Breaking the UWB Myth: Why You Don’t Need a Complex RTLS Setup
In the world of industrial automation and workplace safety, real-time location systems have become a major focus for warehouses, manufacturing plants, and other industrial work settings. Because of their ability to deliver cm-precision accuracy, many companies are drawn to the idea of flawless tracking, better workflows, and increased safety. As appealing as all that sounds, with the rise of ultra-wideband technology comes the major misconception that to achieve accurate RTLS, a company must invest in a highly complex and expensive infrastructure.
At ELOKON, we’re here to dispel that myth. In this article, we will unpack what is really necessary for effective location-based safety and why simpler, smarter solutions often offer greater value and reliability than complex UWB systems.
The Drawbacks of Complex Setups
UWB-based RTLS has been championed for its unparalleled accuracy. With cm-precision accuracy touted as the gold standard, it is easy to see why large operations might see UWB as the ultimate solution. In theory, knowing the exact location of forklifts, pallet jacks, or even personnel down to the centimeter can dramatically optimize operations and improve safety. However, some UWB systems are significantly complex. To achieve this level of precision, you need a dense network of anchors, frequent recalibrations, extensive site planning, and ongoing technical maintenance. Add in interference concerns from metal structures and moving equipment, and the idealized promise of UWB quickly becomes logistically and financially complicated. In many instances, such high resolution is not always necessary and can add more complications than solutions.
RTLS Goals: Function Over Flash
Before diving into the tech specs of a system, businesses should ask themselves what their primary goal is by implementing RTLS. In most industrial work environments, the key objectives include the following:
- Preventing collisions between forklifts and pedestrians
- Monitoring vehicle usage and operator behavior
- Ensuring personnel are not in restricted or dangerous zones
- Gathering data for audits, safety reviews, or workflow optimization
In short, while centimeter-level accuracy may be impressive, if it is not critical for your warehouse, a more streamlined system could be a much better option. Zone-based detection, simply knowing that a person or vehicle has entered a predefined safety area, is often sufficient for most applications related to forklift and pedestrian safety. This is where ELOKON’s RTLS approach is the most helpful.
ELOKON’s Streamlined Approach to RTLS
At ELOKON, we specialize in designing and deploying scalable safety solutions tailored to the practical needs of our customers. Rather than getting lost in the hype of the latest technology, we focus on reliability, ease of use, and measurable safety outcomes. Take our ELOfleet and ELOshield systems as examples. These platforms integrate forklift monitoring system capabilities with location-based intelligence without requiring a massive investment in UWB infrastructure.
ELOshield, our proximity detection and zoning system, uses reliable RF technology to define dynamic safety zones around vehicles and pedestrians. These zones can be tailored for specific applications, triggering alerts or automatic slowdowns when a person or another vehicle enters a dangerous proximity, all without the need for permanent beacons or continual recalibration.
Why this matters:
- Lower Cost of Ownership: No complex anchors, fewer installation headaches, and less downtime
- Flexible Deployment: Easily adapts to changing warehouse layouts or facility expansions
- Proven Safety Gains: Reduction in near-misses, improved driver awareness, and enhanced compliance
Practical vs. Precision
While cm-precision accuracy sounds impressive, when it comes to trying to prevent a forklift from colliding with a pedestrian, the margin of error is not about centimeters as much as it is about timing, awareness, and quick reaction times.
An example of this could be a pedestrian walking through a shared traffic zone in a warehouse when a forklift rounds a blind corner. At that moment, it matters little whether the worker is 30 cm or three meters from the vehicle. What matters most is that the system detects the potential collision early enough to warn both parties, and if needed, slow the vehicle down. In an instance like this, the difference between theoretical precision and practical safety is easy to see.
Where UWB Makes Sense
UWB does play an important role in safety systems. In highly specialized environments, like automated robotic operations, high-value manufacturing lines, or aerospace assembly, there’s a valid case for such precise tracking.
However, for the vast majority of warehouses, logistics hubs, and industrial sites focused on safety and operational efficiency, simpler RTLS solutions outperform their complex counterparts in cost-effectiveness, ease of integration, and day-to-day reliability. ELOKON partners with global brands that trust our systems not because they are the most complex but because they are the most dependable.
Forklift Monitoring: More Than Just Location
Effective forklift monitoring systems go beyond tracking movement. They gather actionable data on operator behavior, vehicle usage, impact events, and maintenance needs. When paired with location awareness, this data becomes even more powerful.
Imagine being able to:
- Identify high-risk zones based on incident heatmaps
- Trigger alerts for unauthorized access to restricted areas
- Automatically slow vehicles near pedestrian-heavy zones
- Analyze trends to preemptively address training gaps
These are the real-world benefits that drive safety and efficiency, and they do not require UWB.
Safer Workplaces, Smarter Investments with ELOKON
In a competitive landscape where technology can either empower or overwhelm, choosing the right tools matters more than ever. Don’t fall into the trap of chasing buzzwords or overly complex solutions. At ELOKON, we believe that real-time location systems should enhance safety, not complicate it. That’s why we offer modular, scalable, and intuitive systems that deliver where it counts, such as on the warehouse floor, in busy loading docks, and throughout the rest of your facility.
Whether you’re looking to enhance forklift-to-pedestrian safety, reduce downtime, or streamline operations, you don’t need a high-maintenance, centimeter-precise UWB setup. You need a partner who understands your needs and delivers smart, effective solutions. If you are ready to learn more about ELOKON’s forklift monitoring and RTLS solutions, contact us today to speak with one of our expert team members and see how we can tailor a safety system to your exact needs.