Geolocation Comparison: GPS, RFID, LoRa, BLE, which solution?

At UBI Solutions, we support industrial, logistics, and service companies in the digitalization of their traceability processes.

Today, geolocation has become an essential solution, particularly sought after by companies looking to optimize asset management and ensure accurate, real-time tracking. Whether it's for locating equipment, managing inventory, or improving workflows, the ability to geolocate effectively and reliably has become a major strategic advantage.

However, with the variety of geolocation technologies available, such as GPS, RFID, LoRa, BLE, or NB-IoT, it's crucial to understand the specifics of each solution in order to choose the one best suited to your needs. Each of these technologies has its advantages depending on the environments and specific use cases. In this article, we will explore the different geolocation options and how they can be used to address the current traceability challenges faced by businesses.

Comprehensive Overview of Key Geolocation Technologies

Geolocation technologies are distinguished by specific characteristics suited to a variety of use cases.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

GPS is one of the most commonly used technologies for long-distance tracking applications. It offers global coverage and high accuracy, making it an ideal solution for fleet management, mobile equipment, and container tracking. GPS enables real-time tracking, but its cost can be high.

Range: Global
Connection required: Satellite
Use cases: Fleet management, international shipment tracking, mobile equipment tracking

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

RFID solutions are ideal for inventory and asset management. RFID technologies include passive, active, and semi-active options, each with its advantages in terms of range, battery life, and cost. Passive RFID, for example, is an economical solution for inventory applications and textile management, while active RFID provides more precise tracking over medium range, with extended battery life.

Types: Passive, active, semi-active
Range: From a few centimeters to over 100 meters (active)
Use cases: Inventory, stock management, tracking fixed assets, container management

    LoRa (Long Range)

LoRa technology stands out for its ability to provide extensive coverage while consuming little energy. It is particularly well-suited for remote industrial sites or equipment that requires long battery life without relying on traditional communication networks. LoRa is a preferred choice for environments where long-range and low energy consumption are essential.

Range: Up to 10-15 km
Consumption: Very low
Use cases: Large industrial sites, remote areas, long-duration equipment

BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)

BLE is ideal for indoor environments where moderate-range asset tracking is required. Its low energy consumption makes it a perfect solution for tracking tools and equipment in enclosed spaces, such as buildings or construction sites. BLE provides good accuracy for indoor geolocation applications.

Range: 10 to 100 meters
Advantage: Indoor localization, low energy consumption
Use cases: Tool tracking, mobile equipment on construction sites, indoor asset management

Concrete examples of applications with our clients

📦 Management of logistics assets in the warehouse using passive RFID.

Gémo, a brand of the Eram Group, has implemented an RFID traceability solution to optimize the management of its logistics assets across its 400 stores in France. Faced with complex operations, particularly the lack of traceability for empty containers in its logistics centers, Gémo integrated RFID technology to track logistics assets in real time between its Melay platform and stores. Thanks to the UBI Cloud platform, this solution allows the brand to monitor stock and movement in real time, optimize asset management, reduce purchase costs, simplify inventory, and minimize losses, all while improving logistical productivity and product traceability.

⚠️ Intelligent management of hazardous waste containers in ATEX zones using BLE technology.

At its Givors site, classified as Seveso, Suez IWS Chemical has implemented a hazardous waste container traceability solution based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, tailored for ATEX zones. This solution includes BLE trackers attached to the containers, BLE-LoRa gateways for data transmission, ATEX-certified mobile terminals equipped with the UBI Mobile app, NB-IoT sensors for stock volume monitoring, and the UBI Cloud NextGen platform for data visualization and analysis. With this infrastructure, Suez can locate hazardous waste containers in real-time, optimize stock management, prevent regulatory threshold exceedances, and ensure compliance with current standards, which were strengthened after the Lubrizol incident in 2019.

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🔄 Automated traceability of logistics bins using passive RFID.

Viaposte, a logistics specialist and subsidiary of the La Poste Group, has modernized the management of its logistics bins by deploying a complete RFID solution with UBI Solutions. Through the integration of UHF tags, smart gates, and the UBI Cloud platform, the company now ensures real-time traceability of its containers, improving visibility of flows, reducing losses, and optimizing stock rotation. This initiative is part of an operational efficiency drive and cost control efforts, enhancing the overall performance of the logistics chain.

🏥 Indoor traceability in hospitals using BLE technology.

At UBI Solutions, we have deployed several concrete use cases in the healthcare sector incorporating BLE technology. Discreet, energy-efficient, and easy to integrate, this technology allows for the precise geolocation of critical equipment, such as beds, wheelchairs, and medical devices, significantly reducing the time spent locating them and improving availability for healthcare staff.

Outside of hospital buildings, the BLE solution is also applied to ambulances to track onboard equipment, automate inventories, and visualize routes in real time. We have also developed a digitized Kanban system based on BLE to optimize the management of pharmaceutical stocks directly at distribution points.

These applications demonstrate the power of BLE technology as a lever for efficiency in complex environments, whether in hospitals or logistics centers, with a constant focus on reliability, responsiveness, and service quality.

How to choose the most suitable geolocation technology for your needs?

The choice of the most suitable geolocation technology depends on several key criteria:

✅ Business objectives: Clearly define your priorities: do you aim to improve real-time visibility, enhance safety, automate processes, or optimize stock management? Each objective will guide the technology choice toward specific solutions.

✅ Type of assets to track: Identify the characteristics of your assets: are they fixed or mobile? Do they have specific requirements in terms of sensitivity or operating conditions (such as temperature, exposure to chemicals, etc.)?

✅ Operating environment:
Analyze the conditions in which the technology will be deployed: indoor or outdoor, ATEX zones, presence of metal or liquids that could interfere with signals, and network constraints (coverage, bandwidth, latency).

At UBI Solutions, we support you throughout your entire project, from selecting the right technology to its full integration into your existing systems (ERP, WMS, CMMS, etc.). By choosing the geolocation solution best suited to your needs, we enable you to optimize asset management, improve process traceability, and enhance the efficiency of your operations. Whether for real-time tracking of your equipment, stock management, or increased visibility of your assets, our solutions are designed to meet your specific business challenges.

Feel free to contact us to discover how our geolocation technologies, such as RFID, BLE, and more, can transform your processes and provide a lasting competitive advantage. Our team is ready to deliver a tailored solution that addresses your unique challenges, while ensuring smooth and efficient integration into your working environments.

🔎 Contact us for a personalized assessment of your needs or book a demonstration of our solutions. 👇