Asset Tracking For Business: Why AirTags Struggle to Keep Up

At GPX Intelligence, we get a number of inquiries through our website from people who are looking for an asset tracking solution to meet their business’s needs. Frequently when asking these potential customers how they found GPX Intelligence they say something akin to, “I started searching the internet for AirTags to manage my business assets. After doing some research I realized that they wouldn’t meet my needs and found your website.” From there we’ll discuss the advantage of GPX’s location data solutions over AirTags and hopefully win a new customer.

It wasn’t until I moved recently that I experienced the shortcomings of AirTags for tracking business assets in real life. 

My wife and I purchased a new home and rented a Uhaul truck to help us with our move. A few hours after picking up the truck I received an alert on my iPhone, “AirTag Found Moving With You”. 

• My first reaction was curiosity – Do I have an AirTag? Does my wife have an Airtag?
• My next reaction was discomfort – Is someone trying to follow me? Worse, is someone following my wife?
• My next step was finding the tag – I looked on the map. I tried to play a sound from the tag. I searched the van….nothing.
• I decided I must have received the notification in error and an AirTag was not following me along on my move. About 30 minutes later I received the same alert, “AirTag Found Moving With You”.

Finally it dawned on me: “My Uhaul store is using Airtags to track this van!” That alleviated my concerns on the source of the notification. It did not, however, alleviate the irritation from receiving the same alert every 30 mins for the rest of the day as we moved items back and forth. I was hesitant to disable the alerts just in case I was incorrect — what if the AirTag wasn’t on the truck, but in my belongings?

My local Uhaul tracks their trucks; that makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is using the wrong tool for the job, one that doesn’t meet the needs of the business (and worse, makes a customer feel annoyed and uneasy).

We’ll explain why a true asset tracking solution is better for businesses than an AirTag. Oftentimes, it’s easy to view a comparison chart between solutions and understand the differences between your options. But, a real-life experience showed me just how impactful the wrong tool for the job can be on the overall customer experience.

Understanding AirTags and GPX Location Data Solutions

OVERVIEW OF AIRTAGS

Apple’s AirTags represent a leap in personal asset tracking. These small, elegant devices seamlessly integrate with the Apple ecosystem, offering an intuitive user experience. Consumers can attach AirTags to up to 15 of their valued assets and gain access to their current location as well as a brief history. This information can be invaluable for keeping track of pets, cutting down the time spent searching for car keys in the morning, or finding that missing wallet.

When viewed through the lens of business needs, however, their limitations become starkly apparent. AirTags are heavily reliant on the proximity of iPhones for location reporting and are limited to just 15 tags per user account. These dependencies are a significant drawback for business users whose assets may be stored out of range of local iPhones or those looking to deploy location solutions across a large fleet of assets.

AirTags also boast a battery life of about a year, with the ability to replace the battery when dead, which is convenient and viable when tracking your everyday tools and valuables. When deploying assets in the field, however, the logistics challenge of managing battery replacements or recharging across numerous devices is impractical and costly.

Finally, AirTags will tell a user where their tracked valuables are currently located through a convenient application. This makes finding that lost wallet a breeze; it does not, however, enable users to review the historical location of an AirTag. This is outstanding for any point-in-time needs for finding those lost keys before a morning commute, but it doesn’t allow for the understanding of how those keys became lost in the first place.

OVERVIEW OF GPX INTELLIGENCE’S LOCATION DATA SOLUTIONS

GPX Intelligence, in contrast, offers a comprehensive solution tailored for business needs. Our approach extends beyond technology, focusing on creating a seamless customer experience from installation of our asset trackers to ongoing monitoring through our GPX Intelligence application. 

Asset tracking tags are enabled to transmit location of business assets through both BLE (which AirTags use), wifi, GPS, and the local cellular network. This comprehensive coverage ensures that users are able to identify the location of their business assets no matter where they are in the world; no need for an iPhone to be nearby. With a battery life of up to ten years, GPX asset trackers remove the need to manage and replace batteries in assets deployed in the field for long periods or those that will never return.

