The Estimote Proximity technology together with Proximity Beacons enable lots of possible use cases. They work in a similar fashion and rely on so-called enter/exit events. In the code of your app, you specify a beacon’s range (e.g. 3 meters). Then, once a user's device enters this range (enter event) or leaves it (exit event), you can trigger virtually any action in your app.
Let's explore some common use cases!
Contextual notifications
Send push notifications to users' devices with content relevant to their current micro-location.
- provide extra context ("You are viewing Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, painted in 1503...")
- send relevant information at a specific time (a feedback form that appears as someone leaves the venue)
- personalize an experience ("Hello Mary, it's great to see you again at our restaurant. Please take a seat!")
- fetch relevant data at a specific time ("The next meeting in this room starts in 5 minutes")
Zone-based positioning
Detect which area users are in and guide them to a place of interest. Follow their steps to manage flows, create insights, and optimize interactions.
- run heatmaps ("the spices department received 1530 visits yesterday, while the dairy department was visited 3205 times")
- offer wayfinding ("you're facing the lobby, turn left to reach the restaurant")
- give users insights into their visit ("during the conference, you visited companies X, Y and Z. Would you like to ask them any additional questions?")
Presence detection/verification
Check if the right person is in the right place. Log visits and allow access only to verified users.
- verify people (allow visitors to enter a gym once they are identified with the app)
- know who is where (find your employees within seconds)
- log people the moment they cross a gate ("Tom checked in at 9:04:24 AM")
- trigger events when specific people enter a room (launch a conference call with Mary the moment Mark enters room XYZ)
Software automation
Trigger specific events as users interact with beacons.
- optimize production (launch a certain process the moment an operator approaches a workstation)
- make your office smarter (start a video with Jess once Mike steps into the conference room)
- save customers’ time (automatically validate tickets when a user enters a bus)
What are some examples of successful beacon use?
Tesco: triggering relevant notifications with promotions and loyalty offers in-store.
RightHear app: a sound-powered guide for the visually impaired throughout various venues.
Guggenheim Museum: a proximity-based audio guide that takes visitors on a journey from artwork to artwork.
Andy Frain: check-in system for security guards in multiple venues.
St. Michael’s Church: contextual notifications to engage visitors
Where can you use proximity?
Essentially anywhere, but certain industries have been particularly successful. Here is a short list!
- offices (smart office, checking-in employees, booking conference rooms)
- retail (loyalty programs, proximity marketing)
- hospitality (personalization, loyalty, automatic ordering, proximity marketing)
- museums (wayfinding, audio guides, notifications with extra context)
- events (checking-in visitors, heat maps, personalization, treasure hunts)
- logistics (checking-in employees, presence verification, automating deliveries)
- security (presence verification, checking-in employees)
- accessibility (wayfinding, visit insights)
- airports (automated payments, check-in, wayfinding, heat maps)
- transportation (driver's verification, automatic ticket validation)
- sports (personalization, presence verification)
- real estate & showrooms (notifications with product details, interactive experience)
There are so many others! Curious to know if your use case is feasible? Talk to us!