The Beginner’s

Guide to Beacons
AN EBOOK FROM TEAM SOFTWARE
New to beacons and proximity technologies? This guide provides a
comprehensive overview of beacon technology along with information
to help you understand how beacons can deliver benefits to your
cleaning or security business and customers.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 | OVERVIEW............................................................................ 3

CHAPTER 2 | BEACON USE CASES............................................................... 6

CHAPTER 3 | BEACON USE METHODS.......................................................... 8

CHAPTER 4 | BEACON CASE STUDY........................................................... 10

CHAPTER 5 | BEACON DEPLOYMENT, ZONES AND IDS.................................. 12

CHAPTER 6 | SECURITY........................................................................... 14

CHAPTER 7 | MANAGING BEACON PROGRAMS............................................ 15

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 01
CHAPTER

OVERVIEW

Cleaning and security contractors need complete visibility of their distributed workforces. Beacons are one of
the available solutions that can give security contractors real-time tracking of officers, and provide cleaning
contractors with proof of service to customers. In this eBook, we walk through the different ways service
contractors can supercharge their workforce with beacons.

WHAT ARE BEACONS?

Beacons are small wireless devices that broadcast signals using Bluetooth
Low Energy (BLE) technology. Mobile apps on compatible devices listen
for signals from beacons placed in the physical world and then trigger
an experience via the app. Experiences include sending a notification,
coupon, video, form, URL or other form of media relevant to a person’s Continuous tracking
exact location. through beacons ensure
guards and cleaners are
Beacon-enabled apps are notified when the device enters or exits the where they’re supposed
range of a beacon and also monitor the distance from the beacon as it to be. Using a mobile
changes, often referred to as ranging. This contrasts with GPS, which uses workforce management
solution like Lighthouse
latitude and longitude to define a device’s location.
that incorporates beacons
into employee and asset
You don’t always have to trigger an experience when a device enters or
tracking provides your
exits the range of a beacon. In some instances, you may just want to collect
customers with proof
data to generate real-world analytics and insights.
of work to increase
satisfaction.
A beacon’s range varies depending on the manufacturer, hardware settings
and physical surroundings, but can typically be configured anywhere from
two inches to 160 feet, creating a wide range of use cases for your cleaning or security business. Each beacon
broadcasts a set of unique IDs which means a mobile app can tell them apart from each other.

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 Beacons come in many different forms and cost anywhere from $1-50 depending on
signal range, battery life and other factors. They’re usually powered by a coin cell or AA
battery. Some beacon manufacturers claim their beacons can last up to three years on
a single lithium battery, however this depends on the power source, power settings and
advertising interval of the beacon. Typically, a beacon is comprised of a surrounding
case, battery, processor chip and Bluetooth radio. Some beacons contain additional
sensors such as an accelerometer and heat sensor.

WHAT IS BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE)?

BLE is an intelligent and power-friendly version of Bluetooth wireless technology and exchanges data over short
distances using radio transmissions. The power of BLE is its ability to work with an app on a smartphone, tablet
or any other compatible mobile device. The technology itself is simple, secure and featured in billions of devices
ranging from mobile phones and computers to medical devices and home entertainment products. It’s intended
to replace the cables that connect devices, while maintaining high levels of security. BLE is one of the key
technologies behind the continued growth of the Internet of Things (IoT)—a network of physical objects that can
exchange data via the existing internet infrastructure.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING BEACON TECHNOLOGY?

1. High degree of accuracy

Beacon technology allows a mobile device to understand its exact position, even indoors where smartphones
are typically not able to pick up GPS signals from satellites. This means beacon technology offers a high level of
accuracy when compared to other geo-location technologies.

2. Low impact on battery life

Bluetooth technology is designed to have very low power consumption, which means beacon-powered apps
have minimal impact on the device’s battery life. GPS on the other hand, demands a significant amount of power
to run and significantly impacts a device’s battery life when in use.

