Optimizing Your Operations with Indoor Asset Tracking Technologies
Need help locating vital equipment or inventory? Indoor asset tracking can revolutionize your operations. Let’s explore four key technologies to find the perfect fit:
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Streamline retail experiences and optimize warehouse layouts with BLE’s precise indoor tracking and long battery life.
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): Cost-effective RFID tags excel at presence confirmation within specific areas, ideal for warehouse checkpoints.
- Long Range (LoRa): Track assets across vast areas with LoRa’s extended reach, making it perfect for large facilities or long-distance communication.
- Ultra-Wide Band (UWB): Experience unmatched precision with UWB, ideal for scenarios requiring pinpoint location accuracy.
How Powerful is Bluetooth Low Energy for Indoor Asset Tracking?
Bluetooth Low Energy technology has become a leader in IoT asset tracking. With improved power efficiency, extended range, and higher data throughput, BLE tags boast long battery life (lasting several years on a coin cell) and serve as effective location beacons. BLE gateways detect and triangulate these beacons, which can be cloud-based or integrated into the asset tracking application device.
Retail Applications of Bluetooth Low Energy Asset Tracking
Imagine a retail store using BLE beacons to help customers locate items effortlessly. Shoppers leverage their smartphones’ built-in BLE gateways to detect beacons and view product locations on a store map. Warehouses can benefit similarly by deploying BLE beacons for accurate indoor asset tracking. Gateways strategically placed throughout the warehouse communicate with a centralized platform, pinpointing asset location based on the relative signal strength from nearby beacons. While BLE offers good accuracy, its range is limited (around 40 meters indoors) and susceptible to interference from other common wireless technologies.
Understanding the Value of Radio Frequency Identification Asset Tracking
RFID is a widely adopted technology for indoor asset tracking. It utilizes low-cost, battery-free tags and powerful receivers acting as checkpoints. A familiar example is the anti-theft tag found on clothing that triggers an alarm if not deactivated at checkout.
Industrial Applications of RFID Asset Tracking
In industrial settings, RFID tags can be attached to products at the manufacturing stage. Receivers placed at quality control checkpoints track their progress. Logistics providers may even require Radio Frequency Identification scanning at specific locations. The low cost of these disposable tags makes them ideal for tracking assets throughout their journey within a warehouse. However, RFID excels at presence confirmation within a specific area rather than precise location tracking.
The Potential of LoRa for Indoor Asset Tracking
LoRa, a lesser-known technology, offers exciting possibilities. True to its name, Long Range boasts an extended range exceeding that of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It excels at penetrating building walls, making it ideal for larger facilities. Developed for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication and IoT devices, LoRa falls under the umbrella of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN). This technology addresses key challenges in indoor asset tracking platforms, including limited indoor range, short battery life, and expensive tags.
Commercial Applications of LoRa Asset Tracking
LoRa tags can cover entire facilities or even city-wide areas. The LPWAN technology enables tags to transmit small data packets with minimal power consumption. This translates to even better battery life for LoRa gateways compared to BLE gateways. While not as precise as the latest BLE tags, LoRa provides acceptable location accuracy for indoor asset tracking. However, with major cellular providers entering the consumer IoT market, competition in this space is expected to intensify in the coming years.
The Precision of Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) Technology
The recent inclusion of a UWB chip in Apple’s latest iPhone signifies the growing presence of this technology. Ultra-Wide Band offers unparalleled precision for indoor asset tracking. If it becomes a future standard, we can expect a wave of smartphone-based indoor asset management solutions, from turn-by-turn navigation to highly accurate keychain tags. With Apple introducing UWB to the mainstream, a cost reduction is likely in the future. However, for now, it remains a niche option for early adopters requiring pinpoint location accuracy. Additionally, the evolving hardware landscape may necessitate upgrades compared to more established alternatives.
The Power of Hybrid Indoor Asset Tracking Solutions
As each technology has its pros and cons, hybrid solutions are gaining traction. These combine the strengths of multiple technologies to address limitations. A skilled IoT device management platform provider can recommend the optimal model for your specific needs. For instance, BLE offers higher accuracy but with a shorter range compared to LoRa. Combining these technologies can be beneficial when a higher degree of precision is needed over a larger area. A company like Bridgera can help you leverage these technologies effectively.
