Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) combined with the Internet of Things (IoT) help provide data about staff, patients, and medical equipment. RTLS is projected to surpass $2.4 billion by 2026 with a CARG growth rate of more than 11.3%. Healthcare administrations can enhance staff and patient experiences through a connected ecosystem while simultaneously lowering operational costs and boosting efficiency.
In the healthcare industry, RTLS can be used to optimize different sectors, such as RTLS for seniors and in the mining and construction industries. The following are some ways RTLS benefits people of all generations.
Benefits
1. Enables continuous monitoring
Knowing where people or resources are at any given point can be an asset for the organization. RTLS solutions are being adopted by companies to address various issues and needs within these companies. Tracking the location of staff or assets is essential, especially in industries like manufacturing and transport.
In such sectors, real-time monitoring is vital. You can also use RTLS software to track the historical movements of employees, which aids in reducing logistics errors.
2. High-quality communication and automation
RTLS enables high-quality communication. The system can transmit through walls and objects and has an impressively long range. This communication is also precise and can pick out an individual or location within a few centimeters. In this setting, manual functions and systems are replaced with cutting-edge technology facilitating a swifter response to inaccuracies and changes.
Automation of operations is another critical benefit here. RTLS solutions automate manual and error-prone tasks by phasing out outdated solutions like spreadsheets.
3. Optimization and automation of workflow
One ingredient for organizational success is the clear and visible flow of people and materials. With Real-Time Location System, you can also calculate the period within which this occurs. This software can plays a role in making both inventory management and human resource management efficient. RTLS also optimizes the production control and asset tracking processes and enhances security.
Furthermore, this infrastructure enables the acceleration of processes in addition to identifying and diagnosing issues plaguing these operations. Overall, this increases the speed. Giving businesses control over their work tools and instruments can boost returns and improve staff efficiency. It also stops employees from performing the wrong operations at their workstations.
The RTLS infrastructure continuously collects and analyzes data, allowing analyses to be completed in a timely fashion at your organization’s convenience.
Which industries use RTLS?
a. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals industries
RTLS can monitor lab conditions and temperatures, upholding medicine quality and ensuring that medical products are kept at an optimum. These systems are also used in patient care, ensuring adult and infant security and making the work easier for healthcare workers.
b. transport and travel sector
The RTLS software can track the whereabouts of cars and optimize train plans and schedules. It also improves the tracking and optimization of fleet movement patterns, thus alleviating traffic.
c. Tourism and hospitality
Hotels and restaurants can locate the employees they wish to contact using the Real-Time Location System. Laundry bags fitted with tags will notify staff before a particular asset leaves the building or establishment. This maximizes asset use and limits the loss of hotel property from the rooms.
Additionally, all hotel staff can use a customized call button on their badges or identification cards to ask for help in the occurrence of an emergency.
d. Construction and mining
Other than tracking the workplaces to enhance security, these solutions can be used to track tools, construction machines as well as individual sections of structures. They can also be used to measure various metrics related to mining operations.
e. The prison system
An RTLS can also be used as the core for designing an integrated monitoring system that utilizes wearable devices that can track the location of vulnerable or high-risk prisoners. Usually, this is achieved through a magnetic strip allowing law enforcement to predict the location with almost 100% precision. That ultimately enhances surveillance and physical security within these prison systems.
By adopting the right RTLS within the near future, prisons will be able to track and secure each prisoner. It would be particularly instrumental in enhancing security in prison sections and house arrests where an inmate’s movement is limited. Location tracking is also helpful in giving real-time notifications, which is critical in preventing jail groups and gangs from forming for the safety of staff and other detainees.
Based on recorded patterns, staff can also use prisoner data to distinguish specific detainees that move in the same groups. It allows them to stay prepared for impeding or potential incidents.
Conclusion
Real-Time Location Systems are a game-changer; as seen above, they benefit people from different generations and ages. They come in various forms and storage sizes and are customizable to specific businesses and sectors.