RTLS (Real-Time Location System) asset tracking is a solution that uses wireless technologies to monitor the precise location of assets in real time. In an RTLS, small electronic tags are attached to tools, equipment, inventory, vehicles, or other assets. These tags continuously transmit signals that are picked up by a network of receivers or anchors installed in the facility. In essence, RTLS asset tracking provides real-time visibility into the whereabouts of your assets, automatically and continuously, without manual searches or scans.
Different underlying technologies can be used for RTLS asset tracking, each working a bit differently. (See our page on RTLS principles for more details.)
Implementing RTLS for asset tracking brings powerful benefits across industries. Here are core value propositions:
Real-Time Visibility: RTLS provides an up-to-the-moment view of where all assets are located. Instead of guessing or conducting time-consuming searches, staff can instantly locate any piece of equipment on a digital map. This level of visibility improves decision-making and responsiveness – for example, knowing immediately which tools are available and where. It also enhances inventory oversight (“inventory visibility”) by allowing you to see stock and resources moving through your operations in real time.
Theft and Loss Prevention: By continuously monitoring asset locations, an RTLS can detect unauthorized movements or removals. For instance, if a valuable asset leaves a designated area (exits a gate or building), the system can trigger an instant alert.
Reduced Search Time: One of the most tangible benefits is the dramatic reduction in time spent looking for misplaced equipment. In asset-intensive environments, employees often waste hours searching for items that aren’t where they expect. Studies have found that at least one-third of nurses spend an hour or more per shift searching for medical equipment – time that could be devoted to patient care.
Improved Equipment Utilization: Real-time tracking ensures you know which assets are actually in use, idle, or underused. This data leads to better utilization of existing equipment. Organizations often overbuy equipment “just in case” to avoid shortages, especially when they lack visibility. In fact, hospitals without RTLS have been shown to purchase up to 20% more equipment than necessary because they can’t find what they already have. With RTLS, you can identify and redistribute underutilized assets instead of buying duplicates.
Operational Efficiency: All of the above benefits culminate in streamlined operations. When assets are tracked and readily available, processes flow faster with fewer delays. Workers spend less time on non-productive activities (searching, waiting, manually logging asset data) and more time on their primary tasks. Maintenance can be performed on schedule since equipment is easy to round up. Data from RTLS can even reveal process bottlenecks – for example, spotting that equipment tends to pile up in a certain zone, indicating a workflow issue. Companies leveraging RTLS have reported improvements like faster turnaround times in clinics, higher throughput in factories, and better on-time delivery in warehouses. In short, RTLS-driven visibility boosts operational efficiency by enabling proactive management of assets and smoother logistics.
Interactive, Real-Time Asset Maps: A live digital map of your facility shows asset locations as they move. Users can pan/zoom, search for specific items, and see their current position instantly. Assets are often color-coded by type or status. This interactive map is the foundation of RTLS software, making find-it-fast a reality (e.g. locate the nearest available pump in a hospital or a specific pallet in a warehouse in seconds).
Historical Asset Trails: The system continuously logs movement data, which can be played back to view an asset’s path over time. These historical trails (sometimes called “breadcrumb trails” or trajectory maps) let you see where an asset has been. For example, you could trace a misplaced tool’s last known route through a factory. Historical tracking also helps analyze process flows – you might find a forklift is taking an inefficient route repeatedly. By recording asset locations over days or months, RTLS enables powerful analytics such as heatmaps of traffic or asset journey histories.
Utilization Reports & Analytics: RTLS software typically includes reporting dashboards that crunch the tracking data into useful metrics. Utilization reports show how often and how long each asset is in use versus idle. This helps identify underutilized equipment that could be reallocated or excess inventory that can be reduced. Analytics might also reveal patterns like peak usage times, average dwell times in certain areas, and bottlenecks.
Smart Alerts (Geofencing and Dwell Time): An RTLS can automatically send alerts based on real-time conditions. Common geofencing alerts include entry or exit notifications – if an asset enters a restricted area or leaves a designated zone, the system can notify staff immediately. For example, if a tagged forklift approaches a hazard zone, an alert could warn the driver or manager. Egress alerts at exits help prevent equipment from leaving the premises unwatched. Another powerful feature is dwell-time alerts: you can set a rule to flag if an asset stays in one location for too long. This might indicate an issue (e.g. a parked truck waiting too long at a loading bay, or a patient bed remaining in cleaning for over an hour). By configuring smart alerts, organizations can respond in real time to exceptions, improving security and efficiency.
Maintenance and Compliance Notifications: Many RTLS tags can capture sensor data (like motion, temperature, or usage count) or integrate with maintenance schedules. The RTLS software can track usage hours or cycles of equipment and send maintenance due notifications. For instance, if a portable generator has been in use for a certain number of hours, the system can alert the maintenance team to service it.
