Bluetooth Location Services Device Growth Is Trending Up

April 5, 2022
Jason Marcel
Asset Tracking, Bluetooth LE, Broadcast, Digital Key, Direction Finding, Location Services

From personal item finding and indoor navigation to asset tracking and digital key, Bluetooth^® technology is being widely used as a device positioning solution to address the increasing demand for high-accuracy indoor location services. By enabling one Bluetooth device to determine the presence, distance, and direction of another device, Bluetooth technology delivers flexibility unlike any other positioning radio, allowing building managers and owners to scale indoor positioning solutions to match the varying and changing needs of the building.

Thanks to heightened awareness of the benefits of Bluetooth Location Services, analysts expect to see increased market growth. According to ABI Research, Bluetooth Location Services device growth is expected to trend upward over the next five years, achieving a 25 percent CAGR from 2022 through 2026. This is due, in large part, to recent innovations that enhance Bluetooth automotive access control and asset tracking solutions, which have become key to solving supply chain challenges.

Bluetooth Asset Tracking

Bluetooth^® technology is powering rapid growth in real-time locating system (RTLS) solutions used for tracking things and people, whether that’s locating tools and workers in a warehouse or medical devices and patients in a hospital.

Recent inventory and logistic challenges are driving the need for efficient transportation and warehousing solutions. More commercial and industrial facilities are turning to Bluetooth asset management solutions to optimize resource and inventory control. Analysts conclude that, among Bluetooth Location Services solutions, asset tracking (RTLS) and tags are the major drivers behind continued growth. ABI Research confirms that commercial RTLS systems account for the largest volume of device shipments this year.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities use Bluetooth^® Location Services solutions to optimize critical operational processes. Adoption of Bluetooth RTLS solutions is accelerating in the healthcare industry. 58 percent of medical equipment in hospitals can go unutilized with ten percent of equipment expiring on hospital shelves. Bluetooth technology can help optimize equipment tracking and inventory control, improving operational efficiencies and minimizing waste. In a recent case study, Riverside Healthcare shared how they used a Bluetooth Asset Tracking system to help quickly locate essential equipment, saving staff up to 40 hours a week.

Bluetooth Item Finding

Higher accuracy is driving wider use of Bluetooth^® Item Finding solutions which have become a major contributor to the growth of Bluetooth^® Location Services device shipments. The introduction of the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag and Apple AirTags this past year is further boosting widespread acceptance of personal item finding innovations. According to ABI Research, 140 million Bluetooth personal tracking devices will ship annually by 2026.

“By 2026, ABI Research forecasts there will be more than 140 million annual shipments of Bluetooth^® personal tracking devices, accelerated by new experiences, new form factors, improved accuracy, and the proliferation of tracking networks services from leading tag and mobile vendors. At the same time, the arrival of high-accuracy distance measurement in the future will enable Bluetooth to better service growing secure access applications for passive keyless entry and smart home access control applications.”

– ABI Research

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The Bluetooth^® Market Update

The Bluetooth^® Market Update provides updated forecasts and trends in key Bluetooth solution areas and highlights Bluetooth use cases that will drive future growth.

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Bluetooth Automotive Access Control

The smartphone is a natural part of everyday life, and Bluetooth^® technology is enabling smartphones to be used as a convenient and secure digital key, unlocking doors and spaces as you approach your car, home, office building, and more.

Increasing recognition and acceptance of digital keys are driving demand for more access and control capabilities in smartphones, and Bluetooth technology is playing an important role in automotive access control. Bluetooth based fobs not only allow locking and unlocking doors but also bring more convenience to drivers.

Building on the success of the key fob, Bluetooth^® technology in the smartphone can help securely access automobiles while limiting the number of devices that need to be carried. Having achieved 100 percent penetration in smartphones, Bluetooth technology is uniquely positioned to meet this demand. Leading automotive vendors, such as Ford Motor Company, now support smartphone digital key capabilities.

Check out the 2022 Bluetooth Market Update and see how Bluetooth Location Services are driving tomorrow’s market trends and forecasts.

See the full report.

FEATURED REPORT

The Bluetooth^® Market Update

The Bluetooth^® Market Update provides updated forecasts and trends in key Bluetooth solution areas and highlights Bluetooth use cases that will drive future growth.

SEE THE LATEST REPORT