Beacapp and obniz Launch Automated Solution for Visualizing Research Equipment Usage

Beacapp and obniz Launch Automated Solution for Visualizing Research Equipment Usage

Beacapp, provider of the indoor location service 'Beacapp Here,' and obniz, developer of the IoT platform 'obniz Now,' have announced the launch of an 'Automated Solution for Visualizing Research Equipment Usage and Recording Utilization Data' tailored for pharmaceutical and advanced technology laboratories.

Based on the concept of a 'Zero-Input Automated Data Infrastructure,' this solution integrates both companies' technologies to visualize and record equipment operational status, real-time locations of people and assets, and equipment usage history. It addresses the common DX challenge where operational burdens, such as manual data entry by workers, hinder efficiency. This new mechanism automatically collects data simply by researchers going about their daily activities.

### Background

In recent years, manufacturing and R&D sites have faced severe labor shortages, making it urgent to move away from site operations dependent on individual experience and manual observation. Pharmaceutical and advanced technology labs, in particular, rely heavily on analog management for equipment verification and asset searching. This creates inefficiencies and risks of excessive reliance on specific individuals when resolving issues.

Meanwhile, many DX initiatives have failed to deliver results because they impose new operational burdens, such as manual data input, on field workers.

### Solution Overview

By installing obniz sensors on research equipment to automatically collect status (e.g., power ON/OFF) and combining this with Beacapp Here's indoor location technology, the following information can be monitored in real-time:

- Which equipment is in use - Which equipment is available - Who is using the equipment - The real-time locations of equipment and research assets

### Expected Benefits

- **Operational Efficiency**: Reduced movement, lower search/retrieval time, and less patrol workload. - **Optimized Facility Management**: Visualization of utilization rates, ability to reduce redundant equipment, and identifying idle assets. - **Traceability and Audit Compliance**: Automatic logging and analysis of usage history. - **Safety and BCP Measures**: Monitoring staff presence and supporting safety confirmation during disasters.

### Future Outlook

Starting in July 2026, the companies will proceed with effectiveness verification through trial deployments, focusing primarily on existing customers. Future plans include expanding to various other sites where tracking of people and equipment is required, such as factories, hospitals, logistics centers, and infrastructure facilities.