On their own, these devices aren’t too useful and require the right application and ecosystem to allow us to fully leverage their features. Most of the time, the signal broadcast by a beacon is just a URL or a unique identifier which is used by the app to display information that is relevant to users. High-end transmitters are capable of broadcasting data from built-in sensors as well, meaning they can also be used for telemetry purposes.

Use cases of the technology include, amongst others, precise indoor navigation (in places where no GPS signal is available) or indoor tracking of the movement of persons or items. For example, the proprietary app of London Gatwick Airport has included a navigation feature at both of its terminals since 2017, and with the right device, augmented reality is also available.

Retail apps can display personalised ads to users depending on the beacons nearby. For instance, transmitters installed in Carrefour stores in Romania and Tunisia can be used to determine the path followed by customers who have Carrefour’s app installed, which allowed Carrefour to optimise the layout of its stores and to provide special offers in its app depending on the position of customers. This resulted in a 400% increase in the time spent in the app.

Beacons can also revolutionise how hospitals operate. The University Hospital of the Japanese city of Nagoya launched its smart hospital initiative in 2018. They fitted each patient and staff member with beacons, and information on their position and condition was collected using Bluetooth receivers installed in the hospital’s ceiling. This telemetry system notifies staff when a patient’s condition deteriorates, regardless of where they are located within the building. The smart devices used by doctors help speed up administration using the beacons of nearby patients by pre-loading available data and existing medical records.