“BLE RTLS offers various benefits in healthcare, retail and supply chain business including real-time asset tracking, item localization, and accuracy in data capture and day-to-day inventory operations.”
The Internet of Things (IoT) which is characterized by the interconnectivity of smart devices enabled by modern technology is rapidly transforming the business landscape, with the increasing affordability of the technology, resulting in a growing network of digital devices that are able to communicate with each other.
BLE, one of the most crucial IoT technologies, is a perfect alternative to GPS-based RTLS (Real Time Location Services) due to its low-cost deployment and high efficiency in indoor environments.
BLE RTLS offers real-time location of assets, be they objects or individuals, and thus enhances the visibility of assets on the premises. For example, when deployed in a hospital, RTLS results in enhanced patient care, improved item-level tracking, and efficient day-to-day operations.
Apart from BLE technologies like GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi, and UWB are also used for real-time location services.
What is BLE and how it is used in RTLS?
BLE, short for Bluetooth Low Energy, refers to a wireless personal area network technology, developed on Bluetooth specification 4.0 (2010). It is used for transmitting small packets of data over short distances while keeping the power consumption at a minimum (as the name suggests).
BLE is an AIDC technology (Automatic Identification and Data Capture) i.e. automatically identifying objects collecting data about them, and displaying that on a computer. BLE is used in AIDC systems to manage inventory, delivery, assets, security, and documents.
BLE in RTLS refers to real-time location services which include indoor navigation, asset tracking in real-time, and precise localization of assets in a business setting, all with the help of low power-consuming BLE tags and beacons.
It is one of the key Radio Frequency (RF) standards for physical asset tracking. A BLE RTLS beacon offers a maximum range of approx 100m. Other Low Powered Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies such as LoRaWAN and Sigfox are also used for location tracking but have less precise positioning and lower data rates than most other asset tracking technologies.
The Need for Real-Time Location Tracking
The need for navigation and correct timing led to the invention of GPS, formerly Navstar global positioning system in 1973 which became fully operational in 1994. So the need to track location has been felt for a long and presently, tracking assets (objects and individuals) has become a primary concern for many businesses. Having real-time location of assets is detrimental to running many businesses, be it logistics or retail that depend on real-time tracking of assets. Businesses like education, healthcare, and manufacturing aren’t exceptions to this.
The GPS uses a constellation of 31 satellites at present to pinpoint the location of any object or individual equipped with a GPS tracker. Essentially the GPS tracker captures the location of GPS satellites relative to the object, at any moment and that is how the location of the object is known.
Since its invention, GPS has disrupted the business world and has been used for wide area tracking but it’s marred by limitations when it comes to indoor navigation. Because of the high cost of GPS many inventory managers don’t use GPS and considering the amount of work done indoors in many businesses, this proved to be a major setback for real-time tracking.
As a low-power-consuming, more prevalent technology, Bluetooth LE offers a wide range of applications when it comes to tracking employees and resources. The low cost of BLE beacons allows them to be used at places where other technologies such as GPS and UWB were simply not feasible.
Benefits of Real-Time Location Services (RTLS) with BLE technology
Advancements in technology have transformed BLE (Bluetooth beacons) into a powerful localization tool. Companies can now leverage Bluetooth low-energy beacons in Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) to obtain insights into the movement of people and objects during operational activities. As a result, industries like healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing are benefiting from the significant opportunities offered. Asset tracking enabled by BLE RTLS can help managers improve operational efficiency, make data-driven business decisions, and maximize the overall productivity of their organization, contributing to their competitiveness.
BLE technology offers several benefits when it comes to RTLS. Some of these benefits as follows:
1.As it was developed over the Bluetooth specification, BLE is widely compatible with many devices with Bluetooth such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearable devices, which means that it can be used in a variety of settings.
2. With smartphones and tablets with BLE capabilities, BLE becomes a cost-effective technology for BLE RTLS in comparison to GPS RTLS.
3. BLE is energy-efficient and can operate for long periods on batteries or coin cells, which reduces the maintenance and operational costs of the devices.
4. BLE is flexible and scalable as it can be integrated with other technologies such as Wi-Fi, NFC, or GPS. It can support multiple connections and data formats as well.
5. It provides precise indoor positioning and tracking capabilities that can be utilized for asset tracking, proximity services, indoor navigation, etc.
6. At places like healthcare facilities, BLE-based RTLS solutions call for less disruption when being installed. It can also use the existing IT infrastructure available at the premises as it is compatible with ubiquitous smartphones, and hence save costs.
The reason behind developing BLE, Nokia says, was the motivation to create something that provided all the benefits of Wi-Fi and other short-range standards but at low cost and low power consumption. With Bluetooth 5.1 standards, now BLE is quite a powerful tool for Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR) and extra secure with Encrypted Advertising Data. BLE can be used for real-time location services at low cost as it doesn’t require the extensive setup and deployments that is the case with other technologies like RFID, UWB, and GPS which are very costly and suitable for large facilities and outdoor deployments.
To conclude, BLE-based Real Time Location Services are a great way to localize assets in a warehouse or office setting. It is a cost-effective solution and can benefit from existing smartphones that have the BLE feature built-in. BLE RTLS is quite advantageous in real-time location services and indoor navigation in hospitals, retail, schools, libraries, and supply chains and logistics.
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