What are Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons?
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons are small, wireless transmitters that use Bluetooth technology to broadcast their identifier to nearby compatible devices. They are compact in size, affordable and have a longer battery life compared to traditional Bluetooth devices. Beacons use Bluetooth Smart/Bluetooth Low Energy technology to transmit data between various devices over short distances, typically less than 100 meters.
How do Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon work?
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon periodically broadcast a universally unique identifier (UUID) that nearby devices like smartphones and tablets can detect using Bluetooth. When a compatible device comes within the beacon's transmission range, the device's Bluetooth receives the UUID and measures the beacon's signal strength. This allows an app running on the device to calculate the distance from the beacon. Using multiple beacons, precise indoor location determination can be achieved through proximity and signal strength measurements. Beacons have on-board memory to store data like UUID, manufacturer details etc. This information is broadcasted to notify the device of the beacon's presence in the vicinity.
Applications of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon
Wireless beacons have enabled new applications in various industries such as retail, healthcare, transportation etc. Some major uses of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon include:
- Indoor Navigation - Beacons help provide precise indoor positioning and turn-by-turn navigation capabilities within large buildings such as airports, malls etc. They can guide users to locations like checkout counters, restrooms etc. within the premises.
- Proximity Marketing - Retailers use beacons to deliver targeted promotional notifications and coupons to customers based on their location within a store. Beacons also enable personalized engagement and experiences through geo-fencing and proximity.
- Inventory Management - Real-time tracking of inventory levels and product locations across retail outlets is possible with use of beacon tags on shelves and merchandise. Businesses gain insights into buying trends and plan replenishments.
- Location-based Services - Museums, theme parks and other venues leverage beacons to provide context-aware guided tours and mobile audio guides. Passengers in airports and transit stations can get timely travel updates based on their location.
- Asset Tracking - Critical assets and equipment in hospitals, warehouses etc. can be continuously monitored using attached beacon tags for better utilization and safety. Real-time location data aids workflow optimization.
Challenges and Future Scope
While Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon offer tremendous opportunities, there are a few challenges that need to be addressed:
Interoperability between different beacon types from multiple vendors is still limited. Establishing open standards will accelerate broader adoption. Battery life remains an area requiring improvements, especially for asset tracking use cases requiring years of unattended operation. Device compatibility is another concern as not all smartphones support Bluetooth Low Energy yet.
However, with advancements in low power integrated circuits and wireless technologies, beacon capabilities will continue rising. Integration with other technologies like WiFi, 5G, AI/ML will unlock more complex use cases around predictive maintenance, autonomous operations and IoT analytics solutions. Regulatory acceptance is growing for new services like navigation aids. Overall, Bluetooth beacons are poised to become the primary location sensing and context awareness foundation for smart spaces across sectors in the coming years.
Get More Insights on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon
According to the new market research report by IndustryARC titled “APAC Bluetooth Low Energy Market: By Product Type (Modules, Chipsets); By Mode (Single, Dual); By Application (Automotive Connectivity, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Automation, Others); By Country- (2018-2024)”, the market will be driven by the on-going technological improvements in bluetooth low energy devices.China Will Continue to Lead the Market Share and Growth During 2018-2024.China is the world’s second largest economy and Asia’s biggest market for BLE technology.
The APAC Bluetooth Low Energy chipsets segment is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 25.06%, from $687.57 million in 2017 and reach $3.26 billion by 2024.The total market for Single Mode Bluetooth Low Energy is envisaged to amplify from $277.92 million in 2017 to $3.23 billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 41.87%, while the market for dominant Dual Mode Bluetooth Low Energy will rise at a CAGR of 12.23% from $1.095 billion in 2017 to $2.53 billion by 2024.To access the full Report click on below Link:https://industryarc.com/Report/18395/apac-bluetooth-low-energy-market-research-report-analysis.htmlExcerpts on Market Growth Factors Mentioned in the Bluetooth Report:1.
Increasing number of smartphone production centers in Indonesia is set to drive the BLE market in this country.2.
Others• By Country ( Covers 10+ Countries )• By Market Entropy• Companies Citied / Interviewed1.
Wireless Sensor Network Markethttps://industryarc.com/Report/211/Wireless-Sensor-Network-Market-Research-Report.htmlWhat can you expect from the report?The main agenda to cover the following 20 points:• Market Size by Product Categories• Market trends• Manufacturer Landscape• Distributor Landscape• Pricing Analysis• Top 10 End user Analysis• Product Bench marking• Product Developments• Merges & Acquisition Analysis• Patent Analysis• Demand Analysis ( By Revenue & Volume )• Country level Analysis (10+)• Competitor Analysis• Market Shares Analysis• Value Chain Analysis• Supply Chain Analysis• Strategic Analysis• Current & Future Market Landscape Analysis• Opportunity Analysis• Revenue and Volume AnalysisFrequently Asked Questions:Does IndustryARC provide customized reports and charge additionally for limited customization?Response: Yes, we can customize the report by extracting data from our database of reports and annual subscription databases.
Increase the level of data in application or end user industry.2.
