BLE Beacon Technology vs. RFID in the Supply Chain: Pacman Guest Article

About our Guest Author: Our friends at Pacman Inc. offer the highest quality containers available. Their processes have been in place for over a decade, and nothing but the best-condition bins make the cut for their inventory. 

Tracking missing parts within the supply chain has been a long-standing issue that has cost businesses billions of dollars each year. The supply chain is a critical part of any business, and ensuring that parts do not go missing can be a challenge. However, Bluetooth beacon technology can help to prevent this problem. BLE (Bluetooth-low-energy) beacons allow you to pinpoint the location of parts down to the smallest millimeter.

This trackability success rate is nearly 99%, meaning that Bluetooth low-energy beacons are a reliable solution for preventing missing parts in the supply chain. As a result, this technology can save businesses time and money by ensuring that parts are always available when needed. Organizations are taking notice of Bluetooth beacon technology, and it is rapidly becoming the standard for tracking parts within the supply chain. 

BLE Beacon Technology vs. RFID Tags in the Supply Chain 

RFID beacons, tags, and solutions have been around for many years and are commonly used in retail, manufacturing, and logistics industries. However, BLE beacon technology is quickly becoming the preferred wireless communications solution for many businesses due to its numerous advantages over RFID tags.  

When it comes to choosing the right location-based technology for your business, it’s important to understand the difference between Bluetooth beacon technology and RFID tag solutions. While both technologies can be used for tracking assets and measuring engagement, Bluetooth beacons are more accurate and efficient than RFID tags. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of BLE beacon technology: 

• A BLE beacon uses less power than RFID tags, meaning they can run for longer periods without needing to be recharged or replaced. This improved power consumption makes them ideal for businesses that track assets 24/7. 
• Not only do they offer improved battery life, but BLE beacons are more accurate than RFID tags, thanks to their ability to triangulate the position of nearby devices. This allows businesses to get real-time data on the location of their assets, which is essential for effective asset management. 
• A BLE beacon offers a number of additional features that RFID tags don’t, such as the ability to trigger push notifications and track environmental conditions. This makes them a more versatile solution for businesses that need to get the most out of their location-based data.  
• BLE beacons are less expensive than RFID tags, making them a more cost-effective solution for businesses. It may be possible to transmit continuous radio transmissions with active RFID. But, the most significant disadvantage of an RFID system is its overall expense, which is much greater than that of Bluetooth. Passive RFID labels can be inexpensive, but the necessary RFID readers can cost thousands of dollars each. As a result of these advantages, more and more companies are ditching RFID and moving to BLE technology. 

Overall, Bluetooth beacon technology is a more advanced solution than RFID tags. BLE beacons are more accurate, and as a result, more and more companies are ditching RFID and moving to BLE technology. 

What is a Smart Container? 

A smart container includes what is referred to as a Bluetooth beacon or Bluetooth Low Energy beacon, a device that uses Bluetooth technology to track the location, status, and contents of objects. These devices emit Bluetooth signals at regular intervals to communicate with nearby mobile devices and can be used to monitor stock levels, track shipping, and delivery information, manage inventory systems, and more. Thanks to their increased accuracy, smaller size, and lower cost compared to traditional GPS trackers, smart containers are quickly becoming one of the most popular tools for managing logistics in modern businesses. 

Smart Containers Using BLE Beacon Technology vs. RFID Tags 

Bluetooth beacon technology has revolutionized the way that assets can be tracked and managed within complex supply chain networks. One type of smart container, or sensor-enabled container, makes use of BLE beacon technology to provide detailed and real-time tracking information about the movement of products within the supply chain. Unlike RFID tags, which require specialized readers to be scanned, BLE beacons allow for easy scanning using a business-issued smartphone or other mobile devices. This provides significant advantages for asset management, including the ability to monitor container temperature in real-time and identify potential issues before they become costly problems.  

Additionally, BLE beacons present a more sustainable option than RFID tags, as they consume less energy and offer greater flexibility in terms of placement within the container. Overall, BLE beacons have emerged as an essential tool for modern asset management practices, making them an ideal option for anyone looking to implement smart containers in their supply chain network. 

How does Bluetooth Beacon Technology Work? 

Bluetooth beacon technology has emerged as a powerful tool for asset tracking and management in the modern supply chain. This innovative technology uses BLE or “Bluetooth Low Energy” beacons to create small, wireless transmitters that can easily be attached to carriers and containers of all kinds. These BLE beacon devices can then track the location and movement of those items throughout the supply chain through a process known as asset tracking. 

Explore Bluetooth Beacon Technology for your Smart Containers 

With BLE beacon technology, companies can know in real time where a container is located within their yard, warehouse, and supply chain. Bluetooth beacon technology has many potential applications, and one of the most promising areas is in improving supply chain tracking. By embedding Bluetooth beacons into bulk containers, businesses can create smart containers that allow for improved data collection and tracking throughout the supply chain. These advanced tracking capabilities can help businesses to optimize their operations, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs. And with Bluetooth beacon technology, smart containers can help businesses of all sizes to improve their supply chain processes and stay ahead of the competition.  

The Future of Smart Containers and Bluetooth Beacon Technology: Plan for Every Part (PFEP) 

Plan For Every Part, or PFEP, is a methodology used in supply chain management and asset tracking that Bluetooth beacons or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons can help with. In short, every time a product or item changes hands from one location to another – such as from the supplier to the manufacturer- a Bluetooth beacon is attached to it so its whereabouts can be monitored in real-time via geolocation.  

The purpose of this is so that everyone in the supply chain knows exactly where an item is at all times and can plan accordingly. Bluetooth beacon technology is ideal for this purpose because it is both cost-effective and battery-efficient, meaning it can be left attached to an asset for long periods of time without needing to be replaced.  

Smart containers are another application of PFEP where Bluetooth beacons can be used to track the contents of a container in real-time. This information can then be used to optimize the contents of the container according to what is needed at a particular time and place. Bluetooth beacons attached to smart containers can also help with things like inventory management and load balancing.  

RFID vs Bluetooth Beacons

The advantages of Bluetooth beacons over RFID tags are numerous. If your organization is considering smart containers using BLE beacon technology vs. RFID tags, please contact us to learn more about the benefits and let us discuss an ideal solution for your organization’s needs.

About Pacman Inc. 

Pacman Inc. is a container services company with locations in Detroit MI, Atlanta GA, and San Benito TX. All three locations net a combined 240,000+ sq ft of covered floor space and 21+ acres of outdoor yard space. Their goal is to save businesses time and money. Full container services are offered from all locations to reduce customer shipping costs and get the containers needed on the floor and “in the loop” as quickly and easily as possible. 

If you want to learn more about Pacman Inc. and Bluetooth beacon technology for smart containers to better manage your supply chain, contact Ryan M. Clayton via email or call him at 248.462.7277.