What Matters
Not all motion study technologies solve the same problem.
Many organisations evaluate solutions based on cost alone.
The better question is: What operational problem are we trying to solve?
Comparing the Options
Traditional stopwatch studies are low cost and easy to implement, but they are labour intensive, subjective, and difficult to scale.
RFID is useful for asset tracking and inventory visibility, but it usually provides low location precision and limited movement analysis.
BLE beacons offer low hardware cost and simple deployment, but accuracy is often around 1 to 5 metres, which makes them unsuitable for detailed motion studies.
Enterprise RTLS platforms such as Sewio, Kinexon, and Ubisense provide industrial-grade reliability and enterprise support, but they often require significant investment and longer deployment cycles.
UWB Mini 5 provides centimetre-level accuracy, affordable deployment, fast implementation, source-code flexibility, and suitability for pilots and consulting engagements. Its limitations are that it requires technical setup, is less mature than enterprise RTLS platforms, and is focused primarily on location intelligence.
Traditional Stopwatch Studies
Strengths include low cost and easy implementation. Limitations include labour intensity, subjectivity, and difficulty scaling across larger operations.
- Low cost
- Easy to implement
- Labour intensive
- Subjective
- Difficult to scale
RFID and BLE Beacons
RFID supports asset tracking and inventory visibility, while BLE beacons are inexpensive and simple to deploy. However, both have limitations when the goal is detailed motion intelligence rather than broad location or inventory awareness.
- RFID: asset tracking and inventory visibility
- RFID limitation: low location precision
- BLE: low hardware cost and simple deployment
- BLE limitation: accuracy often 1-5 metres
- Not suitable for detailed motion studies
Enterprise RTLS Platforms
Enterprise RTLS platforms can be powerful, reliable, and well-supported. They are often appropriate when an organisation is ready for a larger industrial deployment. For early pilots and consulting-led discovery, however, the investment and deployment cycle can be heavy.
- Examples: Sewio, Kinexon, Ubisense
- Industrial grade
- High reliability
- Enterprise support
- Significant investment
- Longer deployment cycles
UWB Mini 5
For organisations starting their motion intelligence journey, UWB Mini 5 provides an attractive balance between cost, accuracy, deployment speed, and learning opportunity. It enables organisations to generate operational insights without committing to large enterprise investments.
- Centimetre-level accuracy
- Affordable deployment
- Fast implementation
- Source-code flexibility
- Suitable for pilots and consulting engagements
- Requires technical setup
- Less mature than enterprise RTLS platforms
- Focused primarily on location intelligence
The Bottom Line
UWB Mini 5 is not necessarily the final destination.
It is often the most practical starting point.
For many organisations, it offers enough accuracy and flexibility to begin building a data-driven understanding of operational movement.