Kerlink has released a real-time, indoor Cost-Efficient LoRaWAN multi-technology tracking anchor for smart-retail and smart-facility applications. Named Wanesy Wave, this indoor asset-tracking-and-counting system uses WiFi or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to detect and locate Wi-Fi devices like smartphones, using their probe request (when the smartphone automatically requests a new Wi-Fi service to connect), and can also track Bluetooth-enabled devices or tags. Upon detection, it transmits the data using a LoRaWAN link to an industrial-grade LoRaWAN gateway such as a Kerlink Wirnet iFemtoCell. Thereafter, the gateway transfers the information to the business-application server via Kerlink’s Wanesy Management Center that operates and manages the end-to-end LoRaWAN networks.
Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRa together make this tracking-and-counting solution perfect to reach key expected capabilities. This includes relevant accuracy in an extended indoor range, a combination of area detection and various types of targets (fixed or mobile assets, people), and low energy consumption, thereby ensuring extended lifetime for battery-powered devices and tags. The system is based on time-stamped signals from three or more LoRaWAN gateways.
This low-energy tracking solution is best suited to be used in end-to-end solutions by retail shops, merchants, commercial malls, museums to count visitors, trace their movements and retrieve their customer journeys in stores and buildings, the amount of time they spend in different areas, etc. This helps in understanding customer behavior, measuring the effectiveness of displays and marketing campaigns, and managing inventory. Also, it can be used in industrial sites and hospitals that can quickly deploy a solution to geolocate and manage their critical assets to save time and reach a high level of efficiency. Besides, Wanesy Wave powers social-contact-tracing information to help in suppressing the spread of Covid-19.
