In chapter 8 of the book "Artificial Intelligence for the Internet of
Everything," author Alec Shuldiner coins the term "Internet of Big
Things" (IoBT). In his words: "….as we embed that AI into the IoE,
and, in particular, into the intelligent infrastructure that will make up what
I term the "Internet of Big Things," we are creating a global
operating system."

As I read his perspectives, I interpreted IoBT as a plethora of IoT and AIoT-enabled devices coming together to represent an entity that may go beyond infrastructure. And while each IoBT entity may be big in itself, multiple IoBTs can be consolidated and viewed as a bigger IoBT. And logistics is a perfect example of an area where IoBT entities fit in perfectly.

In 2019, I wrote an article suggesting that the next big thing in logistics is developing a comprehensive digital twin. Technology, like AIoT and TinyML, has become more mature since then. The elements needed to build a comprehensive digital twin are in place. What is needed is a vision and a roadmap. And the IoBT can help build this roadmap.

Let us start with an entity that can be big within a logistics network- a warehouse. I have consistently emphasized in articles like
these that the technology needed to build smart warehouses is not mature enough to be leveraged. In a smart warehouse setup, many systems, IoT and AIoT-enabled devices, worker tags, etc., can be interweaved into one entity using a master algorithm, again, an idea that I have repeatedly floated. And hence, the entire warehouses, from the physical infrastructure to assets and products flowing within to workers managing these flows, become embedded into one big IoBT.

Integrate all your warehouses to create another IoBT entity, warehouse, and
distribution network level. Then, look at your transportation network the same
way.

But this is all common sense. So why do I believe the IoBT approach is
helpful? Because it allows you to connect multiple IoBTs to build a complete
digital twin, as we discussed earlier.

Consider this- If you develop innovative fleet capability for an entire
fleet in one region or warehouse, that is one significant entity. Provided you
built this IoBT right, you should be able to integrate it with the warehouse
IoBT network to complete the picture. Imagine the beauty of this approach.

The ingredient that will power each IoBT will be a master AI algorithm. This master algorithm leverages inputs and outputs from multiple systems and devices to build a twin of the significant entity. But this algorithm will also have the capability to plan and optimize.

Another beautiful aspect of this approach is that none of your investments goes to waste. Provided you build the powering algorithms right, you can leverage all existing systems like WMS, flow optimization, and simulation, along with your IoT and IoT devices.