Real-time location systems (RTLS) used to be the preserve of specialist environments. For years, you would only find them in pilot projects or highly controlled settings—where precision justified the effort of deployment.
But that picture is starting to change. RTLS is now steadily becoming a core part of digital infrastructure in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and beyond.
The market numbers illustrate this momentum. MarketsandMarkets (2025) estimates the global RTLS market will climb from USD 5.84 billion in 2024 to USD 15.67 billion by 2030—an 18.6% CAGR. The Insight Partners (2025) paints an even faster trajectory, projecting the market to exceed USD 40.71 billion by 2031 at a 26.5% CAGR.
While the figures vary, the consensus is clear: RTLS adoption is accelerating, and the next decade will be transformative.
Why is this happening now?
First, the demand for operational visibility has never been stronger. Businesses are under pressure to eliminate wasted time, improve accuracy, and increase safety. In our Zero-Scan Warehouse article, we explored how geofences can automate workflows, removing entire categories of manual scanning. Instead of staff spending time checking items in or out, movement itself becomes the trigger for inventory management.
Second, technology has caught up with the vision. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) has matured into a global standard with centimeter-level accuracy. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has grown from simple beacons into advanced angle-of-arrival systems. LoRaWAN now offers long-range coverage for campus-scale or yard scenarios. Instead of asking “which ones wins?”, standards like omlox and middleware like DeepHub make it possible to orchestrate all of them in a single system. We explained this in detail in our post on Hybrid RTLS, where the right technology is applied in the right zone, with one rule engine tying it together.
Geographically, adoption is accelerating worldwide. North America and Europe remain strong markets with healthcare and manufacturing deployments. Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region, with major investment in smart infrastructure and healthcare sectors in China, India, and South Korea. For European players, regulatory clarity and interoperability standards like omlox have further reduced adoption barriers.
The use cases driving adoption are also expanding, though still focused on areas where precision and automation create clear value.
- In healthcare, we’ve shown how geofencing can simplify emergency response, ensuring alerts reach the right staff in the right moment.
- In logistics and manufacturing, UWB vs. UWB Mesh highlights how infrastructure choices enable tracking of tools, parts, and materials in environments where layouts and metals make accuracy challenging.
- And in food and pharma, our blog on cold chain monitoring shows how location and condition data together prevent spoilage and ensure compliance.
The growth figures are striking, but the real story lies in the shift from specialist to strategic. RTLS is becoming not just a tool for pilots, but a backbone for operational intelligence.
At DynaWo, we see this in every conversation with customers: the question is no longer “does RTLS work?” but “where should we start?”
MarketsandMarkets. (2025). Real-time Location Systems (RTLS) Market – Global Forecast to 2030. Retrieved from https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/real-time-location-systems-market-1322.html
The Insight Partners. (2025, March 25). Real-Time Location Systems Market Size to Surpass USD 40.71 Billion by 2031, Growing at a 26.5% CAGR. GlobeNewswire. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/03/25/3048698/0/en/Real-Time-Location-Systems-Market-Size-to-Surpass-USD-40-71-Billion-by-2031-Growing-at-a-26-5-CAGR-The-Insight-Partners.html