Comment: How RTLS tech is making its way into our everyday lives

It's a universal truth: people lose things. Individuals lose track of their keys, their phones, even their cars in large parking lots.

This is certainly no less true in business. Every day in every industry, important things get lost. Materials, products, tools, even machines. A typical manufacturer inevitably spends hundreds of hours of employee time tracking down shipping containers, parts, and other essential items. Health care workers spend valuable time tracking medical equipment, patients, and medications.

In response to the human penchant for losing things, developers across the world have created Real-Time Location Systems, or RTLS. RTLS has changed the way industries function by allowing them to keep better track of product and supply movement and bringing increased mobility and visibility to every part of the supply chain.

Let’s take a closer look at how RTLS is making its way into our everyday lives and how that benefits us.

What is RTLS?

So, what exactly is RTLS? RTLS technology can locate almost anything, almost anywhere, either at a close distance through Bluetooth or similar technology, or even halfway across the world through updated 4G or 5G-based GPS technologies. Unlike typical GPS technologies, RTLS can work indoors as well as outdoors, and provides a real-time view of the objects being tracked.

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RTLS starts with a series of locator tags or badges, usually battery-operated. Anyone can attach these tags to their personal items like luggage or keys. Businesses can attach these tags and badges to supplies, containers, or even to IDs for personnel. Next, there needs to be some kind of receiver. In a typical indoor RTLS, the receiver might be called an “anchor,” which receives signals emitted by the tags and funnels them to the third part of an RTLS, which is the software used to monitor the location of the various objects.

Some RTLS technologies allow users to view the location of the various objects right on their smartphones or computers, making it easy to keep track of and find anything that might otherwise require hours of searching. The constant signal sent out by tags means users can track the signal in real-time and not have to worry about losing things again.

What industries are using RTLS?

While any industry can probably make some use of RTLS, there are a few in particular that have greatly benefited from this emerging technology.

Transportation and particularly aviation have seen a decrease in lost luggage through RTLS. Over half of airline passengers in the U.S. have lost their luggage at some point. Most passengers, though not all, get compensated for the loss, which costs airlines dearly every year. Properly implemented, baggage tracking systems can reduce baggage loss by 38 per cent, saving airlines a significant amount of money and labour.

Another industry that has seen huge benefits through RTLS is manufacturing. Since you can attach tags to just about anything, including tools, parts, and final products, real-time tracking allows manufacturers to maintain a comprehensive view of where all their assets are at any given time. Not only does this save employees time that might otherwise be spent tracking down missing items, but it helps to prevent complaints due to delayed or lost shipments.

The healthcare industry has taken RTLS a step further and used it to keep track of medical supplies but also patients and personnel. By tracking supplies, care providers can reduce time spent looking for essential tools. Plus, personnel and patient tracking allows hospitals to ensure patients stay in designated areas and that personnel are where they are needed at any given time.

RTLS is a game-changer in each of these industries, and future innovation around real-time tracking will likely continue to positively influence the world around us for years to come.

Yohanna Isis, marketing consultant manager at tracking technology specialists Gego