How Link Labs and Hubble Are Transforming Bluetooth Tracking

For years, enterprises have faced a fundamental limitation in asset tracking: visibility often stops at the edge of the facility. Inside warehouses, hospitals, and job sites, technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and local gateways provide precise, cost-effective tracking. But once an asset leaves that controlled environment, organizations are forced to make a tradeoff—either lose visibility or invest in significantly more expensive GPS and cellular-enabled devices.

Today, that tradeoff is changing.

With the integration of the Hubble Network into Link Labs’ AirFinder platform, enterprises can now extend Bluetooth-based asset tracking far beyond facility walls—without the cost and complexity of GPS or cellular hardware. This innovation represents a major shift in how organizations think about scalable, cost-effective asset visibility.

The Challenge: Visibility Gaps in Traditional Asset Tracking

Traditional BLE asset tracking systems rely on proximity. A Bluetooth tag transmits data, but it must be “heard” by a nearby reader or gateway. Historically, that meant:

• Inside facilities: Link Labs gateways provide reliable, real-time tracking
• In transit or off-site: Visibility depends on mobile hubs like the Link Labs’ SuperTag
• Outside coverage zones: Assets effectively go dark

This created a clear limitation for organizations managing distributed assets. Whether tracking construction tools, medical equipment, or shipping pallets, visibility gaps introduced inefficiencies, risk, and loss.

To solve this, companies often turned to GPS/cellular devices. While effective, these solutions come with tradeoffs:

• Higher device costs
• Ongoing SIM and data plan expenses
• Increased power consumption and maintenance

The result? Many assets simply weren’t tracked because the cost didn’t justify the value.

The Breakthrough: A Global Bluetooth Detection Network

The partnership between Link Labs and Hubble changes the equation entirely.

Hubble operates a global network of more than 90 million terrestrial Bluetooth gateways, capable of detecting BLE signals as assets move through the world. When combined with Link Labs’ AirFinder platform, this creates a seamless extension of existing infrastructure.

As described in today’s press release, Bluetooth tags can now continue reporting location and sensor data even when they move beyond Link Labs gateways or mobile hubs .

In practical terms, this means:

• A tag leaves a warehouse → it’s picked up by Hubble
• A pallet moves through a city → detected by nearby gateways
• Equipment travels between job sites → continues reporting

The key innovation is simple but powerful: Bluetooth tags no longer require dedicated infrastructure everywhere they go.

How It Works: Seamless Integration with AirFinder

One of the most compelling aspects of this solution is that it does not require organizations to overhaul their existing systems.

Link Labs customers continue to use:

• The same Bluetooth tags
• The same AirFinder platform
• The same workflows and integrations

The only difference is expanded coverage.

Data collected through the Hubble network feeds directly into AirFinder, providing a unified view of assets across:

• On-site environments
• Transit routes
• Off-site locations

This creates a continuous chain of visibility—from warehouse to job site to delivery—without operational disruption.

Cost Efficiency: Unlocking Tracking at Scale

Perhaps the most transformative impact of this partnership is economic.

By leveraging Hubble’s network, Bluetooth tags no longer need:

• GPS chips
• Cellular radios
• SIM cards or data plans

This dramatically reduces both device cost and operating cost .

For organizations, this unlocks a new level of scalability:

• Track more assets without increasing budget
• Extend tracking to lower-value items
• Improve ROI across asset classes

Instead of reserving tracking for only the most critical assets, companies can now deploy tracking broadly—across tools, inventory, and consumables.

When to Use Bluetooth + Hubble vs. GPS/Cellular

While this new model expands what’s possible with Bluetooth, it’s important to understand that it complements—not replaces—GPS/cellular solutions like the Link Labs SuperTag.

Each has an ideal use case:

Bluetooth + Hubble (Best for Cost-Optimized Visibility)

• General location is sufficient
• Intermittent updates are acceptable
• Assets move through populated or connected areas
• High-volume asset tracking is needed

GPS/Cellular (Best for Mission-Critical Tracking)

• Real-time, continuous visibility is required
• Assets operate in rural or remote areas
• Location accuracy must be precise at all times
• Downtime or gaps are unacceptable

In many cases, organizations will deploy a hybrid strategy, using GPS for critical assets and Bluetooth + Hubble for everything else.

Real-World Use Cases

The impact of this expanded visibility spans multiple industries:

Construction

Construction companies often struggle with tool loss and inefficient equipment allocation. With Bluetooth + Hubble:

• Tools can be tracked across and between job sites
• Equipment utilization improves
• Loss and theft are reduced

Healthcare

Hospitals rely on mobile medical equipment that frequently moves between departments or facilities:

• Track wheelchairs, infusion pumps, and monitors
• Improve asset availability and patient care
• Reduce time spent searching for equipment
• Link Labs is the only solution that provides room-level indoor tracking with seamless integration when the medical equipment leaves the facility

Logistics and Supply Chain

Supply chains demand visibility across multiple handoffs:

• Monitor pallets and shipments in transit
• Gain insight into dwell times and delays
• Improve operational efficiency

Field Services

Service organizations manage distributed assets across wide areas:

• Track equipment across technicians and locations
• Ensure accountability and utilization
• Reduce replacement costs

In each of these scenarios, the ability to maintain visibility beyond a single facility creates measurable operational and financial value.

A New Standard for Asset Tracking

The integration of the Hubble Network into Link Labs’ platform represents more than just a feature enhancement—it signals a broader shift in the asset tracking landscape.

Enterprises no longer have to choose between:

• Affordable but limited Bluetooth tracking
• Expensive but comprehensive GPS tracking

Instead, they can achieve both scale and visibility through a layered approach.

As organizations continue to digitize operations and demand real-time insights, the ability to track assets seamlessly across environments will become a baseline expectation—not a luxury.

Conclusion: Visibility Without Boundaries

Asset tracking is no longer confined to the four walls of a facility or to the range .

By extending Bluetooth tracking through Hubble’s global network, Link Labs is enabling a new level of visibility that is:

• Scalable
• Cost-effective
• Seamlessly integrated

This innovation allows organizations to track more assets, in more places, at a price point that delivers strong ROI—while still maintaining the option for GPS/cellular tracking where it matters most.

In a world where operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making are critical, the ability to see your assets—anywhere, anytime—changes everything.

Contact us today to learn more.