UK firm Blecon has teamed up with Molex and InPlay to deliver cloud connected smart labels using Bluetooth LE.

The peel, stick and track labels feed real-world location and data to cloud applications and AI.

The labels address enterprise demand for flexible form-factors that can efficiently deliver physical location and sensor data to the cloud. This technology puts smart labels into the hands of product builders, enabling them to deliver asset-tracking and visibility for a range of uses, including authentication and anti-counterfeit tracking, cold chain monitoring, medical device and patient tracking, inventory management, fleet and logistics tracking, and real-time location services.

Uniting Blecon’s managed Bluetooth Beacon Networks, Illinois-based Molex’s expertise in flexible electronics and InPlay’s low-cost NanoBeacon silicon deliver a smart label that goes beyond the capabilities of RFID and at a lower cost than cellular GPS trackers. These smart labels are said to be simple to deploy; users just peel, stick and track without complex setup.

They are efficient to scale as they use existing smartphones, laptops and gateways as infrastructure. They provide identity, geolocation, timestamps and sensor insights. The safe, disposable design can eliminate reverse logistics. Data can be routed into existing and new cloud applications, tracking platforms and AI workflows.

Blecon’s Beacon Network infrastructure leverages the Bluetooth already built-in to smartphones, scanners, laptops and gateways as its hotspots, providing smart labels with roaming connectivity and flexible deployment. Real-world location and sensor data can flow directly into enterprise platforms, databases and AI through open APIs, unlocking cloud-native applications that leverage the labels as data sources.

Blecon’s firmware leverages the InPlay NanoBeacon IN100 capabilities to provide security, privacy, sensor data and automatic onboarding to the Blecon Beacon Network for seamless and secure cloud integrations.

“Enterprises need to collect physical data that they can integrate and deploy, without building custom infrastructure and within tight cost-constraints,” said Simon Ford, CEO of Blecon (www.blecon.net). “Our Bluetooth Beacon Networks provide that foundation, enabling BLE smart labels to deliver tracking and sensor data to developers’ and integrators’ cloud applications, platforms and AI.”

Molex brings expertise in flexible printed circuits, wireless connectivity and thin-film power to the form factor. Less than 1mm thick, TrackLabel has a seamless activation mechanism that wakes the label on placement and a non-lithium power source ensures compliance for air-shipment as well as safe disposal.

“Molex’s TrackLabel represents a breakthrough in making tracking intelligence thin and flexible,” said Rob Irwin, senior manager at Molex (www.molex.com). “By combining our label innovation with InPlay’s silicon and Blecon’s Beacon Network, we are able to deliver high-performance tracking technology for large-scale logistics and supply chains.”

InPlay’s NanoBeacon IN100 is at the heart of each TrackLabel, a Bluetooth LE system-on-chip designed for low cost and low power applications. By reducing silicon and system complexity, the IN100 allows smart labels to be produced at a lower cost, while delivering energy efficiency to increase operating life and leverage thin, printable battery technologies.

“InPlay is pushing the limits of Bluetooth and ultra-low-cost form factors,” said Jason Wu, CEO of InPlay. “Our NanoBeacon architecture eliminates silicon and manufacturing complexity to enable optimal smart label products, while ensuring extremely low energy consumption for scalable, sustainable and cloud-connected intelligence.”

The cloud connected BLE smart labels were on show at last week’s WIoT Tomorrow in Wiesbaden, Germany.

To begin building with smart labels, visit: blecon.net/ble-smart-labels.

InPlay (inplay-tech.com), a Trackonomy company, designs low-cost wireless semiconductor products that enable smart labels, sensors and IoT devices. Its NanoBeacon SoCs power scalable, battery-efficient Bluetooth connectivity for logistics, healthcare, gaming and industrial applications.