It is a ubiquitous issue to misplace one’s belongings. It’s also an expensive one for many firms because damaged equipment and inventory equal lost income. Here’s where Bluetooth asset tracking comes in handy. The problem is that selecting the correct asset tracking solution can be difficult. Bluetooth asset tracking technology is rapidly evolving and gaining traction in the industrial context.
Common Bluetooth asset tracking devices
1. Beacon
A Bluetooth Beacon is a remote gadget that regularly transmits a Bluetooth Low Energy advertising packet. It’s intercepted by a smart device or other Bluetooth digital gadget and used to establish its position in relation to the beacon itself. It functions similarly to a lighthouse such that it continuously broadcasts a steady signal that other devices may detect.
These inconspicuous hardware components are continually transmitting Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio transmissions. These signals may be scanned and displayed by a Bluetooth beacon tracker.
What Do Bluetooth beacons Do?
• Using room-level monitoring, you may have a better understanding of your workspace’s occupancy: By assessing conference room, floor, and seat-level capacity, you may save workspaces while improving usage, staff happiness, and efficiency.
• Location: Beacons can pinpoint your exact location in a physical place to within a meter.
• Control guest flow: Improves safety efforts by providing a uniform procedure that simplifies real-time guest monitoring, linking individuals and businesses while maintaining security, safety, and conformity.
2. Module
A Bluetooth module is a physical component that allows a remote device to communicate with a pc. However, in certain circumstances, the Bluetooth module is also an accessory, a cordless headset, or any other device.
Once the choice has been made to use the module technique to add Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection to an IoT design, developers must carefully decide which module to use. Even though they all offer connection, there are slight variations in design, setup, and energy consumption, among other things, that must be considered.
keep in mind these two factors:
Hosted or hostless framework — Certain BLE modules are meant to be drop-in communication systems accessories with the only purpose of message transmission.
Size – The PCB board capacity used by a module might be crucial in particular programs, influencing the price and sophistication of the PCB required to operate the gadget.
3. Gateway
Gateways are meant to remotely receive data from Wireless gadgets and then transmit it to the cloud through Ethernet, WIFI, or GSM wireless networks. The Bluetooth Gateway has the size and appearance of an external wireless modem but acts more like a network gateway.
It also includes a power adaptor for use with a regular wall outlet. BLE gateways collect data from factories and industrial facilities and send it to a hosting website. This is to manage and control the internet of things (IoT), real-time asset tracking, sensor warnings from machines, and precise analysis.
How does a Bluetooth gateway Work?
You need to pair your Bluetooth device to a Bluetooth gateway so that the gateway can send data from the Bluetooth device to the cloud. The gateway device automatically registers the Bluetooth transmitter by sending the endpoint information of the gadget to the cloud server.
Asset tracking applications
While there is so much that can be done through Bluetooth signals, let’s look at some of the most common applications of Bluetooth asset tracking.
a. Transportation
Build a more dependable fleet management solution with the widest selection of certified and integration-ready BLE tracking devices across a wide range of connection and location technologies. The solutions range from basic plug-and-play OBD fleet management devices to powerful wired GPS trackers with inputs and outputs.
b. Sensor Solutions for Cold Chain Logistics
With adaptable and tough GPS and cold chain tracking devices, you can monitor and record position, movement activity, temperature and more.
c. Smart Farming
Improve agricultural operations by wirelessly measuring rainfall, moisture content, humidity, temperature, water and gas tank volumes, and other factors. With the proliferation of cellular IoT and LPWA networks, IoT Agriculture Sensors are more accessible than ever before, assisting farmers in maximizing yields, conserving resources such as water and fertilizer, reducing waste, and increasing productivity.
d. Manufacturing
BLE asset tracking helps monitor assets in transit from the manufacturing line to the distribution zones to ensure enhanced operations. Manufacturing organizations profit from using a Bluetooth LE system by lowering the time spent searching for lost goods.
e. Healthcare
Tracking is required in medical facilities to monitor medical equipment and supplies to assist doctors and other personnel in conveniently finding and managing them. Rather than spending a couple of hours hunting for medical equipment, use a Bluetooth Low Energy tracking device. It can rapidly pinpoint the approximate position of what you’re looking for, such as a BP machine, wheelchairs, and even staff.
f. Hospitality
Hotels can use asset tracking technology for cleaning staff and workers. MOKO has provided a solution to enhance employee safety in collaboration with several hotel operators. Furthermore, Bluetooth beacons connect with clients in a contextually relevant and tailored manner, providing a profitable approach to the market.
g. Logistics
BLE tracking aids in tracing the transit of cargo from the distribution centers to the delivery destination. It speeds up the process and minimizes mistakes to a great extent. A BLE tracking device lets customers take preemptive measures to avoid losing expensive items.