In support of trackers deployed in the field, the GPX platform itself is a testament to our commitment to innovation, driven by customer feedback and market needs. Features like geofencing, custom alerts, and intuitive dashboards allow businesses to receive alerts tailored to their unique operational requirements. Our location data’s accuracy is further enhanced by sophisticated machine learning algorithms, ensuring reliable tracking even in areas with traditionally weak GPS signals. GPX will turn those dots on a map into actionable insights that will drive your business forward.

Finally, GPX creates a partnership with customers that extends beyond technology, investing in the customer base and ensuring the full impact of location data technology is harnessed. Each client is assigned a dedicated Customer Success Manager, providing personalized, direct support. Customer Success Managers have years of experience, which they leverage to educate customers and shorten the learning curve of new technology adoption. This approach is fundamental to our service ethos, providing an unmatched level of customer care.

Comparative Analysis: Apple AirTags VS. GPX Solutions

In the world of location data solutions for businesses, the choice between Apple’s AirTags and GPX Intelligence’s advanced tracking solutions is critical to the success of a business adopting location data solutions. Whether it’s for a small to medium business tracking tens to hundreds of pieces of equipment or an enterprise tracking thousands of business assets, the right location data solution and GPS tracking product can make the difference between success and failure, money saved or money wasted.

AIRTAG BASICS

The Apple AirTag is a compact, user-friendly tracker designed for personal use. It’s small enough to fit on a keychain or in a purse, using Bluetooth and iPhone connectivity to locate items. The AirTag’s design and integration with the Apple ecosystem, including anonymous location data and ease of setup, make it an attractive option for individual users. This simplicity, however, masks limitations that may make it less effective in a business context.

AIRTAG SHORTCOMINGS

• Dependence on iPhone: AirTags require an iPhone to function. This limits their use to those within the Apple ecosystem, potentially excluding a significant portion of users and businesses.
• Bluetooth Range Limitation: AirTags need to be within Bluetooth range of an iPhone to transmit their location to the end user. This feature, while sufficient for finding lost keys at home, is less effective for tracking assets over larger distances or in remote locations. If an iPhone is not nearby the AssetTag is lost.
• Limited Battery Life: With a battery life of about a year, depending on usage, AirTags pose logistical challenges for businesses that would need to regularly replace or recharge batteries in a fleet of trackers. If assets are deployed in the field for a period exceeding a year, users will need to fly to their location for replacement or risk assets going off-line.
• Limited Tags per Account: Apple users can only have 15 AssetTags per Apple ID. This means business users with more than 15 assets in the field will have to manage their business assets across multiple user IDs adding to the operational complexity of asset management.
• Historical Data: AirTags will report their current position but will not provide access to historical location data. Data availability for a period of up to 90 days is often required for business owners seeking to identify lost assets or inefficiencies within their supply chain across multiple suppliers, operational sites, or long shipments.
• Self-Reporting to Local Users: Apple AirTags alert nearby iPhone users to their presence. This is a commendable feature for the consumer use-case as it ensures that AirTags are not being used to track unwitting individuals or for nefarious purposes. This feature is not optimal in a business use case, however, asset tracking solutions are often intended to offset the risk of theft or aid in recovery. Alerting the thief to the presence of an additional layer of security is not ideal.
• Customer Support: Apple support for AirTags is targeted to its consumer user base across Apple products. While service levels are commendable, support agents will not have an intimate knowledge of the business use-case for Apple AirTags. This will provide excellent support when attaching an AirTag to the family pet but may fall short when monitoring business assets.

GPX INTELLIGENCE ADVANTAGES

In contrast, GPX’s solutions are designed for businesses employing location data solutions and asset tracking to improve operational efficiency. GPX provides a versatile and intelligent platform for managing your business assets and suitable for a wide range of devices, including iPhone, Android, and desktop. Our technology combines location and communication technologies, allowing asset tracking across vast distances and diverse environments for a period of up to ten years.

