Advantages, Applications and Limitations of BLE

• High Accuracy: BLE beacons can provide location information with an accuracy of up to a few meters, depending on the density of the beacon deployment. This level of precision allows businesses to track assets or individuals with great accuracy, reducing the risk of errors or misplacements.
• Cost-effectiveness and ease of deployment: BLE beacons are relatively inexpensive, and their battery life can last for several years. The installation process is also straightforward, as the beacons can be easily mounted on walls or ceilings. This simplicity makes it feasible for businesses of all sizes to implement an indoor location tracking system without significant financial or technical investments.
• The BLE-based solution offers flexibility and scalability: The tracking platform can be customized to meet specific business requirements, allowing for the integration of additional functionalities, such as heatmaps, proximity alerts, or analytics. Moreover, the system can be easily expanded by adding more beacons to cover larger areas or accommodate growing needs.
• Low power consumption: Even when compared to other low-power technologies. BLE achieves optimized and low power consumption by keeping the radio off as much as possible and sending small amounts of data at low transfer speeds

Applications of BLE

• Retail: it can be used to improve store layouts, optimize product placements, and enhance personalized shopping experiences.
• Healthcare: it can assist in asset tracking, patient monitoring, and staff management.
• Logistics: it can streamline inventory management, optimize warehouse operations, and enhance supply chain visibility.

Limitations of BLE

1. Data Throughput: The data throughput of BLE is limited by the physical radio data rate, which is the rate at which the radio transmits data. This rate depends on the Bluetooth version used. For Bluetooth versions earlier than 5.0, the rate is fixed at 1 Mbps. For Bluetooth 5.0 and later, however, the rate varies depending on the mode, and PHY (discussed later in the Physical Layer section) used. The rate can be at 1 Mbps like earlier versions or 2 Mbps when utilizing the high-speed feature. When utilizing the long-range feature, the rate drops to either 500 or 125 Kbps. At the application layer and for the end-user, the data rate is much lower than the radio data rate.
2. Range: BLE was designed for short-range applications; hence, its range of operation is limited. There are a few factors that limit the range of BLE, including:
3. Range: BLE was designed for short-range applications; hence, its range of operation is limited. There are a few factors that limit the range of BLE, including:

• It operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM spectrum, which is greatly affected by obstacles that exist all around us, such as metal objects, walls, and water (especially human bodies).
• Performance and design of the antenna of the BLE device.
• The physical enclosure of the Bluetooth low-energy device affects the antenna performance, especially if it is an internal antenna.
• Device orientation — effectively relates to the positioning of the antenna (e.g., in smartphones).

Gateway Requirement for Internet Connectivity: To transfer data from a BLE-only device to the Internet, another BLE device that has an IP connection is needed to receive this data and then, in turn, relay it to another IP device (or to the Internet).

In conclusion, indoor location tracking using a BLE-based solution offers businesses a reliable and cost-effective way to monitor and manage assets or individuals within indoor environments. Its high accuracy, ease of deployment, and scalability make it an attractive option for businesses looking to enhance their operations and improve overall efficiency. By leveraging BLE technology, businesses can unlock new opportunities for optimization and innovation in various industries.

Sources: Mongrov, Google, NovelBits