A Comprehensive Look at Indoor Location Tracking Technologies

Whether your goal is stronger customer engagement, improved employee productivity or faster incident response, indoor location tracking technology can help cleaning and security businesses. 

Bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacons, Wi-Fi, radio frequency identification (RFID) and near-field communication (NFC) methods are all important different methods within location tracking software for monitoring and supporting your workforce as they perform against SLAs. But, each has its advantages and limitations. 

Whether you’re a security contractor tracking guard tours and patrols, or a cleaning contractor monitoring loop times and rotations, touring and tracking software helps you improve employee productivity, reduce operational costs, prove service delivery and mitigate risk.

So, which technology should your business use? The right answer depends on what you’re trying to achieve, your current locations and contracts, and your budget.

We’ve put together a list of the five most talked-about technologies to help you understand the capabilities and use cases of each as you look to integrate tracking alongside your workforce operations.

Beacons

Small wireless devices called beacons broadcast signals using Bluetooth Low Energy. Nearby mobile devices listen for these signals, trigger actions and/or record analytics via mobile workforce management apps based on device proximity.

In addition to real-time location tracking of mobile teams, beacons can be used to passively notify workers and managers of valuable insights and send instant notifications for task management. 

For example, a security company monitoring a multi-floor corporate data center could place BLE beacons at server cabinets, emergency exits and restricted areas. As guards conduct patrols, their smartphones automatically detect nearby beacons, creating digital breadcrumbs without manual check-ins. The system generates real-time alerts when critical areas go unchecked, allowing supervisors to verify complete patrol coverage while building defensible compliance records.

For a cleaning contractor serving hospitals, for example, beacons could be installed in patient areas without disrupting workflow. When cleaners enter high-risk areas, their mobile workforce management app automatically logs entry/exit times and calculates service duration. This passive tracking creates an audit trail showing exact cleaning frequencies—without the burden of paper logs or manual scanning.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi hotspots are fixed anchor points providing a static known position. A mobile device detects a Wi-Fi access point and, once multiple points are detected, can determine its exact location. Wi-Fi-based indoor location tracking requires access points, a data service that computes real-time locations and customizable reports to analyze movements.

Wi-Fi is commonly used for indoor location tracking because it can be easy to connect to existing infrastructures and only requires a mobile worker to be within a few yards of a location point.

For example, a shopping mall security team may leverage Wi-Fi as a tool for location tracking guard movements throughout the complex. As officers patrol, their devices connect to different access points across floors, creating heat maps that show their coverage. The system’s range allows supervisors to verify that food courts, parking areas and retail zones receive appropriate security presence without installing additional hardware.

For a janitorial company, supervisors could monitor cleaning teams’ movements, verifying when classrooms, laboratories and common areas are serviced. While not precise enough to confirm individual classroom cleaning, the system effectively confirms building coverage and helps optimize staffing across multiple locations.

RFID

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a form of wireless communication that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. An RFID location tracking system consists of tags, readers that communicate with each other using radio waves and application software for attendance management.

RFID is commonly used for employee attendance tracking, as the distance requirement for accuracy is minimal.

For example, guards can carry RFID badges that are scanned at checkpoints. The ultra-high frequency system logs these interactions with timestamp precision, creating tamper-proof records showing which guard accessed which area and for how long. The system processes multiple guard tags simultaneously without line-of-sight requirements, ensuring comprehensive compliance.

For a cleaning service RFID-based attendance management can help support protocol compliance. Cleaning staff scan badges at production area entrances, with fixed-position readers automatically identifying multiple workers, creating digital records that satisfy food safety audits with read accuracy, even when multiple cleaners enter simultaneously.

NFC

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology enables task tracking, real-time updates and unauthorized access control within field workforce management.

NFC is commonly used for the secure delivery of information between individuals or between a worker and a computer terminal. This is particularly useful for security contractors and cleaning contractors who require task assignment confirmation at specific checkpoints.

For example, a hotel security team might verify emergency exit inspections using NFC. With tags placed at fire exits and stairwells, guards can tap their NFC-enabled phones against hidden tags, logging encrypted verification data within the required proximity. Each tap triggers real-time updates to the security management system.

For an airport cleaning contractor, NFC tags installed in restrooms, food courts and high-traffic areas help enable precise task verification. Much in the same way, cleaners tap phones against discrete NFC tags to retrieve location-specific protocols, confirm task completion and document which services or cleaning methods were used. The contactless system prevents cross-contamination while creating secure delivery of information between field based work, a supervisor and even the customer. 

GPS

GPS tracking technology provides real-time location data that enables mobile workforce visibility across multiple sites. Real-time GPS tracking is useful for employee tracking apps, allowing security guards or cleaners to ensure accurate time records. 

A security company protecting multiple construction sites, for example, might use GPS tracking to establish virtual perimeters around valuable equipment areas. The system logs when guards enter or exit predetermined boundaries, allowing supervisors to monitor patrol frequency and coverage across large outdoor spaces. Unlike indoor tracking options, GPS provides consistent coverage across developing suburban areas where infrastructure may be limited.

For commercial cleaning, GPS tracking can be used to validate service delivery across multiple client locations. The system logs arrivals and departures at each site and verifies that contracted cleaning durations are met. Managers receive alerts when cleaners spend less than the required time at a location, ensuring quality standards.

Enhancing Workforce Management with Location Tracking

Choosing the right location tracking technology is essential for businesses managing field teams and remote employees, particularly in the commercial cleaning and security industries.

Whether your goal is to track time, optimize workflows or improve service accountability, modern location tracking apps and software offer comprehensive features that enhance operational efficiency. Each solution provides unique advantages for monitoring employee locations and ensuring compliance with service agreements. 

To dive deeper into indoor location tracking technology, dig deeper into our Indoor Locations Technologies guide.