The Significance of IoT Technology in Improving Logistical Processes and Enhancing Competitiveness: A Case Study on the World’s and Slovakia’s Wood-Processing Enterprises

The wood-processing industry currently does not sufficiently use modern technologies, unlike the automotive sector. The primary motive for writing this article was in cooperation with a Slovak wood processing company, which wanted to improve its logistics processes and increase competitiveness in the wood processing sector through the implementation of new technologies. The aim of this article was to identify the positives and limitations of the implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) technology into the wood processing industry, based on a secondary analysis of case studies and the best practice of American wood processing companies such as West Fraser Timber in Canada, and Weyerhaeuser in the USA. The selection of case studies was conditional on criteria of time relevance, size of the sawmills, and production volume in m3. These conditional criteria reflected the conditions for the introduction of similar concepts for wood-processing enterprises in Slovakia. The implementation of the IoT can reduce operating costs by up to 20%, increase added value for customers, and collect real-time data that can serve as the basis for support of management and decision-making at the operational, tactical, and strategic levels. In addition to the secondary analysis, methods of comparison of global wood processing companies, synthesis of knowledge, and summarization of positives and limitations of IoT implementation or deduction were used to reach our conclusions. The results were used as the basis for the design of a general model for the implementation of IoT technology for Slovak wood processing enterprises. This model may represent best practice for the selected locality and industry. The implications and verification of the designed model in practice will form part of other research activities, already underway in the form of a primary survey

Effective Management of Scarce Water Resources: From Antiquity to Today and into the Future

Water is a critically important element of human life. The best practice of effective water management comes from ancient civilizations that, despite their technologies and practices, were unable to prevent collapse from water scarcity. In the 21st century, in an era of climate change, pollution or population explosion, cities are looking for innovative ways to effectively manage scarce resources for future generations. Which elements should cities of the future follow to avoid water collapse? The following article aims to identify the key elements of effective management and to represent them graphically in the form of a recommended model, which will be verified in the future in Slovakia. The article uses case analysis of best past and current practices, comparison and summarization to identify the elements, creativity, and logic in the development of the model, including induction and deduction. The article serves as a basis for fellow researchers (analyses carried out) and strategic urban management (effective urban water management). The main finding of the article is that ecological change puts pressure on social elements and therefore it is necessary to focus on the area of strategic management. Cities should not only know how to manage resource abundance or short-term scarcity, but also long-term scarcity. They should use elements of trust, awareness and continuous improvement through modern monitoring technologies (UAVs, sensors) and prediction (machine learning). This is the only way to generate water sustainability in the urban concept of the future

Implementation Smart City Concepts for Mobility, Case Study of World Logistic Models on the Smart Principles

The aim of the article is to present the logistic models of world cities, their benefits and limitations, which serve as best practices for others, which are based on a secondary analysis of case studies. The studies were selected on the basis of geographical location, number of transport projects, implementation models for urban logistics, and determining the effects of implementation. In addition to the secondary analysis, the findings of consultants, methods of comparing case studies, summarizing the findings in the discussion, or deductions in drawing a conclusion were also used. The output of the article is a recommended implementation of logistics model for Smart Cities according to world experts, which can be implemented in general for any city, including specific differences for the selected location. The article describes the positive impact of technology in mobility not only for citizens but also for business managers and the city as a whole. The implications of the model, its testing in practice and the observation of implementation benefits and limitations will form a part of further research activities in the future

Smart Innovations as Accelerators for SMEs in Rural Areas

Innovative approaches are driving the stabilization, development, and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The introduction of smart concepts has a favourable impact on their activities. At present, urban areas and urban projects are more preferred and supported. The importance and benefits of rural areas and SMEs' engagement therein is underestimated in terms of country development at the European level. This contribution aims to point out innovative approaches that contribute to the development of SMEs and smart cities or regions using best practice examples from abroad with a focus on specific rural areas in the Czech Republic—where this issue is gaining momentum. The analysis of best practice examples and expert opinions in this field was used to make comparisons and to summarise the knowledge gained. This contribution also serves as a basis for mapping the factors that can support regional development and growth, as well as provides recommendations for future follow-ups and new concepts for the coming years in Czech rural areas, or areas that are culturally similar, such as Slovak rural areas