Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) enable the staff and residents to move independently while collecting their location as they move along.

Fremont, CA: It has become essential for everyone across the globe to rethink how they work to ensure adequate social distancing to keep operating safely. Thus, Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), which tracks people's interaction, definitely has a role to play. Backed by a history of successfully tracking the location and movement of things, companies are taking it into severe considerations, given the current situation. Here are the top four points to consider while offering their products or software.

Accuracy is nothing without reliability

Two meters sound like a significant margin while tracking the proximity of two people. But if the RTLS can only locate each person within 1 meter, the same reading could either mean a safe distance or not. Therefore it is very tempting to focus on system accuracy. A lot of RTLS claims incredible efficiency levels in lab conditions, but the problem is that most people don't work in labs.

It's not just about standing close

There is no doubt that the technology that measures the proximity of the two devices gives some short-term benefits. But the transmission of contagions is much more nuanced than that. A mere 2-meter distance does not take account of the physical environment, length of time of contact, or shared equipment causing people-object-people transmission. For instance, a tool passing from one person to another can be an issue. Tracking that same tool being given via a cleaning station or passed after a significant amount of time could be less of a problem.

Each situation brings a different level of risk and, if tracked correctly, provides valuable intelligence overtime to keep workers safe and optimize operations.

Long-term opportunity masquerading as a short-term problem

Fortunately for many customers, they already have the necessary sensor infrastructure to receive highly accurate, highly reliable location data. For them, contact tracing is just a simple software update, but it is a problem for companies that do not have the infrastructure. Well, for sure, it requires some short-term investment. But once they have the systems in place, the company can achieve a lot more with the same data.