How Beacon Technology Expands Horizon of IoT and Cloud

In recent time, the most user-friendly technology under IoT umbrella is beacon. Organizations are using the capabilities of beacon to develop consumer facing enterprise apps. Cloud is also one of those technologies that facilitate businesses to connect consumers and workers through robust cloud applications. Beacon can be used with low powered Bluetooth modules to track users through offices, stores and factories, and send push notifications in context to mobile apps.

Google launched a new system Eddystone in the beginning of the year. This release has empowered the world of beacon technology. So, development of revolutionary mobile apps become easier with the integration of beacons, cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) than ever before. All the leading mobile app development companies are looking forward to leverage these platforms and set the best development practices for consumer facing mobile apps building.

When these three technologies interact with each other, it guarantees of simplex mobile app development of complex business processes. It helps customers and employees to perform their activities successfully and efficiently. It enables enterprises to increase client engagement and employee productivity.

Nowadays, basic form of beacon technology is everywhere around us. But as we are discussing to combine it with Cloud and IoT, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to build a next generation mobile app without the help of highly experienced industry experts. Tie up with an early adopter of beacon technology to have smart strategies in place for your mobile app. If the IT company holds long lasting experience in the realm of Cloud and IoT, then it is icing on the cake.

Here’re key strategies to evolve ground-breaking mobile app using the beacon technology.

Focus on Valuable Context Delivery

Beacon technology facilitates organizations to create location-based context. If the technology combines with GPS and other location-based technologies, it works as an add-on. GPS is the best technology to stay connected with customers through the context outdoors. It requires conjunction with consumers’ installed app to provide the information. But beacon is more reliable while it comes to sharing context inside.

Another popular approach for useful context offering is printed Quick Response (QR) codes. It establishes linking amongst cloud application and physical object. However, to know the QR code content, users have to scan the code manually from printed stickers. So, it adds another layer of location management.

Beacon facilitates companies to send automatic push notifications to the users about products and services. Interaction amongst beacon and back-end cloud application enables organizations to keep all the data updated dynamically at cloud platform. It helps business to make accurate business decisions using the latest data.

Connectivity Amongst Virtual and Physical

Combination of these technologies builds robust mobile apps that create a bridge between the virtual world and physical things. Let’s take an example of museums; earlier the owners tend to use QR codes to push out background information about different art pieces to the users. These days, they use beacon to send the same information on the dedicated mobile apps in faster and better way.

For the beacon technology projects, along with unique development, connection of beacon with cloud application and web application is equally essential. Include all the necessary and advanced functions in one-time development, so consumers need not to download the new apps every time. Develop next generation mobile applications and deliver immersive experiences to the users along with something they can take away. It also drives cost cutting for the businesses.

By creating treasure, organizations can attract the consumer. For an instance, create a treasure app to deliver surprise gift to the users. While the users are moving into the museum, allow them to install and unlock the app in mobile and offer them the gift. It creates an aura of excitement across the users while they are going through the museum.

Custom Prototype Establishment

Define advanced strategies for your beacon project to improve customer engagement. Use various IoT kits such as Particle.io Photon and Estimote beacon that contain Wi-Fi radio, outputs of driving sensors and motors, and processors. Define a customized beacon protocol for integration of different IoT kits as per the requirements. With the tailored protocol, it is quite easy for businesses to manage a fleet of beacons.

There might be few concerns with the power supply to the physical box of the beacon. The issue can be resolved up to some extent by using the rechargeable battery, solar power or power cords. Additionally, integration of content management system with beacon technology based mobile apps simplifies content updating process.

Linking with Objects

Traditional beacons send Universal Unique Identifiers (UUIDS). It is a 128-bit number that is used to identify any entity or object uniquely on the internet. This number connects the back-end of cloud application with a dedicated mobile app. Now businesses use Eddystone, a latest open source technology from Google. It allows businesses broadcasting website URL to users or add it in the beacon. Users can access the content and information from the website using the browser without mobile apps.

Eddystone is a recently released technology that runs on a Google browser for Apple users. The beta channel of this beacon technology works on Chrome for Android. It is expected this strategy of Google enables Apple iBeacon to send URLs very soon.

Implementation of these strategies enables businesses to increase consumer base through progressive web applications. Beacon based mobile apps start their life as a web application, but gradually they become app-like.

To leverage an innovative mobile app based on incredible combination of the beacon, Cloud, and IoT technologies, get in touch with us. Develop highly dynamic mobile apps that offer streamlined business process at least investment.

Originally published at intuz.wordpress.com on December 21, 2016.