A construction worker using the PinPoint app on a mobile device at the job site.

help your frontline make the right decision

The PinPoint mobile app is a learning experience platform that delivers learning in the flow of work.
The PinPoint app displaying a geofence set to trigger on site support.
A user completing a checklist in the PinPoint app.

Checklist, Assessment & Survey Creators

Ensure Compliance, Improve Retention and Increase Workplace Safety.

Checklist icon

Author media-rich checklists, assessments and surveys on any device for inspections, audits, task lists and workforce feedback. Customize the due dates and set rules-based scheduling for recurring events. Require digital signatures and track completion time and location to ensure compliance. 

A checklist in the PinPoint app.

Performance Support Library

Instantly Access Any Content in the Library.

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Give your employees instant access to any content you wish with the searchable Performance Support Library feature. Your organization's knowledge base can be a tap away, anywhere, anytime.

The PinPoint Library screen.

Assignment Builder & Detail Reporting

Create Custom Assignments and Track Completion Details.

Combine people, groups, content and locations into an assignment. Then, share the assignments using due dates, rules-based scheduling for recurring events and the PinPoint Location-Aware Systems. Easily track completion status by individual, group and content. Rich user detail views allow filtering by assignments that are overdue, in-progress and complete. Determine if action is needed by accessing detailed information such as individual's specific responses.

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The PinPoint Admin APP:

pinpoint features:

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Fully Mobile Native Experience

Provide Learning and Support Moments When and Where Needed.

For too long, learning and support has been tied to the desktop. PinPoint is designed to take every advantage mobile devices have to offer. From mobile content and assignment creation to location-aware systems to performance tracking, every aspect has been created for mobile devices.

The PinPoint app's Home screen.

Location-Aware Systems

Connect Your Learning and Support to Your Environment.

Location icon

PinPoint pushes learning and support to your workforce where they need it most – on the job. PinPoint is the world's first location-based mobile learning platform. By utilizing iBeacons, QR Codes, Barcodes, GeoFences and Mobile Notifications you can leverage the physical web where any object or location can be a learning or support moment. 

PinPoint's location-aware creation screen.

Mobile Capture, Creation and Delivery

Create and Deploy Micro-Learning and Support Objects from Any Device.

Moblie capture, creation and delivery icon.

PinPoint takes every advantage of mobile devices' robust media creation tools. Instantly create videos, annotated photos, interactive images, checklists, documents, and assessments. Easily share them as micro-learning – ideal for performance and decision support. 

The Create Asset screen in the PinPoin app.
Implementation icon

Ensure success with PinPoint's implementation assistance.

Implementation Services

At every point of implementation, at any scale, PinPoint can be there to ensure seamless success. PinPoint will guide you through LMS/database integrations, assist in remote or onsite onboarding and provide location services support.

Creating a geofence in PinPoint that will launch training and support when users enter the area.

Web Management App

Integrate Your Desktop Development and File Management.

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Some things are easier to do on a laptop or your desktop. Media editing, file management and organizational network access, for example. PinPoint has you covered with a browser-based web management app that can be accessed from any device.

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User Engagement Manager

Manage Your Employees and Teams, Anywhere at Any Time.

Your environment is a constantly shifting landscape you must navigate every day. Easily manage employees. Create and manage groups. View learning progress. From anywhere – iOS, Android and browser.

A list of users in the PinPoint app.
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User Content Creation Suite

Empower Employees with User Generated Content.

Close the feedback loop and leverage social learning by empowering your employees to create and share their own content – videos, annotated photos, interactive images, checklists, documents, and assessments. Easily review and manage employee contributions from your mobile device. 

User Home Screen.

API and Legacy Support

Integrate Seamlessly.

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You don’t work in a vacuum and neither does PinPoint. PinPoint’s integrated workflow and API serve as a hub for your existing services. From single sign-on to LMS integration, PinPoint will make your life simpler. 
 
Already have an existing training library? PinPoint’s webhooks can instantly turn your desktop-based training into mobile-ready content ready for the field.

Asset creation screen in PinPoint.
Performance Dashboard icon

The PinPoint Performance Dashboard

Track Real-Time Performance Data.

You don't want to spend your day wading through mountains of data. You want the specific information you need to make important decisions. Utilize the dashboard view to track employee performance and the effectiveness of your training.

The Reports dashboard screen in the PinPoint app.
 
 
 
 

The PinPoint User APP:

Beacons

What are beacons?

Beacons are small wireless sensors that you can attach to any location or object. They broadcast tiny radio signals which your smartphone can receive and interpret, unlocking micro-learning and contextual awareness. The beacons themselves are small, cheap battery powered transmitters.



How do beacons work?

Beacons are based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). BLE is a wireless network technology used for transmitting data over short distances. They are cheap and don’t use a lot of energy. No data is stored on a beacon. The smartphone simply listens for the beacon’s radio signal. They don’t collect information from User’s devices. The two most common protocols that beacons use are iBeacon (Apple) and Eddystone (Google). While similar, they have different implementations and aren’t interchangeable.



How do beacons integrate with the PinPoint platform?



How does the beacon experience work with the app open?

Beacons can be detected while the PinPoint app is open (foreground) and while it is closed (background). When the PinPoint app is in the foreground detection is faster. However, when the app is in the background, iOS (not the PinPoint app) is deciding when to look for beacons. It prioritizes iOS functions like battery life over searching for beacons so it is slower.



