Jargon within the spatial data industry can be extremely confusing. While we can’t convince everyone out there to toe the line on improved ways of communicating, we can give you the tools to speak the language. Tune in every Tuesday when we will set out to explain some of the industry words and phrases we’ve grown accustomed to using here at Maponics.
To kick off our series, we are revisiting the term “geofencing” and the value it brings to the market. Advancements in technology have made it possible to know not only where people are located at any given time, but the moment a person or object enters or exits a location. Geofencing makes that possible.
Geofences are virtual boundaries that represent defined geographic areas (like a neighborhood within a community). Once in the boundary, geofencing enables users to send and receive notifications based on their exact whereabouts.
Because geofencing is such a useful and flexible technology, it has a multitude of valuable applications ranging from business to personal use. One of the most common ways of using geofencing is to send special offers to customers when they walk or drive near a business’s location. In fact, 4 out of 5 American consumers actually expect mobile advertisements to help them find something nearby. This is great validation for advertisers to incorporate geofencing as part of a comprehensive strategy.