A Bluetooth beacon from Texas-based Apptricity has a 32km range and can track equipment coming in or going out of building sites

The long-range Bluetooth beacon has made an impact on the technology world and it is now being used in the construction industry.

From Apptricity’s advanced development group, the beacon is said to have the longest ranging secure connection on the market, with the ability to transmit data up to 32km, or 20 miles.

“Our new 20-mile ultra range Bluetooth is perfect for construction projects,” said Tim Garcia, CEO of Apptricity. “Many of our global customers were struggling with the costs of tracking their expensive on-site equipment, as well as all of the vehicles coming in and out of their project. The cost of satellite tags or LTE tags becomes prohibitive, especially with all of the equipment that needs to be tracked.”

One of the company’s first customers, Endeavor, has sites outside of LTE coverage, and couldn’t afford the cost of satellites.

“In fact, our solution was 90% less than their alternatives,” said Garcia.

The beacon is also configurable. Versions can be created with or without GPS, multiple battery options exist to extend life, encryption options are available, the signal can be tuned for energy savings, and other capabilities can be adjusted to create a bespoke product for an applications.

Targeting projects with equipment, people or inventory that need to be tracked and managed, the beacon is said to have a lower cost and longer distance, and is more configurable.