Bluetooth BLE tracking

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a wireless communication technology designed for short-range, low-power data exchange between Bluetooth-enabled devices. Unlike classic Bluetooth, BLE is optimized for minimal energy consumption, enabling devices like Bluetooth trackers, wearables, and IoT sensors to run for months or even years on a small battery.

At Digital Matter, we integrate BLE technology into our ecosystem of GPS trackers, gateways, and sensors, enabling businesses to build custom device networks for real-time asset visibility, sensor monitoring, and smart automation. BLE provides a cost-effective, secure, and highly scalable solution for proximity tracking and sensor connectivity.

BLE works by enabling secure, point-to-point or broadcast communication between devices, typically between BLE tags (transmitters) and Bluetooth tracking devices (receivers or gateways). These devices use signal strength (RSSI) and Bluetooth range estimations to determine proximity and movement.

Digital Matter’s Bluetooth-enabled GPS trackers act as BLE gateways, scanning for BLE tags and sensors within range and forwarding this location data to the cloud via LTE-M, NB-IoT, or LoRaWAN®.

Key use cases include:

• Equipment and tool tracking on construction sites

• Temperature and humidity monitoring in agriculture or cold chain

• Smart agriculture applications like livestock tracking

BLE systems also support dynamic configuration via over-the-air updates and are compatible with widely used Android phones, Samsung phones, and iPhone users’ devices, making them easy to manage.

Battery Life & Power Profiles

Select BLE tags with an ultra-low power draw to ensure years of reliable operation. Our tags and trackers are designed to preserve battery life in remote deployments and high-density environments.

Range and Signal Strength

BLE devices support a range from 10 to 100+ meters, depending on the environment and use of external antennas. The Bluetooth signal strength (RSSI) helps estimate asset proximity for efficient tracking.

Security Features

Our BLE solutions use AES-128 encryption and device whitelisting to protect your data, which is critical for security-sensitive sectors like healthcare, logistics, and defense.

Integration & Software Support

BLE solutions can be rapidly integrated into existing software platforms. We offer SDKs, APIs, and full documentation, along with native support in Telematics Guru platform for seamless deployment.

For businesses looking to gain more visibility and control over their critical assets, Bluetooth technology offers a practical and customizable solution, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Our range of Bluetooth Gateway devices combines the accuracy of GPS location tracking and Bluetooth Low Energy to enable asset visibility, condition monitoring, exception reporting, and more on a wide range of assets, including trailers, equipment, cargo, and more.

Explore our Bluethooth Gateways

Why BLE Matters for Smart IoT

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a cornerstone of modern IoT systems, offering significant advantages for businesses seeking scalable, power-efficient, and cost-effective solutions. BLE enables smart sensing, asset tracking, and real-time monitoring without the high energy demands of traditional wireless communication.

Key benefits include:

Extended Battery Life

BLE’s low power consumption enables devices like asset trackers, wearables, and sensors to operate for months, or even years, on a single small battery. This dramatically reduces maintenance costs and device downtime. It also outperforms traditional tile trackers and consumer-focused Bluetooth tracking devices in terms of industrial reliability and longevity.

Improved Asset and Device Management

BLE enables real-time location tracking and condition monitoring through proximity sensing and data exchange, supporting more efficient operations across logistics, manufacturing, and smart agriculture. BLE platforms are also compatible with both Apple devices and Android devices, expanding deployment options across BYOD environments.

Cost-Effective Deployment

BLE modules are affordable and simple to deploy, making them accessible to businesses of all sizes for large-scale IoT rollouts. This makes them more flexible and industrial-ready than consumer BLE products, such as the Apple AirTag, which are often limited to personal use and lack robust device management tools.

Low Energy Consumption

BLE is engineered to use minimal power, enabling devices to run continuously for extended periods without requiring frequent battery replacements, which is essential for remote deployments and maintenance-free operations.

Robust Connectivity and Range

Depending on device class and environment, BLE supports communication ranges from 10 to 100 meters, ensuring reliable data exchange in both indoor and outdoor settings. BLE beacons can also be placed strategically throughout facilities to extend coverage and improve asset visibility.

Fast Data Transfer and Low Latency

BLE supports rapid connection setups and near real-time data transmission, ideal for monitoring systems that rely on speed and responsiveness.

Secure Communication

BLE incorporates advanced encryption and authentication protocols, ensuring secure data exchange across healthcare, security, and enterprise-grade applications.

Compatibility and Interoperability

BLE is supported by nearly all modern smartphones, tablets, and IoT platforms, allowing seamless integration into existing systems and applications.

Bluetooth range varies from 10 – 100+ meters, depending on the environment and device class. Digital Matter’s BLE tags are optimized for robust indoor/outdoor coverage.

Absolutely. Our Bluetooth tracking devices, like the Remora3, Oyster3, and Yabby Edge, act as BLE gateways, picking up BLE tag signals and forwarding that data to the cloud along with GPS positioning.

BLE technology utilises AES-128 encryption and supports device whitelisting to ensure secure, tamper-resistant communications, making it ideal for security and healthcare use cases.

Digital Matter offers ultra-rugged, long-life Bluetooth trackers with IP68-rated enclosures and 5+ years of battery life, ideal for industrial and outdoor deployments.