What are some of the technical specifications for iBeacons?

Identification iBeacons work by broadcasting a UUID (universally unique identifier) using Bluetooth Low Energy. The UUID is picked up by an application that can read the value and do something with it, such as determine the location of the user’s device or send a notification. The ibeacon consists of three types of identifiers:

  • Proximity UUID - The proximity UUID differentiates iBeacons from one another.
  • Major (optional) - The major value can be used to tag beacons in different groups, e.g. 1 for Boston and 2 for Los Angeles.
  • Minor (optional) - The minor value can also be used to group beacons, e.g. 4 for first floor and 5 for second floor.
Distance Once again, beacons do not send push notifications to devices nor do they track users. They simply broadcast these 3 pieces of data (UUID, Major and Minor) to any device that will listen. The beacons broadcast up to 10 - 15 meters . Some manufactures can broadcast up to 100 meters. But, in practice, they perform best under 30 feet. You can set how far a beacon broadcasts. iBeacons can be set to immediate (1 meter), near (1- 5 meters), or far (5 to 15 meters). Google’s Eddystone works in much the same way but sends some additional packets to the ones from Apple. Overall Speed and Accuracy In the real world here is what you should know about speed and accuracy: Beacon detection is ideal for proximity scenarios NOT for exact location. It can give you room level accuracy but not object level accuracy. Speed of detection depends on on a number of variables:
  • Physics - detection time of phone antennae and radio wave
  • Physics - interference from the environment such as types of walls, water, etc. They do not interfere with wifi. Also, the placement of beacons matters....
  • Power levels - Beacon battery and transmission power and intervals



How do beacons compare to GPS?

Where GPS is globally used as location technology, it has some disadvantages in terms of reaching inside buildings or basements, precision of the location, and battery usage. iBeacon is more precise, works indoor and underground, and has virtually no signal obstruction.



What are some ideas for how to use beacons?

  • Forklift operators receive daily checklists.
  • Medical workers receive a PDF explaining proper medical waste disposal process.
  • Retail employees watch product information videos.
  • Training updates quickly delivered to nursing stations.



What the the pros and cons of beacons compared to other location technologies?

Beacons are powerful because they are a push-driven strategy. The User doesn’t have to do anything and a contextual and personalized learning event is sent to them. Whereas with pull-driven strategies like QR codes or RFID the User is required to take action to retrieve their learning. Beacons work best for proximity versus exact location. Speed of detection can take seconds to minutes. So, it works best for important but not immediate information. In a more immediate information scenario, something like QR codes or barcodes are a better solution.



Geofences

What is a geofence?

As its name suggests, a geofence is a virtual fence drawn around a location on a map. When a user enters the geofence region the smartphone alerts the PinPoint app that a new assignment is available.



How does a geofence work?

Geofencing works through a combination of cellular data, GPS and wifi. Geofencing uses this data to establish coordinates which determine the user’s proximity to a particular region. Apple recommends that the minimum radius of a geofence is 200 meters. PinPoint enables you to select from the following distances: 200, 500 and 1,000 meters. In cities, where the cell towers and Wi-Fi routers are more dense, geofencing accuracy can reach 200 meters. If you work in a skyscraper, geofencing might not work reliably due to GPS inaccuracies. Using the Large radius setting may help. In more rural areas, where cell towers and WiFi routers are sparse, geofencing accuracy can reach several hundred meters. To improve geofencing accuracy, ensure your mobile device meets these conditions:

  • WiFi is turned on.
  • GPS or location services are turned on.
A user can get even more accuracy from the GPS but it requires more power and quickly wears down the battery. PinPoint has adopted passive geofencing. This means that geofencing is always listening for assignments, working in the background, with low power consumption.



How do geofences integrate with the PinPoint platform?

When you build an assignment with a geofence the smartphone will monitor for that geofence in the background. When the user crosses the geofence perimeter, the smartphone notifies the PinPoint app which geotargets the user for personalized learning. If 10 users cross the threshold but only one needs training, only the user needing training will see an assignment.



What is the difference between geofencing and beacons?

Geofences are best for macro locations — construction sites, corporate locations, etc.. Beacons are for microlocations — specific rooms in a building, areas of a warehouse, etc.. They use different technologies and have different benefits. Click here to learn more about beacons and the PinPoint platform.



What are some ideas for using geofences?

  • Employees sent hotspot images diagraming fire escape routes in a newly constructed building.
  • Construction workers complete assessments to demonstrate understanding of new equipment at site.
  • The Safety Director sends out an infographic illustrating a new OSHA regulation affecting the entire plant.
  • New employees targeted with custom onboarding videos.
  • Assignments sent to mobile sales reps informing them about location-specific sales strategies.
  • Hotspot image map of area identifying inspection locations sent to utility workers.
  • Safety inspectors receive a document outlining local regulations as they enter the area.



What are the pros & cons of geofences compared to other location services?

Geofences are ideal for push-driven learning events. They work best for larger distances like an office building or worksite. Like beacons, geofences don’t require the user to initiate learning. QR code, barcodes, NFC or RFID all require the user to initiate (and possibly special equipment.) If you need tighter accuracy or want to use location services indoors than something like beacons or QR codes would be a better solution.



ABOUT BEACONS & GEOFENCES