A beacon provides many benefits, especially the ability to provide information or send contextual notifications to nearby user devices. However, the advantages and disadvantages of beacons cannot be easily separated, even though the benefits are evident.

The advantages and disadvantages of beacons, which include a high level of precision, easy implementation, limited range, and dependence on applications, may be factors to consider when deciding whether to use them.

This article will inform you about some of the advantages and disadvantages of beacons that you can consider.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Beacon

Like any other electronic device, a beacon has several advantages that can be utilized and disadvantages to consider.

The advantages of a beacon include providing personal interaction and engagement, flexible application, and cost-effectiveness, while the disadvantages include the risk of excessive notifications, signal interference, and the requirement for Bluetooth activation. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of beacon:

The Advantages of Beacon

Here are some advantages of a beacon:

1. Providing personal interaction and engagement

Beacons use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to provide information about product promotions in stores or information about an object at an exhibition directly to your smartphone via notifications. This makes your interaction and engagement more personal.

2. High level of precision

One of the capabilities of beacons is to provide indoor navigation, whether in large stores, museums, or exhibition halls. The navigation provided by this small device is more precise than GPS for indoor navigation.

3. Flexible application

We already know how beacons are applied in many sectors, from retail, transportation, tourism, events, conferences, and manufacturing. Therefore, it can be said that devices with BLE technology can be applied flexibly.

4. Easy implementation

Beacons can be used indoors and outdoors. Installation and operation are also fairly easy. You simply place them in strategic areas to ensure that signals can interact freely with user devices.

5. Cost-effective

Compared to other location technologies, beacons are relatively inexpensive. Their application in many sectors proves that these devices are affordable for use in various businesses.

The Disadvantages of Beacon

Here are some disadvantages of a beacon:

1. Risk of excessive notifications

This small device can automatically provide information or navigation to users in the vicinity. As a result, excessive notifications may be sent to users, which could be disruptive.

2. Limited range

BLE technology does have limitations in terms of range. This device is not suitable for outdoor navigation or providing large-scale information.

3. Signal interference

Bluetooth has limitations in terms of signal strength. This device is highly susceptible to interference. Interference from water and metal can affect the accuracy of the signal from this device. Once this occurs, the device can no longer be relied upon.

4. Dependence on applications

Beacons must be connected to specific applications to perform their tasks. If the user's smartphone does not support beacon applications, the beacon signal will not be detected.

5. Requires Bluetooth activation

For beacons to connect to users, Bluetooth must be enabled on the device. Often, many users do not always enable Bluetooth when traveling.

Those are the advantages and disadvantages of beacons to consider before deciding to use one.

Despite its limitations, the beacon has provided personal interaction and engagement, flexible application, and cost-effectiveness.