GEO-FENCING TECHNOLOGY
Geofencing is a locator service wherein a mobile, an app, or another software uses GPS, RFID, Wifi, or cellular data to trigger a pre-planned action when a certain device or RFID tag either enters or exits a virtual boundary which is set up around a geographical location known as a geofence.
The Geofence has no defined area. It can be as small as a building or as large as a mile. But, it is that defied boundary that makes geofencing possible.
Depending on the configuration of the geofence, it can pop-up flash notifications, trigger text messages or alerts, allow tracking on vehicle fleets, or deliver location-dependent marketing data.
Some other geofences are also there which helps to monitor activities in certain secure areas to keep a check on all who enters or leaves a specific area.
How Geofencing works?
Some important steps are required for geofence to work.
To begin with, a virtual boundary in which you wish to capture people or devices must be established around a specific location via GPS or RFID-enabled software. The boundary can be a simple circle drawn around a specific location on Google maps using APIs while developing a mobile app. This virtual geofence will help in locating an authorized device that enters or exits the boundary, as specified by the developer.
A geofence is developed within the code of a mobile application ever since the use of smartphones is common. Users need to opt for the location services for the geofence to work.
Geofencing is not just limited till here. It is used to track vehicles on the roads. And almost every drone is programmed to have geofencing.
Geofencing applications
It has now become a standard practice for businesses as it allows them to target their qualified audience by simply setting virtual boundaries. Some businesses set up geofences around their competition so that when you step into their boundary, you will get a push notification provoking you to visit them.
Here are some of the common geofencing applications –
Social networking
The most common use of geofencing is social networking apps. For example on Snapchat, location-based filters are there because of the geofencing. A custom-made filter for a friend’s birthday is also there on Snapchat, it is all thanks to the virtual geofence.
Marketing
Apart from social networking, geofencing helps businesses to push promotional messages alerting you, as you step in the range of the store. Businesses target ads to a specific audience with the help of geofencing.
Audience engagement
Geofencing is famous for engaging a high crowd at organized events like concerts, fairs, festive gatherings, etc. It helps to circulate social media posts or deliver information about the venue and date to the target audience.