3. App engagement / wake up

Mobile devices automatically wake up when they come within range of a beacon, even if the mobile app that’s
listening is fully closed. This unique feature of beacons offers a powerful way to drive engagement with your
mobile app at exactly the right time and place. It’s also a great way to drive repeat usage of your app.

4. No internet connection required

Mobile apps can pick up beacon signals without an internet connection and store data locally on the device.
Beacons are a great proximity trigger in areas where a stable internet connection isn’t available. One thing to
note, typically an internet connection is required to trigger content like push notifications. However, there are
ways around this such as developing local notifications and caching content within the app. It’s technically
possible to run an entire beacon experience without an internet connection.

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 5. Low cost of entry
Setting up and taking advantage of a beacon network is relatively low cost when compared to other technologies
like Wi-Fi. Unless you’re deploying a large network of beacons, most of the costs are likely to be associated with
the development of a beacon-enabled mobile app. If you already have an app, then the barriers to entry are
even lower.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE BEACON TECHNOLOGY?

1. Beacon-enabled mobile app

To use beacon technology for your cleaning or security business, you need a beacon-enabled mobile app,
like Lighthouse. Lighthouse combines cloud, mobile and location technologies like beacons to drive better
productivity, compliance and service quality from your distributed workforce.

2. Network of deployed beacons

You need to purchase and deploy beacons to one or multiple physical locations. Once deployed, make sure your
mobile app is listening for the universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) of the beacons in your network.

3. Bluetooth switched on and enabled with relevant permissions

In addition to having Bluetooth enabled at the device level, there are two app-level permissions required to use
beacon technology. These are:
• Push notifications

• Location services

4. Management platform
Once you’ve deployed beacons and have an app listening for them, you need an easy way to manage content
and assess performance of your beacon program. Using a solution like Lighthouse allows you to set up locations
and zones, manage content, automate processes and view detailed analytics.

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 02
CHAPTER

BEACON USE CASES

Now that you understand how beacon technology works, it’s time to explore some of the most exciting use cases
for the cleaning and security industries.

ACCESS CONTROL / SECURITY

Beacons can augment traditional access control systems and make swipe cards and pin codes redundant. Simply
walk up to a secure access point with your device and the beacon can recognize the user and allow or deny access.

For an added layer of security you can prompt a pin code or use other measures such as Face ID for iOS and Touch
ID for iOS and Android. This works extremely well for cleaners or guards in secure facilities where they may need
to scan in at multiple access points during their shift.

ASSET MONITORING / EMPLOYEE TRACKING

Beacons are tags that can keep track of your most valuable assets. Use examples include tracking security guards
in real-time as they complete checkpoints throughout a facility, and loop monitoring of cleaners in high-profile
facilities like airports or shopping malls.

TASK MANAGEMENT

Beacons can add a new dimension to mobile auditing tools. Imagine you’re doing cleaning loops at a power
factory and as you move through different areas you’re presented with tasks relevant only to your exact location.
Or perhaps you’re doing security rounds in an office building and as you move through different areas, you’re
presented with doors to check to make sure they’re locked. Tasks can update automatically based on the guard’s
exact location.

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 AUTOMATED CHECK-INS

Beacons present the opportunity to automatically check-in app users when they arrive at a specific location and
capture data about the individual. Think automated check-ins at high-risk worksites such as hospitals, factories
or building sites. Or perhaps automated check-ins within the school classroom, or at festivals and events. Finally,
the data generated from automated check-ins could be useful in emergency situations to see who is at a location
at any given point in time.

FEEDBACK / RATINGS

You spend so much of your time and resources analyzing and optimizing
the customer experience, but what about tracking service delivery
Using beacons with a
through beacons? With beacons, you can deliver feedback forms and
location tracking solution
ratings after service is delivered. Use the data to understand which of your
like Lighthouse can
sites are underperforming and then take action to improve the customer
improve the delivery of
experience.
security and cleaning
services through increased
MAPPING / RESOURCE MANAGEMENT transparency, improved
response and visibility
Beacons can track the last known location of employees and then plot of issues, and eliminated
the data on a map. You can see where guards or cleaners are in real- inefficient paper-based
time, which is extremely valuable for high-risk work sites and emergency processes and record
situations. Additionally, you can see if a patrol or loop was missed through keeping.
real-time and back-in-time reporting, providing customers with proof of
service.