• Device Compatibility: The GPX platform can be accessed by any user on iPhone, Android, or web-enabled devices. Sharing access with users and restricting access as needed is intuitive and easy to manage, enabling all users access to the information needed to operate with excellence.
• Comprehensive Location Coverage: GPX asset tracking devices are able to identify their location through a network that does not rely on the local presence of a nearby iPhone. Location position is acquired through a machine-learning-enabled hierarchical reporting structure – the device will provide its location based on GPS signal acquisition, local wifi networks, and finally local cellular networks. Rarely is a device unable to report its location due to the redundancy of location positioning.
• Advanced Battery Solutions: GPX trackers offer a spectrum of battery life options, from short-term, high-frequency tracking to long-term solutions lasting up to 10 years. This versatility ensures that businesses can choose a tracking solution that aligns with their specific operational needs.
• Deploy At Scale: Businesses can manage as many assets as required from a single account with shared access across users as needed. There is no limit to the number of GPX trackers deployed and surfaced on the GPX platform. Additionally, advanced analytical tools are available to ensure efficient operational execution across a large population of assets.
• Historical Data: GPX provides historical data of up to 90 days. This helps users to not only identify where assets are currently located but where they’ve been. Driving accountability across suppliers, shipping companies, and internal stakeholders requires the ability to analyze and share location data over a long time horizon.
• Expert Customer Support: GPX Customer Success Managers work hand-in-hand with business owners and supply chain managers on a daily basis, gaining an intimate understanding of the most efficient and impactful ways to deploy location data solutions within a business. Every account has a dedicated Customer Success Manager, available via phone or email, to meet urgent needs with an understanding of the business use case.
• Robust Tracking Technology: Our trackers utilize 4G cellular networks, capable of transmitting signals through challenging environments, including shipping containers. This ensures continuous tracking and storage of location data, even when coverage is temporarily lost.

LONG-LASTING PEACE OF MIND

While AirTags are suitable for locating personal items within a close range, they fall short in providing the comprehensive tracking capabilities that businesses require. GPX’s solutions, on the other hand, offer the customizability, reliability, and regular updates necessary for effective asset management. GPX Intelligence caters to more complex tracking challenges, offering a proprietary platform that does not rely on a specific mobile device. This flexibility, combined with our range of battery life options and advanced tracking technology, positions GPX as the superior choice for businesses seeking robust and reliable GPS tracking solutions.

Our mission at GPX is to provide reliable tracking for any situation, offering peace of mind and valuable data to inform your decisions. Whether tracking high-value shipments, long-term assets, or managing a complex shipping network, GPX delivers the tracking solutions you need. Contact the GPX Team today to discuss how our GPS tracking solutions can meet your unique requirements.

Industry Case Studies: GPX Triumphs Over AirTags

AUTOMOTIVE OEM

Sustainability and cost reduction initiatives over the past decade have led industry leaders across automotive manufacturing to transition from single use, expendable, shipping containers to returnable, reusable containers. The impact of this transition is dependent upon the maintenance and circulation of returnable packaging throughout the supply chain for the usable life of the asset, which often means multiple years of use. In an effort to manage returnable container fleets better, many manufacturers and suppliers have turned to location data solutions and asset tracking.

Container management teams drive a positive ROI on GPS investment by monitoring the current and historical location of returnable container fleets through platforms like GPX Intelligence. This data empowers users to limit instances of dwell, drive counterparty accountability, and reduce the risk of theft in the supply chain. 

AirTags, with their limited tracking capabilities and dependence on iPhone proximity, are ill-equipped for the demands of an automotive supply chain. In contrast, GPX’s advanced tracking solutions are ideally suited for this application. Our technology ensures that returnable containers are efficiently managed for their capitalized life, significantly reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact by preventing loss or misplacement of these assets.

