Geofence – What it is, How it Work and Why it is Effective?

What is Geofence?

Geofence is a boundary around any specific location or an area. To be clear, when a device or a vehicle enters or exits a geofenced area, the device receives a notification. This notification may contain information about the location of the device. Geofence notification can be sent to the mobile device or to an email account. It is of simple circle shape defined by a center coordinates and radius, or complex shape defined by vertices of a rectangle. Geofence uses GPS  to create virtual boundaries around a specific location. Then geofence is paired with a hardware/software application that responds to the boundary. It is observed that the geofence tool is in demand due to its superior features.

How does it work?

Geofencing technology works with google maps, allowing you to create shapes(such as circles) to identify the general area or to track specific location. Once you tag your desired location you can track your geofence using a mobile device. This is useful for the security purpose and tracking(i.e.it gives a report when someone enters or exits geofence area and recording how much time they were there) or as part of marketing via mobile allowing you to track when the customer is in specific time and place.

(sources: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/geofencing-market)

Use cases of geofence

1.Fleet management

Geofence allows fleets to track specific vehicle and driver movements. Many fleets GPS tracking solutions offer automatic notification when the vehicle enters or exits a geofence. Geofence can also provide a reports that how long vehicle has been away from the geofence area. This helps to identify the unnecessary use of a vehicle and saves fuel.

2.School

Parents are worried about their children, when they go to school by bus, at that time parents can set geofence for the respective area and can track their student’s school bus and if in case a bus is going through any other route parents would get notifications on their mobile device immediately.

3.Shopping center

Geofence is beneficial to a shopkeeper when they have exciting offers. When a customer enters into the geofence area he/she gets a notification about the offers. Due to this customer also stays in touch with new offers and shopkeeper increases his sale.

4.Event Management  

The event organizer can use this feature of geofence for marketing purpose in business to gain more customers. By setting geofence in the area near beauty shops, wedding hall. Due to this person entering in the geofence area will get a notification about event management advertisement.

5.Construction            

Contractors invest a large amount of money into a heavy machinery and equipment. geofencing software enables you to track entry and exit of people, vehicle, and equipment into your area. You can also set notification alert to your device, whenever any equipment or asset move in or out.

6.Employee Attendance System /Alert system

Geofence also helps employers to set a specific location and perimeter that allows employees to punch in and punch out with the use of smartphone based on their GPS. Geofence set for a restricted area will notify the administrator if any employee enters in the restricted zone.

 

Advantages :

• Attract customer towards the business.
• Beneficial for the business purpose to improve the sale and marketing of their products.
• Better control and track on road transport.
• Engage customers and keep them in touch with the latest offers.

Disadvantages :

• Geofencing consumes very high battery due to which user turns off the feature.
• Is limited to only fix radius.
• Always requires participation or approval from the user side.