Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) in Healthcare Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Component (Hardware, Software, Services) By Technology (RFID, Wi-Fi, UWB, BLE, Infrared, Ultrasound, Other Technologies) By Application (Inventory/Asset Tracking & Management, Personnel Locating & Monitoring, Access Control & Security, Environmental Monitoring, Supply Chain Management & Automation, Other Applications), By Facility Location (Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities, Senior Living Facilities) and Region Forecast 2020-2031

Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) in Healthcare Market size was valued at US$ 2.63 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 9.21 billion by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 19.6% from 2025-2031. The market is the business sector that deals with creating and applying technologies to incorporate real-time monitoring and control of people, assets, and devices in healthcare facilities. Increased demand for operational efficiency, patient safety, and asset maximization in healthcare facilities is the driving force behind the market.

Increased adoption of RTLS for tracking equipment, monitoring staff, and workflow management promotes cost savings, reduces asset loss, and improves patient care. Regulatory requirements for improved quality of care, digitalization trend picking up speed, and growing demand for real-time data in healthcare operations further augment market expansion. However, the market is also faced with limitations such as high initial implementation costs, issues regarding data privacy and security, integration complexities with existing hospital infrastructure, and lack of awareness or technical skills in certain geographies, which can slow down adoption at large.

Facts & Figures

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that introducing integrated IT infrastructure can prevent 50% of medical errors caused by misidentification.
• According to the World Health Organisation, the global shortage of healthcare workers could reach 10 million by 2030, with clinicians facing increasing responsibilities.
• RTLS reduces the loss or theft of medical equipment, which can be significant (10%-20% over the useful life).
• Integrating RTLS with automated hand hygiene monitoring increased compliance rates by 25% within a short implementation time according to a study.

Key Developments:

• In November 2023, Impinj, Inc. announced the launch of R720 RAIN RFID reader. It has more processing power and memory than Impinj’s prior-generation reader. It helps to meet the most demanding requirements of large-scale enterprise deployments.
• In November 2022, CenTrak, Inc. announced its new platform with exceptional management capabilities and an emergency call system. Moreover, the call system has passed the safety standards and requirements; hence, it was awarded UL certification.
• In July 2022, BE SWITCHCRAFT, one of the leading manufacturers of electrical switchboards, adopted Zebra's RFID solutions to gain real-time visibility of their manufacturing process to meet customer expectations.

Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) in Healthcare Market Segmentation:

Based on the component:

• Hardware
• Software
• Services

The service segment, including the key elements such as consulting, support, maintenance, deployment, and integration, is expected to develop at the maximum CAGR of 19.68% throughout the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the growing awareness of the significant contribution these services make towards maximizing operational efficiency, achieving smooth technology adoption, and maximizing overall customer experience. As companies increasingly focus on end-to-end solutions, the CAGR of the service segment demonstrates its central role in ensuring the success of technology adoption and sustained customer satisfaction.

Based on the technology:

• RFID
• Wi-Fi
• UWB
• BLE
• Infrared
• Ultrasound
• Other Technologies

RFID accounted for the biggest market share. It is most commonly utilized for applications such as patient tracking, asset tracking, and supply chain rationalization. Ongoing technological innovations by industry players in RFID, coupled with increasing usage, reflect considerable opportunities for market growth. For example, in May 2023, Fresenius Kabi launched RFID-enabled Rocuronium Bromide Injection, keeping in line with increasing demand for RFID technology in the healthcare sector. This action eliminates duplicative work, minimizes mistakes, and improves patient safety, complementing the results of a recent ASHP Foundation study.

Based on the application:

• Inventory/Asset Tracking & Management
• Personnel Locating & Monitoring
• Access Control & Security
• Environmental Monitoring
• Supply Chain Management & Automation
• Other Applications

With increasing patient volume and expectations of experience and satisfaction, healthcare facilities are under greater pressure. They have to reduce the excess fat in the form of unnecessary steps in their workflow. Asset tracking and management activities thus have prime importance in various organizations. They make sure that the correct equipment or tools are available at the right time. It is particularly critical in the case of emergencies, especially in hospitals. Asset tracking and management is the major application in the healthcare sector as healthcare organizations are usually large and may have thousands of critically important assets, such as patient beds and specialized medical devices.

Based on the facility location:

• Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities
• Senior Living Facilities

Resident safety and comfort are the top priorities of senior living facilities. Many such facilities adopt RTLS to improve residents' experience and increase operational efficiency. RTLS, combined with wearable sensors or tags/badges, can assist with situations potentially harmful to patients/residents, such as patients wandering and entering unauthorized or sensitive areas. RTLS solutions help locate individuals who have wandered or entered unauthorized areas by immediately and accurately pinpointing their exact location. This provides institutions the confidence they need to discretely keep patients safe without compromising their freedom of movement.

It is especially beneficial for those residents showing signs of dementia. RTLS solutions that are built on ultrasound indoor positioning technology that delivers precise and immediate location and event-based information for any tagged object or badged individual are mostly used in senior living facilities.