Unlocking the Power of Beacon Technologies
When I say beacon, what instantly comes to mind? Well, let me guess: it is usually one of the three options. Two are very common, and one is a bit rare. The first thing that may come to mind is the literal definition of a beacon, which is a fire that is set up somewhere really high and visible for everyone to see. The second thing that may have come to mind, especially if you like Minecraft, is the powerful item that acts as a light source. The last option, which I don’t think you’d ever guess, is the prominent and advanced beacon technologies. Which are now a vital part of all applications and mobile devices. If you don't know what beacon technologies are, follow this article to learn everything you need to know and become a beacon expert!
What is beacon technology?
What exactly is beacon technology? Beacon technology is an advanced beacon technology that allows the transmission of information to other smart devices found nearby, like mobile phones. This technology uses beacons, which are small transmitters responsible for identifying other smart devices and sending these signals. Keep in mind that beacons don’t send out random signals, all the information transmitted and sent out is specified. The beacon technologies implement and utilize Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or as Apple calls it, iBeacon. This technology simplifies the fast and efficient transition of information. However, it only works on short ranges.
History of beacon technology
So, let us explore the interesting history of beacons. The beacon technology first emerged in 2013. Apple was the first company to show admiration for the prominent technology and think it is really beneficial. That is why they went on to announce the inclusion of iBeacons in iOS 7. Apple took a big and smart step in implementing such technology. It was used in all Apple stores. As once a customer stepped in, he would get an instant notification with all the offers in the store and where to find them. Of course, the idea of beacon technology took off after this Many companies, such as Google, started implementing it in various ways.
How Does It Work?
So, now that we know what beacon technology is and how it started, we need to know how it works. As we mentioned before, beacon technology works through devices called beacons. These tiny devices transmit signals that allow the transfer of information to all nearby mobile devices.
Think of this technology as a play. Any play needs the main characters, on whom the play will be based, how they work, and how they interact. In this scenario, the three characters are the beacon devices, a mobile application, and the user’s permission, which is very important for this process to go on. The beacon technology is usually part of the SDK, or software development kit, that is used to build the mobile application. So, let us put our play together.
Beacon Technologies: The Play
Scene one: a customer is entering a great hypermarket. This hypermarket just discovered and implemented beacon technologies, as many people said that it would be a great way to market the store even more and drive sales. The customer who just entered turns out to have the hypermarket application installed on his mobile devices.
Scene two: The customer is just going through the aisles when suddenly he hears a notification sound. His phone has a new notification from the hypermarket telling him that since he is in aisle 7, he can take a look at the great offer found on home appliances. The customer is both amazed and curious: how did this happen?
So, let us break it down together. When the hypermarket decided to implement beacon technologies, they installed beacon devices on each aisle with offers. What makes this even better is that the customer has the hypermarket's app installed as well. The minute this customer stepped into the aisle with offers, the beacon device detected a unique key found on the mobile devices and started to transmit the information in the form of a push notification.
Applications of beacon technologies in various fields
Healthcare
The healthcare sector is also witnessing an increase in interest in beacon technology. Beacons can help hospitals and clinics keep track of their medical supplies and staff, which can increase productivity and lessen the likelihood of errors and mistakes. Additionally, beacon technologies can be used to inform doctors of patients' conditions, detailed medical histories, and treatment alternatives the moment they enter hospitals and clinics. Beacons can also be used to send reminders to patients about appointments and prescription schedules. This contributes significantly to improving patients' well-being and satisfaction
Retail
The way that beacon technologies are used in the retail industry is very advanced and extensive. The retail and e-commerce industries found beacons to be very beneficial, as they can be implemented in many areas. For instance, beacons are used to inform customers of all the new offers and collections inside the store instead of asking. Additionally, the beacons are used to identify the pattern and behavior of customers inside the store. Such as the time spent inside, the exit and entry, the section that they stayed at, and the sections that they ignored. This is very beneficial. As it helps the employees make the necessary modifications to the store and the store’s display according to the customer’s route inside the store.
Transportation
The transportation sector is another one that has found a use for beacon technology. Beacons can be used in airports to notify passengers of flight times, gate changes, and the location of baggage claims in real time, for example. If your bag goes missing, you can use a beacon to find it and get a notification if it leaves a certain area. Travelers can also benefit from the deployment of beacons in public transit systems by receiving updates on their routes, schedules, and delays. The quality of service for riders and the effectiveness of transportation networks can both improve by employing this technology
Benefits of Beacon technologies
Enhanced Customer Engagement
Incorporating beacon technology into your business is a great way to increase customer engagement. Customers are more likely to interact with your brand if you provide them with a unique and engaging experience, and beacon technologies allow you to do just that by sending messages and offer directly to their mobile phones and apps. More satisfied customers are more likely to return, which can significantly boost profit.
Improved Data Collection and Analysis
The ability to collect and analyze data is another important advantage of beacon technologies for organizations. You may learn a lot about your customers' preferences, behaviors, and needs by monitoring their engagement with your product. You may utilize this information to improve and fine-tune your marketing campaigns, product features, and customers' overall satisfaction. Beacon technology enables continuous monitoring and data collection, speeding up operations and improving reliability.
Personalized User Experience
Beacon technologies allow businesses to provide a more personalized experience for their users. With data gathered from beacons, businesses may personalize their marketing and product features to each individual customer's preferences and interests. This not only increases the satisfaction of the customer but also raises the likelihood of future purchases and brand loyalty. Customers are more likely to make a purchase when they believe the product or service is tailored to their unique needs and interests.
Increased Sales and Revenue
Increased sales and revenue are two of the most important benefits of employing beacon technologies. Businesses may boost customer loyalty and retention by giving them unique experiences, which in turn boost sales. Beacons can also be configured to alert customers when they are near a store or a certain product, increasing the chances that they will make a purchase. Beacons' data can also be used to study customers' behaviors and preferences, letting companies modify their services and promotions accordingly. When combined, these elements can help organizations that employ beacon technologies see impressive growth in revenue.
Better Customer Insights
With the use of beacon technology, organizations can learn a lot about their customers' preferences and patterns of behavior. Companies may learn more about their target demographic and their buying habits by monitoring customers' activities and how they engage with their products and services. This gathered data is ideal to help businesses modify marketing offers and promotions. As well as their product and service development, to better suit consumer demands.
Final Thoughts
Beacon technologies proved to be very effective. Not only for one field but for many important fields like healthcare, retail, transportation, and many more that really expanded their capabilities and enhanced their operations with beacon technologies. At the moment, great companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook are greatly competing against each other by adding and realizing new beacon devices. This also leads to the emergence of many beacon applications that help users experience these astonishing technologies. Apps on iOS like Launch Here, which allows you to automate tasks, and BeHere transforms education and allows teachers to take attendance via beacons, This, in addition to many more apps, is paving the way for a future filled with great and beneficial capabilities that will help simplify and streamline our lives.