Geofencing use cases in 2023 [the complete list with examples]

Geofencing has become an increasingly popular technology, allowing businesses and organizations to target specific audiences based on their specific location. 

With the global geofencing market size projected to skyrocket from US$ 1867.2 Mn in 2022 to US$ 9596.6 Mn in 2032, the impact of this technology is set to be enormous. From retail to real estate, it transforms how companies interact with their customers.

In this article, we’ll explore the top geofencing use cases, how geofencing works, and how it’s changing the game for industries worldwide. So, grab your coffee, and let’s dive in!

What is geofencing and how does it work

Geofencing is a technology that allows developers to set up virtual boundaries or perimeters around a specific geographic location. 

When a mobile device enters or exits these virtual boundaries, the app can trigger actions or push notifications. 

Geofencing relies on a combination of technologies, such as GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and Bluetooth, to determine the device’s location and track its movements. 

Geofencing use cases: where the real world meets virtual boundaries

Many businesses are using geofencing services to enhance their marketing efforts and engage with customers. The list below provides a comprehensive look at various geofencing examples across different industries.

Logistics and fleet management

This technology can be applied to track and monitor the movement of vehicles, optimize routes, and enhance overall efficiency in fleet management. 

Example: Asset tracking and geofencing software can be used to set up restricted zones and receive alerts if a vehicle enters or leaves these areas, minimizing safety risks.

Marketing and geofenced ads

Location-based marketing (or geofencing marketing) is one of the most significant advantages of this technology. Businesses can target nearby app users and increase foot traffic to their stores, making it an excellent way to engage users and attract more customers.  

Example: Geofencing can be used to target customers with relevant ads or offers based on their location. For example, a marketing campaign might use geofencing to send promotional messages or offers to customers when they are near a specific location or event, such as a sports game or concert.

Retail

By setting up virtual boundaries around their store or specific products, retailers can trigger push notifications to customers.  It’s crucial for businesses to target the right location to maximize the time spent by potential customers. Restaurants can send limited-time offers to potential customers within a defined area, such as happy hour special. 

Example: Geofencing can be used to trigger targeted marketing messages or promotions to customers as they enter or exit a store or specific department within a store. For example, a retail store may use geofencing to send a promotion for a specific product as a customer enters a particular department or to offer a discount code as they leave the store.

Events and conferences

Organizers can use this technology to enhance attendee experiences, provide relevant information, and monitor attendance.

Example: Event organizers can send attendees personalized welcome messages, schedule updates, and venue maps upon their arrival at the event location, increasing user engagement.

Healthcare

Geofencing can be used to monitor the movement of patients, staff, and equipment within healthcare facilities to improve patient outcomes and safety. 

Example: Hospitals can use geofence set around specific wards or units to monitor the movement of high-risk patients, ensuring their safety and preventing unauthorized access.

Agriculture 

Geofencing technology can be used in precision agriculture to optimize the use of resources and increase crop yields. 

Example: Farmers can set up geofences around different sections of their fields. By integrating geofencing with Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) systems, farmers can automatically adjust the amount of water applied to each section, ensuring efficient water usage and promoting optimal crop growth.

Livestock farm management

Farmers can use geofencing to monitor the location and movement of their livestock, ensuring their safety and well-being in close proximity.

Example: Geofences can be set up around grazing areas to inform farmers when animals wander too far or enter potentially dangerous zones.

Security and access control

Organizations can use geofencing to enhance security measures and limit access to restricted areas.

Example: Companies can set up geofences around their facilities to automatically disable employee access cards or send security alerts when an unauthorized individual enters the restricted area.

Employee monitoring and time tracking

Companies can use geofencing to monitor employee attendance, location, and working hours, enhancing accountability.

Example: Employers can set up geofences around their worksites to automatically clock employees in and out, ensuring accurate timekeeping and preventing time fraud.

Real estate

Geofencing can be used to provide prospective homebuyers with helpful information about properties within their area of interest.

Example: Real estate agents can set up geofences around listed properties to send potential buyers a push notification with property details, images, and virtual tours, making it an excellent way to attract local customers.

Tourism

Geofencing can enhance travelers’ experience by providing relevant information and offers based on their location.

Example: Travel agencies can set up geofences around popular tourist attractions, sending visitors rich notifications with facts, historical context, and nearby recommendations for dining and shopping, making it an excellent way to target users.

Public safety and emergency management

Geofencing can be employed to improve emergency response and public safety by providing real-time information.

Example: Emergency management agencies can use this technology to send location-based alerts during natural disasters or other crises, providing evacuation instructions, shelter locations, and safety updates.

How to set up geofencing for your business: step-by-step process

Implementing this technology can be a powerful way to engage with interested customers and optimize your operations. But how to ensure that your geofencing campaign is set up properly and delivering results?

Step 1: Define your objectives

The first step in implementing geofencing is to define your objectives. What do you hope to achieve with this technology? Are you looking to drive foot traffic to your store, improve customer engagement, or optimize your fleet management? Identifying your ultimate goal will help you determine how to use it effectively.

Step 2: Create your geofencing boundaries

Next, you’ll need to create your geofencing boundaries. These boundaries can be customized to fit your needs, such as setting up virtual boundaries around your store or any other specific area. 

Step 3: Set up your notification triggers

Once you’ve defined your boundaries, you’ll need to set up your notification triggers. These triggers determine when a notification or alert is sent to the user. For example, you may want to send a discount offer to a customer who enters a certain radius around your store. 

Step 4: Test and refine

Before launching your geofencing campaign, it’s important to test and refine your settings. Test your boundaries and notification triggers to ensure they are working properly. Refine your settings based on feedback and data to improve the effectiveness of your campaigns.

Step 5: Launch and monitor

Once you’ve tested and refined your settings, it’s time to launch your campaign. Monitor your campaign’s performance and make adjustments as needed. Pay attention to metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to determine the effectiveness of your strategy.

Enhanced security with geofencing: a real-world success story from our client

In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring the security and safety of one’s home is a top priority for many homeowners. To address this need, our team at Volpis partnered with Garadget to implement an innovative geofencing feature designed to alert users when they leave their property with the garage door open. 

Background: Garadget is a smart home solution provider focused on improving the security and convenience of homeowners. The company sought to add an innovative feature to the company’s offerings, which would notify users when they move 500 meters away from their homes, and their gates were still open.

Solution: Our team collaborated closely with Garadget to develop and implement a geofencing system tailored to their specific requirements. We created a virtual perimeter of 500 meters around the user’s home, and when the user moved beyond this boundary with the garage door still open, they would receive a notification on their smartphone.

Results: The feature we implemented for Garadget has been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from users. Homeowners reported increased peace of mind, as they no longer had to worry about accidentally leaving their gates open when leaving their homes. The project reinforced Garadget’s reputation as an innovative smart home solution provider, offering unique and practical features to their customers.

Empower your business with geofencing

Geofencing technology has various use cases across different industries. By leveraging this powerful technology, you can unlock new opportunities to enhance customer experiences, streamline processes, and boost your bottom line. 

If you have any questions about geofencing and its implementation, you can schedule a free consultation with our experienced development experts.