h. Managing Inventory
Managing both your inventory and asset is crucial to the success of your business. Using the BLE tracking solution, you can track all inventory and assets during the manufacturing and selling process. You can also tell right from the tracking platform if you need to restock.
i. Locating Waste Trucks and Bins
The use of a Bluetooth asset tracking tag accommodates installation of a long-lasting and concealable GPS tracker on the trash cans. You may even put them on vehicles to assist you in monitoring and controlling your fleet more effectively. Even when you’re not physically available, you can locate your assets’ whereabouts.
j. Offices
Bluetooth Low Energy systems may give information, notably on how spaces in an office block are used. Movements may also be tracked, allowing management to facilitate personnel and use assets better. Besides, organizations may use BLE’s adaptable beacons, people tags, and sensors to get visibility into employee engagements.
k. Hospital Industry
Bluetooth connection simplifies thorough record-keeping by guaranteeing that any medical reading is readily and instantaneously sent to a central location. In the event of a medical emergency, such as the transmission of a contagious illness in a ward, prompt data sharing assists clinicians in immediately identifying and addressing the problem.
l. IT Industry
BLE asset monitoring in the IT business provides insights into the utilization and movements of all IT equipment and machines, allowing them to be better controlled and exploited. Furthermore, all system parts, such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, speakers, and other devices, are cordlessly linked to the PC.
Exceptional Bluetooth asset tracking aspects
• Customer Service
Take advantage of our leading technical assistance in the industry for gadget setting, setup, synchronization, activation, and problem fixes, among other things. Our Customer Success Engineers are also available to assist you in tweaking device parameters to meet your consumers’ demands better.
• Solutions
We aim to develop the design of our apps considering our clients’ needs to meet our clients’ demands before any product launch.
• Integration with IoT Is Quick and Easy
Much of the allure of Bluetooth Low Energy as a technology stems from its capacity to provide efficient direct wireless transmission of data within the range of one another. Thanks to detailed documentation and a flexible and open payload format, integration with any IoT software platform or ERP is quick and secure.
• Outstanding Products
Because of our dedication to excellent engineering and experience in low-power design, our products outperform competitors in terms of performance, longevity, and ease of management.
• Fast Delivery
Our ability to deliver on schedule is a critical component of our success. We are able to meet project deadlines and provide both hardware and software on time because of our competence and experience.
• Device Management
Change the setup options to match your needs. Using our Device Management Platform, you may remotely maintain, check, troubleshoot, and upgrade our Bluetooth asset tracking devices.
• Data Encryption
The BLE controller aids encryption. AES-CCM encryption is used in BLE technology. Again using FIPS-1971-defined AES-128-bit block cipher, this data security function generates 128-bit encryption keys.
• Low Cost
We make every effort to provide high-quality items. We believe in striking a balance between excellent quality and cost.
• Monitoring and Quality Assurance
We make certain that all of our items are quality and functionally tested. We give close attention to client assistance requirements before, during, and after product delivery.
• Interconnectedness On a Global Scale
There is a broad selection of LPWAN IoT devices with worldwide Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, Sigfox, and Cellular (NB-IoT/ LTE-M, 2G, 3G) connectivity choices.
• Design Assistance
Utilize our extensive resources to swiftly assess, create, test, and go to production.
• Quality and Dependability
Our gadgets, hardware, and applications have been proved and tested to meet or exceed the most stringent automotive and industrial requirements.
• Scale and Personalize
Minimize time, money, and expedite time-to-market by customizing our existing product line to match specialty applications using custom firmware and sensor integrations.
MOKOBlue Bluetooth asset tracking capabilities
• Real-Time Monitoring
The tags’ geolocation is regularly computed, ensuring a track and trace of the trip inside the geo-fences that they are tracked within.
• Smartphone Compatibility
It is compatible with smartphones because BLE technology is now embedded into many of them. As a result, you may scan for your BLE tags using a smartphone.
• Alerts
BLE tags can detect both motion and absence of motion. These tags may be configured to emit a signal if there is no movement for a predetermined amount of time. This assures the effectiveness of a service such as Employee Tracking.
• Memory
BLE tags may store data from sensors and then broadcast it via relays and gateways.
• Connectivity and Integration
The integration is activated and hard-wired on the BLE chips, making connections considerably manageable. Establish a more effective asset tracking system by utilizing the most accredited and integration-ready LPWAN Bluetooth asset tracking devices and the most connection and geolocation technological alternatives.
• Bluetooth Gateways
Bluetooth gateways are low-cost devices that provide dependable wireless connections while also providing excellent security and locking.
• Sensors and Asset Tags
We can meet a wide range of application demands by integrating different tags and beacons with our gateways.
