How Bluetooth trackers are transforming asset tracking
Businesses typically rely on hundreds if not thousands of laptop computers, tools, vehicles and pieces of equipment to operate. Losing track of such assets can lead to downtime, costly replacement of equipment and security issues.
The use of Bluetooth trackers for asset tracking has emerged as an affordable, user-friendly solution to help small and medium-sized organizations keep track of important items without the expense or complexity of GPS and RFID systems.
What are Bluetooth trackers?
Bluetooth trackers are compact devices that use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals to help locate assets within short-to-medium-range distances.
While they don’t provide global, real-time tracking like GPS units, they do offer reliable asset visibility when tagged items are near a connected device, such as a smartphone, and also report the last known location of an item when they are out of range.
Bluetooth trackers can also tap into a crowd-sourced network of mobile devices running the same app, so they offer the ability to update the location of assets that might have been moved once out of range.
Some trackers, such as the Life360 Tile range, also allow you to set up smart anywhere alerts (geofencing alerts), so when the connected smartphone moves out of range of the tracker, an alert can be sent to the phone, enabling timely retrieval of items accidentally left at a location.
Their ease of use and long battery life make them ideal for asset management, especially in offices, warehouses, retail locations or at short-term job sites.
How businesses can use Bluetooth trackers for asset tracking
Companies of all sizes can use Bluetooth trackers to manage assets such as:
- IT devices like laptops, tablets and barcode scanners
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Tools and equipment moving between worksites
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Inventory and retail equipment
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Delivery or service equipment
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Rental and event equipment
Because they’re affordable and scalable, Bluetooth trackers are often the first step for companies building an asset tracking strategy.
Benefits of using Bluetooth trackers for asset tracking
A cost-effective solution
Bluetooth trackers are significantly cheaper than GPS units or RFID infrastructure. They also require minimal setup and have long-lasting batteries, making them ideal for companies that need to keep costs down.
Easy to set up and manage
Bluetooth trackers can be attached to assets within minutes. They integrate with mobile apps, dashboards, or asset management software, allowing teams to track items quickly without technical expertise.
Accurate proximity-based location awareness
Bluetooth trackers excel at telling you when an asset is:
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Nearby
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Outside of a designated zone
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Moving unexpectedly
This real-time proximity tracking helps reduce loss and increases operational efficiency.
Crowd-sourced network-based finding
Products like Tile from Life360 can tap into large networks of connected devices (often referred to as a crowd-sourced network) to help locate lost items, even when they’re outside immediate Bluetooth range. This enhances the chances of lost-asset recovery, especially in more heavily populated areas.
Scalable for growing businesses
Bluetooth tracking scales easily. Whether you need to track 10 items or 1,000, the system requires minimal infrastructure and integrates with existing devices.
How to Choose the best Bluetooth tracker for your business
When evaluating Bluetooth asset tracking solutions, consider:
- Required range and environment
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Battery life and replacement options
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Durability and weather resistance
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Integration with existing software
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Security and encryption
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Size of the crowd-sourced network
Selecting the right combination ensures accuracy and long-term ROI.
Best practices for implementing Bluetooth asset tracking
To maximize performance:
- Create a formal asset tracking policy
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Register and label every tracker
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Train staff on proper use
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Monitor battery levels regularly
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Use tracking data to improve workflow and reduce asset loss
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Companies that follow these steps often see immediate improvements in accountability and asset availability.
Why Tile Bluetooth trackers are good asset tracking solution
Life360 is a recognized leader in Bluetooth tracking and a number of factors work in favor of the Tile product range:
- Four different Tile models are available, offering solutions for a wide variety of asset types.
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Tile trackers are iOS and Android-compatible, so it doesn’t matter what smartphones individual members of a workforce own.
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The Life360 and Tile apps (downloaded from the App Store and Google Play) are already used by over 88 million people, so you have access to a large crowd-sourced network.
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The Tile app, in particular, allows you to set up smart anywhere alerts, so if a user moves outside of the range of the Tile that is attached to an asset, an alert will be sent to the user’s phone.
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All Tile trackers also have a QR code on them. Should the item that the Tile is attached to be lost, the person who finds it can scan the QR code and send a message directly to the owner, significantly increasing the chances of recovery.
Branded Tile exclusively supplies Life360 Tile trackers to the business world, allowing organisations to add their own branding to the devices for orders of 25 units or more. While typically used as business gifts or promotional merchandise, this also makes Tile a great solution for low-cost asset tracking.
Conclusion: Is Bluetooth tracking right for your business?
Bluetooth trackers offer a cost-effective, scalable, and user-friendly way to track business assets. While they have range and network limitations, they are an excellent fit for businesses that need to manage equipment in local or semi-local environments.
By choosing the right devices and implementing best practices, companies can significantly reduce asset loss, improve accountability, and streamline their operations.
Branded Tile
Branded Tile brings Life360 Tile trackers to the corporate world, allowing organisations to add their own branding, making them a memorable business gift for clients, partners, and employees at events, conferences, and other special occasions.
