Transforming Asset Tracking With Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and IoT - A Complete Guide

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology is rapidly transforming the asset tracking landscape. In recent years, BLE has seen a surge in adoption as businesses seek more affordable and flexible alternatives to traditional methods like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Global Positioning System (GPS). With BLE tags and Bluetooth-enabled devices like smartphones or bluetooth IoT gateways, you can track your assets in real time, both indoors and outdoors. Whether you opt for a fully automated BLE system, or one that involves employee participation, BLE asset tracking empowers you with more options and significant cost savings compared to RFID or GPS.

Bluetooth Low Energy And IoT: A Good Choice For Asset Tracking?

Why is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) becoming the go-to technology for asset tracking? Its unique combination of capabilities makes it an ideal solution for this purpose. While classic Bluetooth, designed for continuous data exchange, works well for consumer applications, it's not as efficient for industrial settings. Therefore, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology was developed with the specific needs of IoT devices in mind.



Here are the main features that makes BLE an ideal choice for asset tracking.

BLE Features That Make It An Ideal Choice For Asset Tracking

BLE Is Power Efficient

Power efficiency is critical for industrial IoT applications. At the same time data exchange volume is low and unfrequent, which can be translated into energy savings. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology was developed with the specific needs of IoT devices in mind. BLE devices exchange data periodically in small packets, spending most of their time in sleep mode. This significantly reduces power consumption, allowing BLE devices to run on a coin-cell battery for years – a game-changer for the asset tracking tags.

Moreover, you can control various parameters of BLE beacons via a mobile app. This gives you an option to decide what is more important for your use case. For eample you can further increase energy savings by reducing BLE beacon scanning range and / or advertising frequency.

BLE Has Versatile Communication Standards

Bluetooth low energy (BLE) introduces versatile communication standards, including beacon technology (one-to-many communication) and mesh technology (many-to-many communication). These features open up a wide range of possibilities for asset tracking, from simple proximity detection to complex real-time location systems.

In the BLE beacon model, a beacon advertises a packet of data that nearby devices can pick up and process. This is ideal for tracking assets in a defined area. Meanwhile, BLE mesh networks allow devices to communicate with each other, creating a web of interconnected nodes that can relay information about asset location across large spaces.

If a building, warehouse or a factory has a Bluetooth mesh based IoT network - such as smart lighting system, HVAC appliances, building access system, etc. - the same IoT network can be used for the asset tracking. You can use existing infrastructure instead of installing a completely new hardware system.

BLE Is Compatible With Smartphones

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is the only IoT technology that seamlessly integrates with the devices people use every day. All major brands of smartphones, tablets, and computers have built-in support for BLE. This compatibility offers significant advantages for asset tracking:

• Cost-effectiveness Companies can leverage employees' existing smartphones or company-issued devices, eliminating the need for costly specialized hardware.
• Increased software adoption Employees are more likely to embrace a system that uses familiar tools, and they are familiar with their own devices. his leads to higher adoption rates and smoother asset tracking system rollout.

By tapping into the widespread use of smartphones, BLE asset tracking becomes more accessible, user-friendly, and cost-effective, making it a practical solution for businesses of all sizes.

BLE Asset Tracking Has A Solution For Every Need

BLE technology offers a wide range of asset tracking solutions to fit any business scenario and budget:

• Manual tracking with smartphones Use BLE tags and a mobile app to easily locate and track assets using bulk scanning.
• Automated tracking with IoT gateways For real time asset tracking without employees participation, use IoT asset tracking system that combines BLE tags with IoT gateways.
• Use BLE beacons and a smartphone for GPS location tracking. As long as an employee with a smartphone is near an asset, with the mobile app running in the background, you will receive
• Hybrid tracking with BLE beacons and QR codes Track assets within a building using a combo of BLE beacons for proximity detection and QR codes for asset identification.

With this variety of options, BLE technology provides flexible and scalable asset tracking solutions to meet the unique needs of every business.

BLE Is Cost-Effective

BLE chips are relatively inexpensive, and work well for mass deployment of IoT devices. The low tag cost is critical for asset tracking systems, that usually includes hundreds, if not thousands items to track.

Bluetooth Asset Tracking - Real Life Example

See how Bluetooth low energy (BLE) asset tracking works with the mobile app in this video.

BLE-Based IoT Asset Management In Action - Case Study

How BLE Compares With The Other Asset Tracking Options

While Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) offers many advantages for asset tracking, it's important to understand how it compares to other technologies like RFID, GPS, UWB or QR Codes to choose the best solution for your needs.

