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What is Geo-Fencing?

Geofencing is a location-based technology service in which a mobile, desktop or cloud-based app or other software uses GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi or cellular data to trigger a pre-programmed action when a mobile device or RFID tag or mobile device enters or exits a virtual boundary set up around a geographical location, known as a geofence.  That geofence can be as small as a building or home and as large as a mile or even a zip code.  But it’s the placing of that defined boundary that makes geofencing possible.

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Geofencing can be utilized in a plethora of ways and the triggers can vary including:

  • mobile push notifications
  • trigger text messages or alerts
  • send targeted advertisements across multiple digital channels including programmatic display
  • allow tracking on vehicle fleets
  • track your pets and even your spouses
  • track smart phones
  • disable certain technology
  • deliver location-based marketing data for research purposes

As another source and according toTechopedia, geofencing is described as “A technology that defines a virtual boundary around a real-world geographical area.”  While Wikipedia defines it as “Virtual perimeter for a real-world geographic area.”  It’s not some complicated programming language or complex development tool.

Geofencing technology (geofences) are set up to monitor driving and walking activity in secure locations, allowing senior manager to see alerts when anyone enters or leaves that specific area that was drawn by the geofencing technology.  You’re starting to see many businesses use geofencing to monitor employees in the field working for time tracking, automating time cards, and even keeping track of company property such as vehicles, fleets, tractors, etc..  And of course, many many brands are using geofencing to market to people in precise areas.

How Geo-fencing Truly Works?

In order to ensure geofencing is set up property, there are a few steps that’s needed to have geofencing work.

First, a virtual boundary around a specific location must be drawn via a GPS or RFID (Radio-frequency identification) enabled software.  This can be using polygonal geofencing software to identify points on a map to define the boundary that you want to capture people or devices in.  One can also use certain geofencing software to simply draw a circle of 100 feet or less on a platform such as Google Maps using API’s when developing a mobile app.  The virtual geofencing will then trigger a response when the device enter or exits that area or is in very very close proximity of the virtual boundary that was drawn by the developer or the administrator.

geofence is commonly defined within the code of the mobile application, especially since users of the smart phone devices need to opt-in to the location services on their devices for the geofencing to work (pick up the mobile device ID via GPS, Cellular, or Wifi networks).  If you go to a concert venue, you might have a mobile app you can download that will deliver information about the event regardless of whether those event attendees are inside of your virtual fence or not. Or, a retailer might draw a geofence around its outlets to trigger mobile alerts for customers who have downloaded the retailer’s mobile app. In these cases, a geofence that is managed by the retailer is programmed into the app, and users can opt to decline location access for the app.

A geofence can also be set up by end-users using geofencing capabilities in their mobile apps. These apps, such as iOS Reminders, allow you to choose an address or location where you want to trigger a specific alert or push notification. This is called an “if this, then that” command, where an app is programmed to trigger an action based off another action. For example, “If I’m five feet from my front door, turn on my lights.” Or you might ask a reminder app to send you an alert once you reach a specific location.

Geofencing isn’t just for mobile apps – it’s used to control and track vehicles in the shipping industry, cattle in agriculture industry and – you’ll see this topic pop up in drone discussions. Nearly every drone is pre-programmed to accommodate geofencing, which are usually set up around airports, open-air venues and even the White House. The FAA can set up these drone-resistant geofences upon request – some barriers will stop a drone in mid-air, while others will trigger a warning message to the user. Some drone geofences will ask for a users’ authorization – a process that ties the user’s identity to their drone – so that law enforcement can keep track on unmanned drones.

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