ERP, WMS, and CMMS Integration: Leading RTLS platforms don’t operate in a silo – they integrate with enterprise systems like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), WMS (Warehouse Management System), and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System). Integration means that real-time location data can flow into your existing asset registers, inventory databases, and maintenance logs. For example, the RTLS could update the WMS when a pallet is moved to a new storage zone, or trigger a work order in the CMMS when an equipment enters the maintenance room.
RTLS technologies include UWB for ultra-precise tracking, BLE for scalable low-cost coverage, RFID for zone-based detection, Wi-Fi for broad facility tracking using existing networks, and Infrared for room-level certainty, each fitting different accuracy, range, and cost needs. (See our page on RTLS principles for more details.)
Investing in RTLS asset tracking yields measurable returns. By quantifying the improvements, decision-makers can often justify the deployment through hard numbers. Here are some of the key benefits and typical ROI metrics organizations see:
By far, the most immediate gain is the reduction in time spent looking for equipment. For example, if nurses or technicians each save even 30 minutes per shift that would have been wasted searching, that quickly adds up to hundreds of hours per month regained.
In one analysis, a hospital calculated over 6,000 hours per month were lost to staff searching for equipment, and RTLS eliminated the bulk of that inefficiency. Those hours translate to more time available for productive work (like patient care or maintenance tasks), or equivalently, reduced labor cost for the organization.
Assets that go missing or get stolen hit the bottom line twice – first in the cost to replace them, and second in the downtime or operational impact of not having them when needed. RTLS virtually eliminates “lost” equipment. Alerts for unauthorized movement prevent items from leaving unnoticed, and continuous monitoring means you always know if something is misplaced on-site.
Many hospitals have reported sharp drops in annual equipment shrinkage (loss) after implementing RTLS – for instance, infusion pumps or wheelchairs that used to disappear now remain accounted for.
Theft prevention in high-value areas (like IT assets in a data center or construction tools on a jobsite) is a major ROI contributor. One RTLS provider notes that simply having egress alerts and real-time visibility “reduces lost or stolen equipment” and allows organizations to right-size inventory without fear.
With better visibility, organizations often discover they can operate with fewer assets. Commonly, an RTLS will show that certain equipment is consistently underutilized or sitting idle. By redistributing these or eliminating excess units, you avoid unnecessary new purchases.
For example, a warehouse that tracked forklift usage realized they could handle the workload with 8 forklifts instead of 10, a 20% reduction, by improving dispatch and eliminating idle time.
In healthcare, knowing exact utilization rates of pumps or beds allows procurement of just the right quantity (often 15–20% fewer than before, saving capital). This “right-sizing” extends to rentals as well – companies can reduce rental costs once they have clear data that existing assets are sufficient.
Improved utilization also delays capital expenditures: you might defer buying that extra $50k machine because RTLS data proves your current ones aren’t being used to full capacity yet.
Although harder to quantify in dollars, the efficiency gains from RTLS often lead to increased throughput – more work gets done in the same time. In a manufacturing plant, if tools and materials are always at hand, assembly lines suffer fewer stoppages, potentially increasing production output by a few percent. In a hospital, quicker access to equipment can reduce procedure wait times and even impact patient throughput and satisfaction.
By keeping better track of assets, organizations tend to take better care of them. RTLS systems that integrate with maintenance schedules ensure equipment gets serviced on time. This leads to less unplanned downtime and longer asset lifespans.
Healthcare: Hospitals and clinics use RTLS to track medical equipment (wheelchairs, IV pumps, ventilators), supplies, and even patients or staff. This ensures critical devices are available when needed, reduces equipment loss, and improves patient care through efficiency. (See our page on RTLS in Healthcare for more details.)
Manufacturing: Factories implement RTLS to monitor tools, dies, raw materials, work-in-progress inventory, and vehicles on the production floor. (See our page on Warehouse, Logistics, and Manufacturing for more details.)
Logistics and Warehousing: In warehouses and distribution centers, RTLS provides real-time inventory visibility and asset management. Pallets, containers, forklifts, carts – all can be tracked to optimize storage and picking routes. Managers gain full visibility of stock movements and can eliminate misplaced inventory. (See our page on Warehouse, Logistics, and Manufacturing for more details.)
Construction: Large construction sites deploy RTLS to keep tabs on valuable equipment (loaders, generators, tools) and materials spread across the site. Given the dynamic, open nature of construction projects, RTLS helps prevent tool theft, ensures equipment isn’t left behind when moving sites, and coordinates resource usage. It can also improve safety by tracking personnel in hazardous areas. (See our page on Construction for more details.)
Data Centers: Data centers use RTLS to track IT assets (servers, network gear) and mobile devices within vast facilities. With thousands of pieces of equipment, an RTLS can locate specific assets for maintenance or audits and prevent loss of expensive hardware. It can also assist in environmental monitoring by tracking sensor locations. Knowing exactly where each asset is saves time during upgrades or troubleshooting in these large, sensitive environments.
📍 We’re expanding our horizons! Stay tuned for upcoming product and service launches.📍
©2024 anyRTLS, All rights reserved.