Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Internet of Things (IoT) has become one of the more actively explored innovations in the design of modern inventory management systems, promising gains in efficiency and reliability that legacy, largely manual approaches have struggled to deliver.

Despite this potential, many existing inventory management systems were not originally designed with internet of things (iot) in mind, resulting in persistent gaps in predictive maintenance that limit their overall effectiveness. This study examines how Internet of Things (IoT) can be applied to help close that gap.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Current inventory management systems in many organizations struggle with inadequate predictive maintenance, often relying on manual processes or outdated architectures that were not designed for today's operating environment. Without a structured approach to integrating internet of things (iot), these limitations are likely to persist, exposing organizations to inefficiency, risk, and a poor user experience. This study is motivated by the need to design and evaluate a internet of things (iot)-based approach to addressing this problem.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To design and implement a internet of things (iot)-based approach to improving predictive maintenance in inventory management systems.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of Internet of Things (IoT) in enhancing predictive maintenance within inventory management systems.
3. To identify the key requirements and constraints relevant to deploying internet of things (iot) in this context.
4. To assess user and stakeholder perception of the resulting system.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How can internet of things (iot) be applied to improve predictive maintenance in inventory management systems?
2. How effective is Internet of Things (IoT) at enhancing predictive maintenance within inventory management systems?
3. What requirements and constraints are relevant to deploying internet of things (iot) in this context?
4. How do users and stakeholders perceive the resulting system?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its immediate technical contribution, this study offers value to organizations evaluating whether to invest in internet of things (iot) for their own inventory management systems, and contributes to the broader literature on applied software technology / IT by documenting a concrete implementation and evaluation case.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to the design, implementation, and evaluation of a internet of things (iot)-based approach to improving predictive maintenance within inventory management systems. Reflecting its MSc-level scope, it does not extend to a full commercial rollout or long-term post-implementation review beyond the study period.