About us
ShopOfThings.ch is the online shop of Thingware GmbH in Lausen BL, Switzerland. We do more than sell IoT hardware — we build working networks with it: a LoRaWAN network covering an entire municipality, indoor climate sensors in more than 15 schools in Basel, GPS trackers on the Swiss Federal Railways’ response fleet. As a rule, we have installed, configured and operated the products in our range ourselves, over years. That is why you get more than a datasheet from us: you get an assessment of whether a device suits your case — including when the answer is no.
- 2017since the shop was founded
- over 1700items in the range
- over 180brands
- Lausen BLown warehouse, own shipping
Three companies, one value chain
It all started in December 2017 with ShopOfThings.ch. Thingware GmbH followed in 2020 and is today the roof over everything. Since then a group has grown out of it that covers the whole chain — and that is the real difference to a pure hardware dealer:
- Thingware GmbH — consulting: vendor-independent IoT consulting, from the choice of technology through the architecture to training. Whoever pays us gets a recommendation, not a sales pitch.
- SmartConnect GmbH — implementation: our subsidiary builds connected infrastructure for cities, municipalities and industry, from planning through to commissioning. Over 250 projects, twelve years of experience, a presence in Switzerland and Austria.
- ShopOfThings.ch — hardware: the devices to go with it, curated rather than catalogued. Over 1700 items from more than 180 brands, in stock in Lausen, with a Swiss invoice and a Swiss warranty.
For you that means the people selling you a device have used it before in a project of their own — and had to live with the consequences when it was no good. A sensor that fails in the field after two winters costs us a service visit. That shapes what goes into the range far more than any purchasing terms.
How we know what works in the field
- Municipality of Aesch BL — a network for the whole municipality: we built a LoRaWAN network covering the entire area with eight gateway sites, and have operated it ever since. Running on it: heating optimisation in the school building, several hundred room sensors, heat, water and electricity meters, connected fire detectors, and the water temperature in the swimming pool, which appears directly on the municipality’s website. The data is available via the OGC SensorThings API, an open standard — so different departments can use the same source without re-programming for every application.
- City of Basel — indoor climate in more than 15 schools: sensors measure CO₂, temperature, humidity and light levels, and provide the basis for deciding which structural measures are really worth it on old buildings. They run on solar cells and therefore last for years without a battery change — at this number of devices the decisive point, because otherwise every change would mean one tradesman visit per device.
- SBB — response vehicles in view: the entire fleet of response vehicles is fitted with GPS trackers, spread across the whole of Switzerland. Deployments can be planned instead of vehicles being searched for.
These projects run through Thingware and SmartConnect. What makes it into the shop is what has proven itself there — and what we can recommend with a clear conscience.
The people behind it
Thingware is a family business. You do not reach a hotline here, but the person who actually owns the subject.
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Jessica Schär
CEOManaging director of Thingware GmbH. She is responsible for the company as a whole — from commercial management to the customer relationship. -
Jan Schär
Founder and CTOFounded the shop in 2017 and is responsible for technology and the product range. If a question turns technical, it ends up with him. LinkedIn -
Simon Lexen
Head of Sales & Business DevelopmentFirst point of contact for quotes, larger quantities and project business. He works out with you what you need before anything is ordered.
Warehouse and delivery times
We hold our own stock: around 100 square metres in Lausen, no dropshipping via third parties. What is on the shelf normally ships the same working day — picked, checked and, for many devices, with the DevEUI recorded, so that you can register them in your network server before delivery.
What we do not claim: that everything is available immediately.
With more than 1700 items there are, alongside stocked goods, order items that are called off from the manufacturer in Europe or Asia. That is why every product page states how many units are actually there and what delivery time you have to reckon with — for back-ordered goods with a concrete date rather than a promise. If a deadline matters to you, ask before ordering: we will tell you what is realistic.
Where to find us
Thingware GmbH, Brühlstrasse 20, 4415 Lausen BL, Switzerland. We are a pure online shop with our own warehouse; visits are possible by arrangement. We are reachable Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00 — all the ways to reach us are on the contact page.
Who we work with is on the Partners page. How we pack and ship, on the Sustainability page. And if you are a manufacturer yourself and want to place your product in Switzerland: become a partner.