Have you ever thought about how much easier your life would be if you had a magical tracking device that could tell you where everything is at all times?
Fortunately for business leaders, such a device does exist in the form of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon technology.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how deploying BLE beacons can help improve operational efficiency in any business.
What Are BLE Beacons? How Do They Work?
BLE technology, or Bluetooth Low Energy, is a wireless technology that is designed for low power consumption, using low-energy radio waves to communicate.
BLE beacons are small, battery-powered devices that use this technology to transmit BLE signals that can be detected by other BLE-enabled devices, such as smartphones and tablets. BLE beacons typically have a transmission power of around -20 dBm, which means that they can be detected by Bluetooth devices up to 100 meters away.
When a BLE-enabled device comes within range of a BLE beacon, the beacon’s Bluetooth LE signal can be detected by the device. The signal transmitted by a BLE beacon can contain small amounts of data, including a unique identifier that can be used to track the beacon’s real-time location
Most BLE beacons use what is known as an advertising interval. This is the time between each transmission of the beacon’s signal. The advertising interval can be anywhere from 20 ms to 10 seconds.
BLE beacons can also be used in conjunction with wi-fi networks. By connecting to a wi-fi network, a beacon can transmit its signal over long distances.
BLE beacon technology is becoming increasingly popular due to its low power consumption, which provides an extended battery life, and wide range of applications.
Business Applications For BLE Beacons
BLE beacons can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Indoor Navigation: When used for indoor positioning, BLE beacons are placed around a room or building, and they emit a signal that can be detected by BLE-enabled devices. By tracking the signal strength of the BLE beacons, the device is able to determine its location within the room or building. This information can then be used to provide directions or turn-by-turn navigation. BLE technology is becoming increasingly popular for indoor navigation, as it is more accurate than GPS indoors and does not require an active internet connection. BLE beacons are also relatively inexpensive, making them a cost-effective solution for indoor navigation.
- Asset Tracking: BLE beacons can be placed on assets, and BLE-enabled devices can then detect and track the location of those assets. BLE technology is often used for asset tracking because it is relatively low-cost and easy to deploy, and it does not require a line of sight between the BLE beacon and the BLE-enabled device. This makes them ideal for tracking assets that are not easily visible, like those assets placed in difficult-to-reach or hidden locations. Additionally, BLE technology is less likely to be impacted by interference than other forms of wireless communication, making it more reliable for asset tracking.
- Security: BLE technology is often used for security purposes because BLE signals can be used to track the location of BLE-enabled devices. For example, BLE beacons can be placed around the perimeter of a building to track the location of BLE-enabled devices inside the building. BLE beacons can also be used for access control by sending alerts to BLE-enabled devices if they enter a restricted area.
- Inventory Management: BLE beacons can be placed on items in a store or warehouse, and BLE-enabled devices can then be used to track the location of the items. This can be helpful for keeping track of inventory levels, ensuring that items are in the correct location, and avoiding lost or stolen goods. BLE beacons can also be used to trigger alerts when an item is removed from its location so that employees can quickly restock shelves or retrieve misplaced items. In short, BLE technology and BLE beacons offer a convenient and efficient way to manage inventory.
These are just a few of the most popular, but there are many additional business applications for BLE technology and BLE beacons, such as proximity marketing, and customer experience.
As BLE technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative uses for BLE beacons in the business world.
How Do BLE Beacons Help To Improve Operational Efficiency?
BLE beacons are becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses to improve operational efficiency. Deploying BLE beacons can help businesses to:
– Lower Costs: BLE beacons are a low-cost way for businesses to deploy location-based services.
By placing BLE beacons around a business, they can provide accurate indoor location tracking without the need for GPS or other infrastructure. This can help businesses to lower costs by reducing the need for staff to manually track people or assets.
– Automate Tasks: BLE beacons can be deployed throughout business premises to trigger actions on BLE-enabled devices, such as opening a door or turning on a light.
BLE beacons can also be used to track the location of BLE-enabled devices, which can be used to automate tasks such as inventory management or queuing systems.
By deploying BLE beacons, businesses can improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
– Improve Productivity: Businesses can use BLE beacons to improve productivity in a number of ways. For example, BLE beacons can be used to automatically open apps when a user enters a certain area.
Bluetooth beacons can also be used to send notifications to users based on their location. For example, BLE beacons can be used to remind workers to clock in when they enter the work area.
BLE beacons can also be used to track the location of assets and personnel. This information can be used to optimize workflows and reduce the time needed to complete tasks. BLE beacons offer a lot of potential for businesses looking to improve productivity.
– Enhance Safety & Security: By tracking the location of people and assets, businesses can more easily identify potential safety hazards or security risks.
For example, if an employee is working alone in a remote area, the business could use a BLE beacon to track their location and send help if they failed to check in at the expected time.
– Monitor Environmental Conditions: BLE beacons can monitor and record data about the environment, including temperature, humidity, and light levels.
This data can be used to improve the efficiency of operations, optimize processes, and make decisions about products and services. BLE beacons can also be used to track the location of employees and assets, and to provide real-time information about the environment.
By monitoring environmental conditions, businesses can improve their bottom line and create a safer workplace.
– Reduce Carbon Footprint: BLE technology can be used to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint in a number of ways.
For example, BLE beacons can be used to track the location of company assets, such as vehicles and machinery. This information can then be used to optimize routes and schedules, reducing the overall amount of fuel consumed.
In addition, BLE beacons can also be used to provide real-time information about energy use in buildings. This data can be used to identify opportunities for conservation and efficiency improvements.
As a result, BLE beacon technology has the potential to help businesses significantly reduce their environmental impact.
– Achieve Greater Insight & Make Better Informed Decisions: Lastly, BLE beacons can help businesses gain greater insights into their operations.
For example, by tracking customer behavior and preferences, businesses can better understand which products or services are most popular with consumers.
Additionally, by tracking employee activity levels and whereabouts, businesses can identify areas of improvement in terms of employee productivity.
In summary, deploying BLE beacons is an effective way for businesses to improve operational efficiency and drive growth.
Improve Operational Efficiency With BLE Beacons
Businesses are now starting to see the potential of BLE beacons and their ability to improve operational efficiency. There are many different applications for BLE technology, but some of the most common ones include indoor navigation, asset tracking, security, and inventory management.
By automating tasks, improving productivity, enhancing safety & security, and reducing carbon footprint, businesses can achieve a number of important goals. If you’re interested in learning more about how BLE beacons can help your business operate more efficiently, please explore our BLE asset tracking solution and request your demo below.
Last Updated on September 29, 2022 by Radiant