PEOPLE / WORKFORCE TRACKING

Understanding employee positioning and movements is especially important in industries with distributed
workforces. Using beacons to track guards or cleaners helps you know when tasks or tours have been missed
and can help provide protection against litigation in highly regulated industries like cleaning and security. In
addition, the data collected enables you to better coordinate your employees and reduce overall labor costs.

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 03
CHAPTER

BEACON USE METHODS

As beacons are implemented in more diverse use cases such as asset and people tracking, a range of new
approaches and uses of this technology are being employed.

Each method has its pros and cons, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for location tracking. It’s important
to consider the environment where your guards or cleaners work, the type of equipment they’re using that you
want to track, as well as the type of work they’re doing and how frequently you need updated location data.

FIXED ASSET BEACONS, ROAMING MOBILE DEVICES

The most common approach to using beacons is to mount them to a

permanent fixture (typically to the ceiling
Using a solution like
or walls) and have a mobile app continuously scan for beacons nearby.
Lighthouse that allows
When the mobile device detects a beacon, it can trigger an experience in
for a flexible approach
the app based on the user’s location, or simply record the interaction for
gives you the freedom
analytical purposes.
to use the right beacon
method in the right
ROAMING ASSET BEACONS, ROAMING MOBILE DEVICES application without
having to feel tied to one
In addition to using beacons to understand when a user is nearby a solution.
physical location, they can also be used to understand when a user is
near an asset or physical object. By tagging assets with a beacon, you can
trigger processes or interactions when a user carrying an app comes in range.

FIXED BLE RECEIVERS, ROAMING ASSET BEACONS

These devices are mounted to permanent fixtures and continuously monitor the environment for beacons or
other BLE signals. When a tagged asset is nearby, the BLE receiver broadcasts this information back to a cloud
service via Wi-Fi or cellular data.

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 FIXED BEACONS, ROAMING MOBILE DEVICES AND ROAMING ASSET BEACONS

In some instances, there’s a desire to track the location of assets within a workplace, but it’s not practical to
mount permanent BLE receivers. This makes asset tracking challenging without a device present to detect the
location of assets and send the information back to a cloud service. This can be overcome by piggy-backing off
the location of a mobile device. Similar to the first approach, beacons are deployed throughout a facility and a
mobile app is installed to continuously monitor the location of each device. By tagging assets with beacons, the
mobile app can detect assets that are nearby and assign them to the same location as the device based on the
nearby fixed beacons.

FIXED BEACONS AND BLE RECEIVERS, ROAMING MOBILE DEVICES AND ROAMING
ASSET BEACONS

A hybrid approach can be taken to combine the benefits of both fixed beacons and fixed receivers. This works
well in environments where device coverage is limited and needs to be augmented with additional receivers.

AUGMENTING A BLE SOLUTION WITH GPS, GEOFENCING OR WI-FI

BLE beacons provide significant benefits for tracking people and assets indoors. However, there are still benefits
in combining this technology with more traditional location services such as GPS, geofencing or Wi-Fi. Beacons
attached to assets can be used to identify objects, and then you can leverage additional mobile location
technologies to add the location context.

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 04
CHAPTER

BEACON CASE STUDIES

SPOTLESS BEACON CASE STUDY

Spotless is an Australian-owned and managed provider of integrated facilities management services. In 2014,
Spotless implemented Lighthouse, the mobile workforce management solution, with the goal to build and
deploy a custom workforce management solution with the goal of reducing litigation claims in the commercial
cleaning service line.

The solution allowed Spotless to understand when cleaning tasks are missed in real time and produce employee
location reports that can be used as legal defense against slip and fall litigation claims in shopping malls.
Spotless also optimized their workforce and reduced operating costs by analyzing Lighthouse reports.