• Easily Accessible Batteries
Tags can endure for several years with very few fittings required for the BLE-based solution and the batteries in the BLE.
• Waterproof and Tough
BLE tags may be found in a variety of form factors, having the benefit of being the most up-to-date technology while also being IP67 compliant.
• Sleep Mode
Gateway devices enter sleep mode to reduce updating, preserve energy, and optimize data consumption.
• Recovery Mode
Recovering assets is possible with the recovery mode. It enables instantaneous tracking of assets at intervals of 30 seconds.
• Motion Sensor
You can receive location updates regularly or when there is movement using advanced adaptive tracking technology.
BLE asset tracking elements
Here are three essential Bluetooth elements utilized for Asset management:
A. BLE Readers
The BLE reader assists in collecting data from remote gadgets. Moreover, it helps in transmitting the assets’ position to the monitoring system. Bluetooth readers receive messages from BLE tags and relay the tags’ position to the Tracking program. Readers can be placed at entry/exit points for entry/exit monitoring, or more broadly, for comprehensive real-time asset location information. The system is adaptable, allowing more readers to be deployed as needed to expand the system’s area.
B. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Tags
BLE beacons are electronic gadgets that broadcast tiny quantities of data at regular intervals over a short distance while utilizing batteries and wasting little power. The use of standards-based Bluetooth tags based on the iBeacon standards implies that the tags may be created in hundreds of different form factors, battery sizes, and extra sensors. As a result, there is a low-cost tag for a wide range of unique use cases and scenarios.
C. Tracking Platform
Users may interact with the Tracking application, which puts tracking data to life. Moreover, users may get reports on assets, check the locations of single assets or a group of assets, see which assets are at a certain place, or browse a map to show the graphic locations of all assets.
Which asset tracking technology should you use
Choosing the correct asset tracking system depends on your end-use objectives. You may use it to determine the current location or the last known position of a certain object. Whatever your application, consider the following general aspects to help you make a more informed decision:
• The BLE tracking device’s size and weight
• The device’s durability
• Consumption of energy
• Scalability of the technology
• Your preferred level of GPS data precision or detail
• Rates should be updated for each asset you track
• The total number of assets monitored
• The monetary value of the assets being tracked
• The expenses or risks incurred as a result of asset loss
• The physical environment in which you intend to track
• The geographical region for the tracking
• The convenience of use, incorporating asset tracking technology installation
• The cost of purchasing and maintaining an asset monitoring system
• Specifications for gathering and transmitting asset IDs or other metadata
To consider these parameters more specifically, here’s a breakdown of the major asset tracking technologies out there today.
Advantages and disadvantages of Bluetooth asset tracking
Bluetooth is a popular choice for indoor location applications such as asset tracking. BLE has been around for ten years, and its low energy usage provides it a significant advantage over earlier systems such as Wi-Fi and GPS.
Advantages
• Consumes little energy.
• Devices are reasonably priced.
• Up to a few meters of accuracy.
• Updating in real-time.
• Broad standardization.
• Interoperability with popular consumer applications; bring-your-own-device (BYOD) capability.
• BLE technologies, like ultra-wideband systems, often do not necessarily involve any scanning or searching manually.
Disadvantages
• Latency: Signal interference is a typical problem because many gadgets fight for access in the same radio frequencies ranges as BLE.
• The possibility of interruption from gadgets operating in a common frequency range.
• A large density of transmitters is required: BLE solutions don’t function particularly well around metal or reflective surfaces
• Inconsistency in highly reflecting or busy areas such as industries or mills.
• Vulnerabilities in security
Is there any special software or mobile app required to implement Bluetooth asset tracking?
You require software that accepts data from Bluetooth devices, analyses it, and outputs human-readable findings for your evaluation. The findings may contain a map of the assets’ present positions, a history of the assets’ movement, a record of personnel who handled it, a record of devices conditions, and so on.
Smartphone Usage
A software package should contain a mobile application if your asset tracking/equipment monitoring design incorporates the usage of mobile devices. The mobile application’s function is to serve as a Bluetooth receiver. The smartphone app can search for and interpret signals from Bluetooth tags, and in some instances, fixed Bluetooth beacons transmit this data to the cloud program.
Compatibility
New features and analyses can be appended to the software tool based on your specific requirements. Some suppliers provide a Bluetooth solution that combines both computer hardware and software. These tools are intended for a particular function or situation. Nevertheless, you are not required to buy both software and hardware from the same provider. Bluetooth protocols and profiles that are well specified allow software providers to interface with numerous Bluetooth devices.
As with other asset monitoring systems, double-checking with the software provider is often an intelligent move to ascertain device compatibility.
