Top Indoor Positioning System Providers for Asset Tracking

Understanding exactly where indoor assets are located has become a major focus for many industries. Whether it's hospitals keeping an eye on crucial medical equipment or warehouses managing their inventory, an indoor positioning system (IPS) is changing the game for how organizations track, manage, and improve their resources. In this article, we'll explore the leading providers of indoor positioning systems. If you're seeking pinpoint accuracy, extensive coverage, or seamless integration with your existing systems, this guide will help you find the ideal solution for your needs.

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Indoor Positioning System and Its Importance in Asset Tracking

An indoor positioning system is a cutting-edge technology that enables real-time location tracking of equipment, vehicles, valuable assets, and staff. Unlike traditional GPS, which is primarily used outdoors, IPS technologies—based on BLE, UWB, Wi-Fi, and others—are optimized for indoor use and can provide high precision, even down to a few centimeters.

Tracking is performed using special sensors, such as tags or beacons, that are installed in rooms or on moving objects. These devices emit signals at specified intervals, which are picked up by receivers and processed by a server. The resulting data, including exact coordinates, is displayed on a digital map, smartphone, or PC.

An indoor positioning system solves multiple key challenges. This tool helps users locate people or assets within a company's premises, create routes to points of interest, and keep track of movement in real time. These solutions are beneficial for large buildings that have multiple floors, corridors, and various departments. Implementing an IPS simplifies facility management and offers a wide range of benefits:

• Optimized placement of assets, transportation, and personnel.
• Theft prevention for valuable property.
• Easier retrieval of tools or equipment across large areas.
• Enhanced personnel safety and accident prevention.
• Improved customer service quality.

In recent years, this technology has found applications across many sectors. In industrial settings, it plays a crucial role in tracking the movement of heavy machinery, keeping tabs on employee work hours, and locating misplaced equipment. By implementing this system, safety is significantly improved, helping to prevent accidents and ensuring that everyone can evacuate quickly during emergencies.

In healthcare, IPS is used to monitor patients and medical devices. It allows for faster routing to patient rooms, procedure areas, and offices, as well as quick retrieval of ventilators, wheelchairs, and other equipment. Another key function is monitoring the movement of disoriented patients with cognitive impairments.

In logistics, IPS accelerates order picking and improves inventory control. It allows workers to quickly locate goods and track lost equipment. In addition, it helps optimize daily personnel tasks and monitor employee workload.

Key Indoor Positioning Technologies

The implementation of IPS solutions relies on a variety of modern technologies. Here are the most common:

• BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) – Uses iBeacon devices to locate objects with up to 1-meter accuracy. These low-power sensors can operate on a single battery for up to 5 years.
• UWB (Ultra-Wideband) – The most accurate technology, capable of determining location within 30 cm. With high bandwidth, UWB is ideal for asset tracking in manufacturing and warehouses.
• Wi-Fi – Operates using existing infrastructure (access points), with an accuracy of up to 5 meters. It offers a cost-effective and scalable solution requiring minimal manual setup.
• RFID – Automatically identifies assets by reading data from RFID tags (transponders). It does not require line-of-sight and can function over hundreds of meters.
• AoA (Angle of Arrival) – Calculates signal strength (RSSI) and angle of arrival to triangulate object positions with accuracy ranging from 0.1 to 1 meter.

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Top Indoor Positioning System Providers for Asset Tracking

The effectiveness of an IPS largely depends on selecting the right provider. Here are the 10 top companies offering real-time indoor location solutions:

Navigine

Navigine is a global provider of indoor and outdoor positioning systems. Since 2011, it has been offering developers and system integrators software platforms for asset and personnel tracking. Navigine's solutions support Bluetooth® LE, UWB, Wi-Fi, and other technologies, making them ideal for enterprises requiring real-time location tracking and monitoring.

Kontakt.io

Kontakt.io focuses on solutions for the healthcare sector. Their AI-powered RTLS platform enhances the efficiency of medical services. Projects are implemented using Bluetooth® LE beacons, which can be installed in rooms, worn as smart badges, or attached as compact tags.

Inpixon

Inpixon is a leading provider of integrated indoor positioning solutions. Its product suite includes navigation tools and proximity marketing systems. Using BLE and Wi-Fi, Inpixon's technology is suited for retail, healthcare, and office environments.

Sewio

Sewio Networks offers a UWB-based positioning system with high accuracy and full scalability. Its IoT platform is designed for manufacturing plants, warehouses, OEMs, and distribution centers.

Esri (ArcGIS IPS)

Esri is a leader in mapping, geoanalytics, and GIS software. The ArcGIS IPS platform enables users to collect, visualize, and analyze location data in a spatial context using BLE beacons or Wi-Fi signals. Its versatility makes it suitable for shopping malls, hospitals, and industrial sites.

Blueiot

Blueiot provides a revolutionary Bluetooth AoA-based positioning platform. It supports various industries, including manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, smart buildings, and retail. In addition to object tracking, it enables mobile navigation and workforce monitoring.

u-blox

U-blox is a global innovator in IPS and wireless communication technologies. Its u-blox F9 platform supports multi-frequency, multi-system GNSS navigation with centimeter-level accuracy using RTK and Dead Reckoning for reliable navigation in complex environments.

TEKTELIC

TEKTELIC offers LoRaWAN IoT solutions for businesses of all sizes. Its tools are ideal for industrial operations, e-health, agriculture, smart buildings, and cities. Their positioning systems combine GPS and Bluetooth® LE sensors for continuous monitoring indoors and outdoors.

Kinexon

Founded in 2012, Kinexon is a pioneer in IoT solutions. It offers products for asset tracking, order monitoring, assembly line control, and fleet management, primarily using UWB technology and targeting industrial clients.

Litum

With over 20 years of experience, Litum delivers advanced RTLS solutions. Its Litum Asset Tracking platform uses UWB, BLE, or hybrid tags for asset monitoring in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, warehousing, and logistics.

How to Choose the Best Indoor Positioning Solution Provider for Asset Tracking

When selecting the right solution, several important criteria must be considered. To ensure the system fully meets your needs and goals, keep the following points in mind:

• Accuracy. The desired level of data accuracy depends on the technology. For example, tracking assets in warehouses requires more precise monitoring, so UWB or Bluetooth® LE is typically used for such implementations.
• Scalability. Always choose a system that can easily adapt to your business needs. It's important to make sure from the start that the platform allows for the effortless addition of new tags and expansion of coverage as your needs grow.
• Integration. Pay attention to how easily the system can be integrated with your existing infrastructure. This helps streamline the use of location data to automate workflows.
• Budget. Align your planned expenses with the total cost of the software, hardware, installation, and maintenance. It's a good idea to compare offers from different providers and select the one that offers the best value for money.
• Project goals. Define the platform's features before deployment. When integrating a particular solution into your infrastructure, it is essential that its capabilities align with the goals you aim to achieve.

Indoor positioning system technology improves operational efficiency, enhances employee safety, and helps companies make informed management decisions.

It is a powerful tool for optimizing business processes. For businesses that require reliable and highly accurate real-time positioning services, indoor positioning systems are the ideal solution.