Geofencing

Geofencing denotes a geographic zone that is virtually fenced, meaning entry or exit from this zone can be tracked. Enable location-based engagement by triggering actions when a device enters or exits a predefined location, such as push-notifications, virtual coupons, engagement features, and security alerts.

Pointr's market-leading technology is able to detect and switch between Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signals and GPS signals, enabling smooth navigation transitions between indoor and outdoor environments (such as on large workplace campuses). A virtual geofence can be drawn either inside or around the exterior of buildings on the campus map bundled with the Pointr SDK, acting as triggers for mobile application interactions on iOS and Android.

Geofencing in the background is crucial to functionality - people generally don’t walk with their phone or apps open all the time. Background functionality differs with Android and iOS, but both have options to achieve the desired geofencing capabilities.

To receive position updates, the application needs to have a permission for utilizing the user’s location. At Pointr, we collect the visitor's location data anonymously and work with our clients to ensure we align with the latest GDPR and privacy policies.

One of the most popular use cases for geofences is alerting app users to something - such as a nearby promotion or an event talk about to begin - when they enter a certain area. 

There are two main forms that these notifications can take - local, and push. These operate slightly different in how they're sent, but the major difference is that local notifications appear within the app itself, while push notifications can alert the user even when their app isn't open (provided they have previously granted permission for the app to send them).