How Beacon Wayfinding is Changing Indoor Navigation
Traditionally wayfinding in stores was left up to the individual to read signs that were often poorly placed throughout the building or by trying to orient themselves by looking at a paper or static map displayed on a kiosk. Nowadays, indoor wayfinding can be supplemented with indoor navigation through Bluetooth Beacons. Want to learn more? Just keep reading!
How do Bluetooth Beacons work?
Bluetooth low-energy beacons are small wireless devices typically mounted throughout an indoor venue on walls or other physical entities. Simply put, they emit signals that smartphone devices can receive. Beacons use distance data from two or more beacons and position the visitor on an indoor map. The visitor can then use their smartphone and be guided throughout the building as the device continues to receive signals from nearby beacons. This is known as indoor wayfinding technology and it happens in real-time allowing the visitor to see their live location on an indoor map and even receive turn-by-turn directions.
When choosing to use Bluetooth beacons to help with indoor navigation it is important to place 1-5 BLE beacons per 150sq. meters for full coverage and accurate positioning. If beacons are not placed accordingly it may cause an interruption in the transmission range. Place beacons in areas that are safe and can not be tampered with. High-traffic areas are great for beacon placement but be careful not to place them in too noticeable of a spot.
More than just indoor navigation!
Bluetooth Beacons can be equipped with data that send off advertisements, offers, or promotions to passing shoppers. This is a great marketing tool to send proximity-based notifications and entice people into nearby stores. The concept of location data being used and calculated in real-time creates a lot of opportunities for store managers. A few examples are listed below.
What do you hope to achieve? With many different use cases for Bluetooth Beacons, do your research and discover what will be most beneficial for your business and its visitors.
Do Bluetooth Beacons store personal data?
The answer to this is no. They couldn’t even if they wanted to. Beacons only send out information and are not capable of receiving it. However, when you are using an app that works with a Bluetooth Beacon, that application may store your movement data. What does that mean exactly? Consider if you download an app that the mall offers for indoor wayfinding and navigation. Your movement will be tracked to give managers an idea of where people tend to shop and which paths see the most foot traffic. That being said, nothing uniquely identifying to you will be stored. Your movement data will just be one of the millions that are looked at over time and analyzed to provide better services and for managers to understand a little more about how people interact with their environment.
Conclusion
Bluetooth Beacons have indeed changed the way that people can interact with their physical space. A static map is no longer the only way to determine a person's position in an unfamiliar space. Beacons can also be a valuable tool for marketers to reach a broader audience.
If you’re wondering how to get started using Bluetooth Beacons consider the following
Budget. Bluetooth Beacons are expensive and the batteries require maintenance after a certain number of years.
How many beacons? Approximately 1-5 beacons per 150sq meters need to be installed for accurate positioning.
What do you hope to achieve? With many different use cases for Bluetooth Beacons, do your research and discover what will be most beneficial for your business and its visitors.











