Beacons vs. Geofencing

In this clip, Mat Diab, founder of WorkAxle, breaks down why Bluetooth beacons offer a more reliable, secure, and cost-effective solution for time tracking, especially in complex environments like multi-level buildings, warehouses, and large retail stores.

Unlike geofencing, which relies on broad GPS signals and can’t distinguish between floors, rooms, or precise entry points, beacons create a controlled, tamper-resistant check-in zone. Employees must physically be within a defined range between 1 to 100 meters to punch in.

“You can’t spoof a beacon. You actually have to be there.”

That small difference has big implications as beacons remove ambiguity, reduce compliance risk, and eliminate the loopholes that let time theft bloom for too long.

Plus, they bring a few unexpected advantages:

• No personal location data shared
• Health-conscious time capture as there is no need for shared physical punch clocks
• Lower total cost of ownership since it sits at around $50 per unit with the change of a $1 battery every five years
• Scalable and flexible because it works for small offices, massive warehouses, and everything in between

Geofencing, on the other hand, is easy to spoof, unreliable in large or multi-story buildings, and doesn't scale well in environments where precision matters.

With WorkAxle, you’re not forced to choose since you can easily combine geofencing and beacon enforcement. But if your organization is very serious about accurate time tracking, reduced time theft, and cleaner compliance, beacons are the clear winner.