INDUSTRIAL AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Construction and industrial business leaders are presented with a unique set of challenges when managing the operational complexity of valuable equipment. This equipment is often held in the yard or deployed across job sites. The needs of leaders can vary based on the size of a business, but one holds true: the need to know where equipment is stored or deployed. Asset security is vital to a successful enterprise, and one of the greatest threats to any business leader.

Small and medium-sized business owners invest large sums of capital in the equipment that enable teams to expertly complete projects, driving revenue to their business. A lost or stolen piece of equipment can lead to days or weeks of downtime that, in extreme cases, can result in a company going out of business — or, at least: temporarily being unable to work until equipment is replaced. 

Large construction business leaders are often responsible for operations that span multiple locations and can span a time frame longer than a decade. This requires project managers to efficiently manage equipment inventory, ensuring it is where it is supposed to be, secure, and hard at work. Increasing the operational complexity of these jobs, equipment may be rented from suppliers who benefit from rental payment for unused or lost equipment.

AirTags are great for finding your toolbox in the garage. As the complexity of industrial and construction operations scale, however, a true location data solution is required. The number of tracked assets is likely to exceed 15, requiring multiple Apple User Accounts. The need to understand not only where equipment is currently located, but where it has been is paramount. And, finally, tracking devices need a life well in excess of 10 years that can stand up to the rough conditions in the field.

GPX Intelligence’s asset management platform was designed to meet the needs of construction operators. Trackers are IP67 rated and able to stand up to the brutal field conditions with a battery life of up to 10 years. All tracked assets can be accessed through one seamless platform with dashboards designed to identify lost or idle assets. Finally, you can see where all your equipment sits in real time, as well as where it has been over the past 90 days, allowing operators to recover stolen equipment or resolve billing disputes.

CAR DEALERSHIPS

diverse range of vehicles, including loaner cars, on-hand inventory, repair vehicles, and purchased vehicles. Effective management of these assets is key to operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Understanding where inventory is held across multiple storage facilities ensures that the right cars are on the lot to ensure a profitable sale velocity. Loaner and repair vehicles are constantly coming and going, increasing the probability of loss or misplacement. Finally, rent-to-own or buy-here-pay-here lots may be required to track the location of vehicles over the contract term to ensure adherence to payment terms.

An AirTag can surely help a consumer find a mis-placed set of keys, but they do not scale to meet the needs of an auto financier, dealership manager, or small business owner. Vehicles may be stored in remote locations without a nearby iPhone to relay the position of local AirTags. They may alert a bad actor in the event of theft rendering the ability of the owner to repossess the vehicle. And the battery life of a year will likely lead to the headache of replacing batteries on a large fleet more times than it’s worth.

GPX Intelligence, however, has designed a dealership and buy-here-pay-here offering that is aggressively priced and technologically empowered to meet the needs of car dealership owners big and small. There is no limit to the number of vehicles that can be tracked and our geo-fence reporting features make it easy to manage large swaths of inventory efficiently. In the unfortunate event of a stolen vehicle, our Customer Success Managers are ready to use their experience to help you track down and recover your vehicle. There is no substitute for the peace of mind associated with a GPX tracker, platform, and experienced partnership.

Embracing GPX for Future-Proof Asset Tracking

The comparison between Apple AirTags and GPX Intelligence’s solutions reveals a clear winner for business applications. While AirTags have introduced many to the concept of asset tracking, they are not designed for the complex and diverse needs of business applications. GPX Intelligence fills this gap, offering solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also customer-centric. Our commitment to providing a comprehensive tracking experience, tailored to the unique needs of various industries, sets us apart. 

Whether it’s managing a fleet of construction equipment, tracking returnable containers in the manufacturing sector, or overseeing a car dealership’s inventory, GPX offers reliable, efficient, and secure asset tracking solutions. We invite you to explore the world of possibilities with GPX Intelligence and secure your assets with our cutting-edge tracking technology.