The tech industry is an ever-evolving space full of creation and innovation which moulds society on a day-to-day basis. But not every new idea sticks and many revolutionary thoughts fade quickly into the abyss of concept instead of blooming into actuality.
One innovation that is beginning to blossom is beacon technology. But what is beacon technology and how does it work? A beacon is a wireless low-energy Bluetooth transmitter that sends signals to devices within a certain proximity. These battery-powered beacons send a signal to a device and link it with a data source or a Cloud server.
The technology first appeared in 2013, when Apple designed and presented the iBeacon. Google also got on board with the technology and in 2018 launched “Project Beacon” where they sent beacons to small and medium-sized businesses. But what are the benefits of these beacons and how does it impact the average person?
Here are two of the best uses for beacon technology:
Proximity Marketing
The marketing industry is a multibillion-dollar business and has always been at the forefront of an organisation’s strategy. So much thought, time and effort go into building a relationship between consumer and brand. Beacon technology is promising to open up another huge avenue for businesses to reach customers in new and exciting ways.
Proximity marketing works by advertising a product or company through the use of a beacon signal. An industry that benefits greatly from this technology is the world of casinos and gambling. Customers often turn to online guides like Canadian Casino’s best casino guide (Canadiancasino.org) 2022 to find the best promotions for online casinos. A lot of casinos are embracing beacon technology to market their business. For example, if you were to enter a casino, you might receive a push notification or social media message containing special promotions. Offers get sent straight to your mobile device just by being in proximity of a casino or slot machine.
Location Tracking
Beacon technology can also be used for monitoring the location of either person or assets, usually implemented by businesses to monitor employees. Businesses can position beacons around an office space and connect them with smart devices like ELEKS Digital with their ‘Nearables Wearables’.
Think of it as a personal GPS, you can wrap the beacon around your wrist, and it usually resembles a fitness watch. Hospitals implement this technology so that they can track the location of their nurses or doctors. It makes a lot of sense if you are in a large environment, consisting of a large number of people who are conducting very important work, to know the whereabouts of everyone. Sticker beacons are used to monitor the location of assets, this can be very useful for transportation and logistics companies.
Beacon technology became a seedling in 2013 and is slowly growing into one of the most exciting industries in the tech space. Global Market Insights predicts that the beacon technology market is predicted to be worth over $25 billion by the year 2024.