Hybrid Approaches to Indoor Asset Tracking: Optimizing for Your Needs
There are two main approaches to leverage the strengths of different technologies in hybrid indoor asset tracking solutions: platform-level and hardware-level.
Platform-Level Hybridization: A Unified View for Dispersed Operations
This approach utilizes separate BLE and LoRa deployments, with the asset tracking platform acting as the central hub. Data from both technologies is aggregated and presented as a unified view to the user. This is ideal for scenarios with geographically dispersed facilities:
- Long-Distance Communication: LoRa excels at covering large areas, allowing facilities to communicate asset data across long distances.
- Local High Accuracy: BLE provides superior accuracy within individual facilities, ensuring precise asset location tracking for local users.
For example, a company with warehouses in different cities can leverage LoRa to track the movement of inventory between locations. Within each warehouse, BLE beacons can pinpoint the exact location of assets for efficient picking and packing.
Hardware-Level Hybridization: Equipping Assets for Flexibility
This approach equips the asset itself with a hybrid board containing both BLE and LoRa capabilities. This allows the asset to adapt its communication method based on its location:
- Indoor Communication: When within Bluetooth range, the asset communicates with nearby BLE devices for precise tracking.
- Long-Range Connectivity: When outside Bluetooth range (e.g., leaving the facility), the asset seamlessly switches to LoRa to maintain communication with the asset tracking platform.
This approach is ideal for assets that frequently move between indoor and outdoor environments, such as delivery vehicles or mobile equipment. The asset can continuously transmit location data, ensuring real-time visibility throughout its journey.
Choosing the Right Hybrid Approach
The optimal approach depends on your specific needs. Consider factors like the size and layout of your facilities, asset mobility, and the level of location accuracy required. A skilled IoT solution provider can analyze your needs and recommend the most effective hybrid solution to streamline your asset tracking operations.
Considering the Drawbacks of Hybrid Solutions
While hybrid solutions offer a comprehensive approach, they come with downsides. Hybrid boards tend to be more expensive, and combining technologies might introduce complexity. Additionally, splitting battery power between BLE and LoRa can reduce overall battery life. When planning an indoor asset tracking solution, prioritize functional requirements over the latest technology.
Choosing the Right Indoor Asset Tracking Solution
A knowledgeable IoT development company can guide you towards the most effective solution for your needs. Often, there are creative solutions beyond the most obvious options. Consider the user experience and how they will interact with the asset tracking app in their daily workflow.
The Benefits of Indoor Asset Tracking for Your Business
Business owners shouldn’t need to be technology experts to improve their operations. A basic understanding of the available tools is sufficient to get started with an IoT-based indoor asset tracking platform. These inexpensive and easy-to-use tags offer a wide range of applications across various industries. With battery life exceeding a decade and prices dropping significantly in recent years, there’s never been a better time to implement an asset tracking solution.
Enhanced Accountability and Transparency
From manufacturing to logistics, every business needs to account for its assets. An asset tracking platform provides crucial data for generating transparent reports on inventory and overall results. Stop wasting time searching for tools – simply open the app, locate the item you need, and get on with the job!
Get Started with Bridgera Today!
Bridgera offers a comprehensive suite of indoor asset tracking solutions to streamline your operations and improve efficiency. Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and discover how Bridgera can help you unlock the power of your assets!
About Bridgera: Bridgera effortlessly combines innovation and expertise to deliver cutting-edge solutions using connected intelligence. We engineer experiences that go beyond expectations, equipping our clients with the tools they need to excel in an increasingly interconnected world. Since our establishment in 2015, Bridgera, headquartered in Raleigh, NC, has specialized in crafting and managing tailored SaaS solutions for web, mobile, and IoT applications across North America.
About Author: Joydeep Misra is the Senior Vice President of Technology at Bridgera LLC, specializing in IoT and SaaS. He played a pivotal role in establishing and leading Bridgera’s IoT division, showcasing a dedication to innovation and excellence in the tech field. Additionally, he is an accomplished author and sought-after public speaker.
