Choosing the right tracking technology is critical for your supply chain visibility strategy. This comprehensive guide compares GPS trackers, BLE beacons, and smart labels across cost, capability, and use case fit.
The best tracking technology depends on your specific requirements: tracking range, cost per asset, battery life, and whether you need indoor or outdoor visibility.
GPS trackers excel at tracking shipping containers, vehicles, and high-value equipment across international routes. Global coverage via satellite + cellular at $50-300 per device.
Learn about GPS →BLE beacons deliver precise indoor positioning in warehouses, hospitals, and factories. Long battery life (1-5 years) at $5-30 per device makes them ideal for facility-wide deployments.
Learn about BLE →Smart labels enable item-level tracking at $0.10-2 per unit. Battery-free, disposable, and ultra-thin — perfect for pallets, parcels, and retail inventory where GPS would be cost-prohibitive.
Learn about Smart Labels →Detailed comparison of GPS trackers, BLE beacons, and smart labels across all key specifications.
Answer these key questions to determine which tracking technology best fits your requirements.
Outdoor/Global: GPS trackers are required for assets that travel outside facility boundaries — shipping containers, vehicles, field equipment.
Indoor: BLE beacons and smart labels excel indoors where GPS signals can't penetrate — warehouses, hospitals, factories.
High-Value ($10K+): GPS trackers are justified for containers, vehicles, and expensive equipment.
Medium-Value ($100-10K): BLE beacons balance cost and capability for tools, medical equipment, IT assets.
Low-Value (<$100): Smart labels enable tracking where GPS would be cost-prohibitive.
Reusable: GPS trackers and BLE beacons can be recovered and redeployed. Better ROI for fixed asset fleets.
Disposable: Smart labels are designed for single-use — ideal for shipments where device recovery isn't practical.
No Infrastructure: GPS trackers work anywhere via cellular — no gateway installation required.
Facility Infrastructure: BLE beacons and smart labels require gateway coverage. Many facilities have compatible WiFi/BLE infrastructure already.
Many organisations deploy multiple tracking technologies for complete supply chain visibility. Our platform unifies GPS, BLE, and smart label data in a single dashboard.
Track containers during international transit with GPS. Global cellular connectivity maintains visibility across oceans and borders.
Deploy BLE beacons for indoor tracking within distribution centres. Sub-meter accuracy for inventory location and picking optimisation.
Apply smart labels to individual pallets and cases. Item-level visibility at price points that make sense for lower-value goods.
All tracking data — GPS, BLE, smart labels — flows to our cloud platform. Single dashboard, unified alerts, comprehensive visibility.