BLE vs RFID For Asset Tracking

Bluetooth and RFID asset tracking systems share similarities, both using tags to advertise asset IDs and readers or gateways to transmit this information to cloud software. BLE beacons resemble active RFID tags, while Bluetooth receivers act like RFID readers.

The key difference lies in the readers: BLE signals can be read by smartphones and tablets, while RFID requires dedicated scanners or fixed gateways. This makes BLE more accessible and cost-effective, as employees can use their familiar devices for asset tracking.

BLE vs GPS For Asset Tracking

BLE and GPS asset tracking serve different purposes.

GPS is well suited for outdoor tracking of large, mobile assets like vehicles and construction equipment, providing precise location anywhere in the world. GPS tracking is fully automated, with tags periodically sending location data to the cloud via cellular or satellite connections.

BLE, on the other hand, is better suited for indoor and outdoor tracking within specific locations, providing zone-level accuracy (e.g., "Warehouse A, Zone B"). BLE tags require gateways for cloud data transmission, but smartphones can serve as gateways, simplifying periodic audits. BLE is ideal for smaller assets like tools and office equipment assigned to specific areas.

BLE vs UWB For Asset Tracking

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a newer technology that offers high precision indoor positioning, surpassing BLE in accuracy. However, UWB currently has higher infrastructure costs and limited device compatibility compared to BLE.

BLE vs QR Codes For Asset Tracking

QR code asset tracking is a cost-effective option that enables real time asset tracking using smartphone scanning. It also allows employees to collect additional data like photos and signatures.

However, QR code asset tracking requires manual scanning of each asset, making it less efficient for bulk asset movement. If employees forget to scan, data accuracy suffers. QR codes are suitable for smaller deployments and scenarios where additional data collection is essential.

How Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Asset Tracking Works

BLE asset tracking utilizes wireless communication between BLE tags attached to assets and Bluetooth-enabled devices like smartphones or gateways. These devices detect the tag's signals, read the info, and transmit it to a backend cloud software.

BLE asset tracking is highly versatile, offering various implementation methods based on your specific needs and budget.

Automated Asset Tracking with BLE Tags and IoT Gateways

This method uses BLE tags and Bluetooth IoT gateways for seamless, real time asset tracking, without requiring human intervention. Gateways scan for nearby tags, filter and process data, and send updaes to the cloud software for storage, processing and analysis.

Automated Asset Tracking With Bluetooth Mesh

Bluetooth mesh is a network of connected devices that can communicate to each other (many-to-many communication). It is often used for the lighting systems, as well as appliances, such as HVAC, and building security. If you have an existing BLE mesh network, you can leverage it for asset tracking as well. Each mesh node can detect tags and relay information, requiring only one gateway for the entire network. You can find more info on Bluetooth mesh here.

Asset Tracking with Smartphones

Smartphones can function as both BLE readers and gateways, making them ideal for tracking assets in the field. The phone's GPS can also be used to track outdoor assets.

Hybrid Tracking with BLE Beacons and QR Codes

Combine the strengths of both technologies – use stationary BLE beacons for location detection, and QR codes for accessing asset ID. The smartphone reads signals from the nearby beacons, and uses it to pinpoint an exact asset location within the building or on the shop floor.
This flexibility makes BLE asset tracking a suitable solution for a wide range of use cases, from small businesses tracking inventory to large enterprises managing complex supply chains.

BLE Sensors: More Than Just Asset Tracking

BLE beacons can do more than just track location. Beacons with built-in sensors can also monitor the condition of your assets and equipment, providing valuable insights that can help you optimize operations and prevent costly failures.

For example, temperature sensors can be used to monitor the temperature of perishable goods in transit, ensuring they are stored at the correct temperature to maintain their quality. Humidity sensors can detect leaks in facilities, helping to prevent water damage and mold growth. Temperature and vibration sensors can detect early signs of equipment wear and tear, allowing for timely maintenance to prevent breakdowns.

By continuously monitoring these and other parameters, BLE sensors can provide valuable data that can be used to implement predictive maintenance strategies. This can lead to significant cost savings by reducing downtime and extending the lifespan of your assets and equipment.

You can find more info on IoT temperature and humidity monitoring here.

Bluetooth (BLE) Asset Tracking: Conclusions

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) asset tracking has emerged as a versatile and cost-effective solution for businesses seeking to streamline operations. With its power efficiency, smartphone compatibility, and diverse tracking options, BLE caters to various needs and budgets. While other technologies like RFID, GPS, and QR codes have their place, BLE's unique combination of features makes it a compelling choice for many asset tracking scenarios. As BLE technology continues to evolve, it promises to further revolutionize the way businesses manage and monitor their valuable resources.

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