Geofencing is a cutting-edge location-based technology that allows businesses to create virtual perimeters around real-world geographic areas, triggering specific actions when a mobile device or RFID tag enters or exits the defined boundary.
Understanding geofencing
Geofencing is a location-based technology that utilizes GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi, or cellular data to create virtual boundaries, known as geofences, around specific geographic areas. These geofences can be dynamically generated or predefined, enabling businesses to trigger pre-programmed actions when a mobile device or RFID tag enters or exits the designated area.
How geofencing works
To set up geofencing, a virtual boundary must be established using GPS or RFID-enabled software. This can be done by drawing a circle or polygon on a map or defining coordinates. Once the geofence is created, the mobile application or software registers the device's location and triggers specific actions when it enters or exits the defined area.
Geofencing requires users to opt-in to location services on their devices, ensuring they have granted permission for their location to be tracked. By incorporating geofencing technology into their applications, businesses can deliver relevant information, alerts, or advertisements based on a user's proximity to a geofenced location.
Different applications of geofencing
Geofencing in marketing
One of the most prevalent uses of geofencing is in marketing. Businesses can leverage geofencing to serve targeted ads to individuals who have entered a specific geofenced location, even after they have left the area.
Asset management
Geofencing technology is also used for asset management, enabling owners to track the movement of valuable assets, such as cars, trucks, tractors, or computers.
Human resource management
Geofencing is increasingly being incorporated into human resource management solutions. Companies can utilize geofencing technology to track employee time and attendance, ensuring that employees are accurately clocking in and out within geofenced boundaries.
Law enforcement
Law enforcement agencies use geofencing to track individuals who may have committed a crime. With a warrant, they can request anonymized location records from technology companies to identify devices within a specific area during a specified time period.
Tracking animals
Geofencing is also employed in tracking animals, particularly pets. Pet owners can create geofences around their property or specific boundaries to ensure that their pets do not wander outside the designated area.
Main benefits of geofencing
Geofencing technology offers numerous advantages for businesses across various industries.
- Precision and accuracy
- Targeted marketing
- Increased efficiency
- Valuable audience insights
- Mobile compatibility
- Improved tracking and management
Why geofencing is effective for email
Blocking emails based on IP addresses proves effective for various reasons:
- The email's language is irrelevant in this method.
- The email's content is inconsequential; whether it's spam, a nuisance, or a malicious phishing attempt, it doesn't matter.
- Relying solely on blocking by domain extension is insufficient, as savvy spammers often use common extensions like .com or .net.
- This approach reduces dependence on spam/virus engines and blacklists that require frequent updates.
Think of geofencing as a strategy against geographic threats. If an email from overseas isn't anticipated, it is intercepted and filtered out before reaching your inboxes.
FAQs
What is an example of geofencing?
A coffee shop can trigger push notifications for special discounts when customers walk past.
Does geofencing track your location?
A geofence can establish your general location through your device's unique IP address.
What is geofence on my phone?
Geofencing is a virtually-constructed radius used by mobile marketers to promote certain ads to potential customers within a specified geographic area.
Geofencing in Paubox
Geofencing in the context of email and Paubox means quarantining emails based on the country that the email passed through, determined by the IP address of the email server or client. You can select which countries to quarantine in the Paubox dashboard, currently a list of 45.
Customers that included all countries fenced anywhere from 300 to 4000 emails per month. On average, those customers quarantined 28 emails a day!
See also: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide
Farah Amod