Business Challenges
Spotless used Lighthouse to solve the following business challenges:

1. How can we use data to improve our ways of working?

2. How can we use data to better maximize our cleaning workforce?
3. How can we eliminate inefficient and inaccurate paper-based reporting systems?
4. How can we get real-time visibility of our employees?

Solution
Over 500 Bluetooth beacons were installed across shopping centers, train stations and airports. Nearby mobile
devices with the Lighthouse app listen for the signals, deliver content and capture data.

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 Results
After implementing Lighthouse across multiple sites, Spotless saw the following outcomes:

• The cleaning workforce has the right information and tools at the right time and in the right place to ensure
they’re delivering on customer expectations.
• The need for pen and paper processes has been eliminated.
• Spotless can provide valuable insights to their customers while driving efficiency throughout the entire
business.

QUAD SECURITY BEACON CASE STUDY

In 2017, premier security company, Quad Security, was engaged to provide dedicated security services to
Sandhurst Club. The Official Home of the PGA of Australia, Sandhurst boasts two stunning championship golf
courses as well as state of the art gym facilities, swimming pool and unrivalled outdoor space with spectacular
scenery, and as such, is home to one of the country’s largest lifestyle and residential communities.

As part of their commitment to continuous innovation, Quad Security identified an opportunity to use
Lighthouse to improve the delivery of security services. Since implementation, the solution has provided
greater transparency around the provision of security services, improved response and visibility of security
related issues, and has eliminated inefficient paper-based processes and record keeping.

Business Challenges
Quad Security and Sandhurst Club used Lighthouse to solve the following business challenges:

1. How can we ensure required security patrols are completed each day?
2. How can we improve real-time and historical visibility of security guards and activity?
3. How can we improve response and resolution times for reported security issues?
4. How can we eliminate inefficient paper-based records and centralize reporting?

Solution
A network of 24 beacons was deployed throughout Sandhurst Club. Security guards moved to the
Lighthouse mobile app to record patrols, manage tasks, report issues, complete inspections and
communicate with managers. Web-based reporting was used to monitor security services and improve
performance over time.

Results
Sandhurst Club achieved better visibility of security activity across the club, better compliance with security
patrols and tasks, and faster response times to security issues. They also eliminated paper-based data capture
and moved to centralized reporting.

Copyright 2020 TEAM Software - v1.0 11

 05
CHAPTER

BEACON DEPLOYMENT, ZONES

AND IDS

UNDERSTANDING BEACON IDS

There are three different IDs that make a beacon unique. These are Universally Unique Identifiers (UUID), Major
and Minor values.

1. UUID
This is a 16-byte string used to differentiate a large group of related beacons. For example, if an operations
manager deployed a network of beacons across many locations, all of the beacons would share the same UUID.
This allows the operations manager’s smartphone app to know which signals come from their owned beacons.

2. Major
This is a two-byte string used to differentiate a smaller subset of beacons within the larger group. For example, if
a cleaning contractor had five beacons in one office building, all five would share the same Major. This allows the
cleaning contractor’s app to know which building the cleaner is in.

3. Minor
This is a two-byte string that is used to identify individual beacons. For example, if that same cleaning
contractor had 10 beacons in a hospital, each beacon would have its own unique Minor. This allows the cleaning
contractor’s app to know exactly where the cleaner is within the hospital.

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 BEACON CONFIGURATION

The way you configure your beacons has a significant impact on both performance and battery life. There are
two key beacon configuration settings to consider:

1. Transmitting power
The signal leaving the beacon’s antenna is controlled, in most beacons, by a configurable power setting. This
can typically be configured from -30 decibel-milliwatts (dBm) to +4 dBm, lowest to highest power settings
respectively. The higher the power, the larger the beacon’s range and the more stable the signal, but it also
shortens battery life significantly. Carefully consider your use case when setting the transmitting power.

