Beacon devices are defined as wireless transmitters that use Low-Energy Bluetooth Technology to detect assets around them. It has systems that trigger preset actions to deliver informative and personalized experiences. Defined as a modern tracking system, beacon devices send information to IoT devices that make location-based analytics and interactions much simpler. The ability to connect the devices to each other makes it possible to transfer up-to-date and accurate information instantly.
Beacon devices, one of the prominent technologies in indoor monitoring, manage to provide many benefits for their users. Thanks to its smart system, it can understand how assets or people behave, especially in large spaces. Thus, employers can plan their space for a better and safer experience. Before moving on to the advantages of beacon devices, we can check how it works.
Table of Contents
If you want to use a beacon, you need:
- A Beacon Device
- Display Screen (Tablet, Phone…)
- User’s Permission
To drill down, we can say beacon technology consists of three main components; Software Development Kit (SDK), backend management tools and beacon devices. These three systems are placed in the areas where positioning or tracking is wanted, in a way that connects them to each other. The beacon starts working by continuously broadcasting an identifier around it. Thanks to these identifiers, assets or people are detected as they pass through the area where the positioning system or IoT network is installed. Detected data is sent to users’ mobile devices as a notification.
After the notifications reach the display screen, the user permission phase enters the circuit. As a user, you have the final decision on whether or not to receive beacon-based notifications. Users can also choose to turn off Bluetooth, as beacon devices can only work over mobile devices. As a result, beacon technology offers a personalized experience compared to similar systems, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). It creates a location system with the possibility of deactivating at any time.
FEATURED ADVANTAGES
Affordable and Fast Installation
Beacon technology offers a more cost-effective installation advantage compared to other tracking systems with its high performance. Installation is quick as it comes with SDK and administration panel. In addition, since it can connect with any compatible mobile device, it can create a wide area of use.
Reliable Technology
Beacon devices manage to meet expectations in terms of reliability. They can receive and send signals from many areas, including underground areas or thick walls. They create a seamless experience as they have additional features such as waterproofing for external factors.
Staying Up-to-Date with Accurate Information
Beacon systems have a structure supported by most modern devices. Since they have the power to work continuously in a wide coverage area, it is also possible to reach the right information instantly.
What Are Beacon Types?
The advantages of devices which have a big amount of impact on businesses, allow you to create a more efficient business plan. The data collected by the devices can be viewed on special panels as analyzes or reports. The technology, which can adapt to different places, also adapts to user demands. Beacon systems, which allow you to make analyzes at different scales in location tracking, are divided into different systems according to size, battery life, and usage patterns. The most commonly used beacon types are:
- Standard Beacon: Used for indoor tracking and proximity detection solutions.
- Portable Beacon: Portable devices used in asset tracking. They are designed in the size of a credit card.
- USB Beacon: They are small portable designs with the advantage of fast installation. It is often used in asset tracking and proximity resolution.
- AI Beacon: They are machine learning-based devices that can detect different movements and gestures.
- Sticker Beacon: They are the smallest size of beacon systems used in asset tracking.
- Parent Beacon: Devices used to monitor other beacon devices, collect data and store all these in a cloud-based system.
- Dedicated Beacon: They are devices with high IP levels and surfaces that are resistant to external weather conditions. In addition to being resistant to dust, water and dirt, it also resists bumps and impacts.
Beacons continue to evolve with their special operating system and advantages. Considering all this, it is not difficult to predict that tracking devices will be placed in many workplaces in the coming years. Being easy to manage, transferring up-to-date data, conveying accurate information and low cost makes this special technology stand out among other tracking systems. Contact Boni Global for detailed information about beacon technology!
