which allows them to collect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet. IoT is typically used to refer to consumer applications, such as smart homes, wearable devices, and connected cars [6]. We cannot even imagine our lifestyle without this technology. The concept of IoT (Internet of Things) can be traced back to the 1990s when researchers at MIT began exploring the idea of \"Things That Think\" and \"Everyware\". However, the term \"Internet of Things\" was first coined by [PERSON] in 1999, and the development of IoT technologies and applications really took off in the 2000s with the proliferation of wireless connectivity, cloud computing, and affordable sensors and devices [7].  
After several years, this term was expanded and the concept of IIoT came to life--IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) focuses specifically on the use of IoT technologies and concepts in industrial settings. IIoT involves the integration of sensors, data analytics, and connectivity into industrial machinery, equipment, and processes to enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and optimization of production processes. The term IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) was first introduced by General Electric (GE) in 2012 to describe the use of IoT technologies in industrial settings [8]. Since then, IIoT has gained traction in various industries such as manufacturing, energy, transportation, and healthcare, as companies seek to leverage data and connectivity to improve efficiency, productivity, and safety. In summary, while IoT and IIoT share many of the same underlying technologies and concepts, they are differentiated by their specific application contexts. IoT is focused on consumer applications, while IIoT is focused on industrial applications.  
Here are some examples of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) applications in the industrial field:  
1. Predictive maintenance: IIoT sensors can be used to monitor the health of industrial equipment and predict when maintenance is needed, reducing downtime, and increasing efficiency. For example, later in this research a method will be presented to solve production planning problems and one of the common issues is equipment stops, which could be prevented while getting up-to-date information.
2. Quality control: IIoT sensors can be used to monitor and control the quality of industrial processes, ensuring that products meet specifications and reduce waste. Section 2.2 will describe the wider possible IIoT usage in quality checking.
3. Supply chain management: IIoT technologies can be used to track and optimize the movement of goods and materials through the supply chain, reducing costs and improving efficiency. This could be used internally in the factory to know which material is currently in which production stage. The lack of materials is another open problem in production processes.
4. Energy management: IIoT sensors can be used to monitor and optimize the use of energy in industrial facilities, reducing costs and improving sustainability. This is a highly focused topic in these energy crisis times. Saving time in production with created methods and involving advanced technologies ensures the best results can be reached.
5. Worker safety: IIoT sensors can be used to monitor and improve worker safety in industrial settings, detecting and preventing accidents and injuries. During the pandemic, companies started using different prevention techniques, even for checking the health of employees--temperature sensors, face scanning to prevent mask usage, etc. [9].  
All of these mentioned examples could be easily adapted, do not require huge investments, and would be a quick update for any sized SME. This shows the huge potential of this technology and the need for it.