2. Advertising interval
Advertising interval refers to the delay between broadcast advertising packets. Advertising packets are the
messages that your Beacons transmit continuously announcing their presence to nearby devices. When you
decrease the advertising interval, you increase the rate at which the advertising packets are sent. A higher rate
reduces the response time for a device to recognize that it’s entered a beacon region. However, this also results
in higher power consumption and reduced battery life. Most beacons can be configured with an advertising
interval from 0.1 seconds (10 advertisements per second) to 30 seconds (two advertisements per minute). The
goal is to find the right balance between responsiveness of the app and battery life of the beacon.

BEACON DEPLOYMENT

Beacon deployments are one of the trickiest parts of setting up a beacon program. For best results, consider
programming and mapping your beacons before deploying on-site. When programming a beacon with an app,
you need to be out of range of all other beacons, otherwise it’s difficult to know which beacon you’re actually
programming. Tip: Keep your beacons in a microwave to prevent them from broadcasting signals while you test
and program other beacons.

It’s also important to test beacon ranges at the site you plan to deploy, as different environments can
significantly alter the beacon signal. For example, in an empty shopping mall full of reflective surfaces, the range
can increase significantly due to the signal bouncing. But, in a crowded environment with lots of people, the
range can decrease significantly.

Finally, do plenty of testing. Replicate your deployment in your office and test different beacon settings. During
deployment, test each beacon as you go to see how it behaves with your app. You don’t want to get to the end
of the deployment and then realize you have to change all of the beacon settings. Or even worse, you have to go
back and reposition them.

BEACON MAINTENANCE

Once you deploy a large network of beacons, make sure you have a maintenance plan in place. You need a way to
identify beacons in the network that aren’t functioning. Some beacon manufacturers offer the ability to monitor
battery life. Lighthouse has fail-safe mechanisms in place that create alerts when a beacon signal is no longer
being recorded as expected.

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 06
CHAPTER

SECURITY

SECURITY

Signals that are broadcast using BLE are considered public, meaning another mobile app can potentially use
the signal for their own purposes. This practice is known as piggybacking. However, beacon manufacturers have
started rolling out features that prevent others piggybacking off your beacons. So, even if someone manages
to find the IDs of your beacons, they can’t piggyback off them as the IDs keep changing and it’s not possible to
identify the pattern. Here are some of the most common beacon security myths:

Beacons are transmitting personal data.

Beacons don’t transmit any personal data. In fact, beacons don’t receive any data at all. Beacons only broadcast
their UUID values. These values are used by a mobile app to trigger an appropriate response based on the
particular nearby beacon.

Beacons are tracking my location.

Beacons can’t track your location. It just lets your mobile device know you’re nearby.

Beacons can track anybody with a compatible mobile device.

For any app to be notified of your location, the user must have opted-in for background location tracking.

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 07
CHAPTER

MANAGING BEACON PROGRAMS

powered by TEAM Software

GETTING STARTED

Now that you have a thorough understanding of how beacons can deliver value to your business and customers,
you’re ready to take the plunge and start using beacons as part of your workforce management solution.

Implementing a solution like Lighthouse offers several benefits for service contractors ready to deploy beacons
at their sites:

• App integration via the Lighthouse iOS and Android SDKs

• This mobile app to manage your beacon network
• Content delivery and scheduling based on proximity
• Real-world analytics to help you evaluate success and drive insights

In addition to these key features, we also offer a range of services to help you set up a beacon program including:

• App development partners

• Consulting services
• Custom solutions

Once you’ve successfully deployed your beacon network, you should regularly review your analytics to
understand whether the program is meeting your goals. Much like managing a website, use analytics to draw out
insights and make recommendations to improve the user experience and drive results for your business.

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TEAM Software develops market-leading financial, operations and workforce management solutions for contractors
with distributed workforces, with a focus on the cleaning and security industries in North America, Australia and the
U.K. and Ireland. TEAM’s fully integrated, holistic technology reduces risk and costs and drives efficiency, profitability
and growth. More than 750,000 end users rely on TEAM’s solutions globally. Founded in 1989, TEAM is headquartered
in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A. For more information, visit teamsoftware.com.