RTLS
Globus Labs
A real-time location system (RTLS) is one of a number of technologies that detects the current geolocation of a target, which may be anything from a vehicle to an item in a manufacturing plant to a person.
RTLS-capable products are used in an ever-increasing number of sectors including supply chain management (SCM), health care, the military, retail, recreation, and postal and courier services.
Anything being tracked by RTLS has a tag affixed to it which can be located by the infrastructure of the system. An alternate implementation can leverage devices that are location aware (i.e., can determine their own location) and can report their location to the infrastructure (e.g., cell phone for GPS tracking). The tag or location aware device stores the unique identity and sometimes additional information (e.g., current and last location, users of the object, product origin, physical conditions, maintenance records, compliance, etc.) about the object on which it is attached or representing. The information stored on these devices, along with real time positioning of the object, is then communicated back to an associated business system.
Because RTLS solutions track objects, they are commonly confused with asset tracking systems. RTLS can be used to provide asset tracking; however, not all asset tracking systems are RTLS. The difference between these two systems lies in the continuous communication between the objects being tracked and the system. Asset tracking solutions are not considered to be RTLS unless they are configured for automatic and continuous reporting. In most traditional asset tracking systems, the tag interacts with the system only when it is read at predetermined points (e.g., doorway or portal). This means that the system bases the location of the asset on where it was last read and not where it actually is. In other words, the system will know that an asset is in a certain area, but it will not be able to precisely locate where in that area the asset is.
Manufacturing
Retail
Supply chain
warehousing
Health Care
Tourism
The information and functionality RTLS systems offer are providing tremendous value to the enterprise. The increased visibility and information is proving to be invaluable and highly actionable for enhancing and streamlining the operations and processes of the using enterprise. Typical benefits include: operational improvement: more streamlined and efficient processes resulting in improved throughput, resource utilization and error-proofing, as well as significant reductions in operational costs such as search time on task, rental item reduction and process error improved and more informed decision-making: faster, more efficient information distribution enables the most actionable employees to react quicker more effective maintenance and compliance: the ability to store information on the object is being leveraged to support MRO activities as well as ensure government, industry or customer compliance (e.g., cleaning, calibration). Complete records can be rapidly accessed to ensure proper handling new service opportunities: in many instances, the information and visibility provided by RTLS solutions are being used by enterprises to develop new offerings (and revenue generating opportunities) and benefits that can be passed on to their customers. For example, shipping companies can offer real-time visibility into the transportation of goods (via the web) to their customers as well as offer physical condition monitoring services … for an additional fee or as part of a package of services competitive advantage: more efficient operations, cost reductions, better decision making and new dynamic offerings to customers ensure a competitive advantage to most early adopters of RTLS systems. This advantage is enhanced as the solution continues to penetrate the rest of the enterprise and value chain.
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