There is growing importance in developing and utilizing Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) platforms, whether it is for managing equipment, logistics and even the effectiveness of equipment. When paired with other systems, such as RFID, RTLS can significantly help companies become more efficient and profitable.

With that in mind, HID Global, a subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY, recently acquired Sewio Networks. Founded in 2014, Sewio specializes in Ultra Wide Band (UWB) RTLS systems, including hardware, software and professional services. Its’ hardware includes Tags, its signal transmitters, and Anchors, which receive the signals.

Sewio is now part of HID’s Identification Technologies Business Area, merging into HID’s Internet of Things Services (IOTS) Business Unit. For HID Global, this will be particularly ideal for automotive and manufacturing customers.

“Welcoming the Sewio team into the HID family reinforces our commitment to being a major player in the RTLS space,” said Björn Lidefelt, EVP and head of HID, in announcing the acquisition. “With Sewio’s technology and expertise, we are in a better position to help automotive and manufacturing customers enhance their smart factory and warehouse operations.”

Mark Robinton, VP, IoT Services at HID Global, said that adding Sewio’s Ultra Wide Band technology was a key to the acquisition.

“Sewio is a specialist in Ultra Wide Band-based Real Time Location systems,” Robinton noted. “Their primary focus is in the automotive and warehousing markets. As a leader in the RTLS business, we wanted to add high precision UWB capabilities to our portfolio. The team has extensive experience and customers in this space as well as a great cultural fit.”

“We are laser focused on enhancing our RTLS technology suite to solve for additional use cases in our targeted vertical markets, such as Industrial,” added Marc Bielmann, SVP and head of Identification Technologies, HID, in discussing the acquisition. “Adding Sewio and their high precision UWB platform is yet another step in this direction, and we look forward to extending our offering to meet the unique needs of users in the automotive and industrial space.”

HID does outdoor tracking using LORA/GPS for yards and lay down yards as well as worker visibility and asset location inside of factories. Robinton observed that the addition of Sewio rounds out HID’s portfolio of outdoor and indoor RTLS capabilities.

“Customers can benefit from the high precision and reliability in high metal environments to locate people and assets where other technologies are not sufficient,” he added. “The technology is complementary to our existing portfolio, and we bring in additional technology and market expertise to the RTLS team.”

The acquisition will also benefit Sewio’s customers.

“HID has a strong brand, portfolio, financial strength and sales force which will help extend the reach and offerings available to Sewio’s customers,” said Robinton.

Ultimately, combining HID and Sewio’s capabilities provides customers with a wide range of products and services to select.

“There are many problems within the industrial space location technology can solve and there is no one size fits all,” Robinton concluded. “Having a wide variety of offerings and capabilities allows us to guide a customer to use the appropriate, or combination of technologies, to solve their problems.”