BLE Device Tracker App

Real-Time BLE Tracking for Everyday Belongings

Introduction Of The Project

BLE Device Tracker is an innovative real-time tracking solution that leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to help users locate and monitor their personal belongings. By connecting Bluetooth-enabled chips to everyday items, the app provides instant visibility and control, ensuring users never lose track of important possessions.

The client approached us with a vision to create a robust Android-native application capable of running continuously in the background without interruptions. The challenge was to design a system that could reliably maintain connectivity with BLE devices while addressing the strict background execution limitations imposed by the Android operating system.

Our goal was to deliver an always-on tracking experience that balances continuous monitoring with energy efficiency, ensuring users can rely on the app for real-time updates without draining their device battery. The solution needed to be technically resilient, accurate, and user-friendly, providing peace of mind while seamlessly integrating into users’ daily routines.

Problem Statement

Key Pain Points

Android’s aggressive app management often kills inactive apps, stopping background services unexpectedly. This disrupts tracking and creates gaps in real-time updates, frustrating users who rely on constant visibility.
Existing solutions provide stale or inaccurate last-known locations. Users cannot trust the app for timely updates, increasing the likelihood of lost items.
Tracking gaps and missed alerts causes lost revenue, lower engagement, and poor retention. Unreliable performance reduces subscriptions, in-app purchases, and premium monetisation.
BLE devices frequently disconnect due to interference or distance. Weak reconnection logic forces repeated manual attempts, creating user frustration and tracking gaps.
Users are not promptly alerted to low battery, disconnection, or out-of-range devices. Lack of proactive notifications decreases recovery success and increases lost-item risk.

Key Metrics

Background Uptime Reliability55%

Device Reconnect Success Rate46%

Battery Alert Timeliness (In minutes)15

Crowd-Based Recovery Accuracy52%

User Session Duration(post-stabilisation)15%

The Solution

Foreground Service Optimisation

Implemented a persistent foreground service to prevent Android from terminating background processes. This ensures continuous tracking and real-time updates, giving users uninterrupted visibility of their belongings even when the app is inactive.

Smart BLE Scanning

Developed an adaptive BLE scanning strategy with low-energy intervals. This optimises battery usage while maintaining accurate proximity detection, enabling long-term, always-on tracking without draining device power.

Accurate Location Logging

Built a robust location logging system that frequently updates and timestamps last-known positions. Users receive precise, timely information about their belongings, reducing uncertainty and enhancing trust in the app.

Proactive Alerts & Monetisation Support

Added automated alerts for device status, low battery, disconnection, and out-of-range events. These notifications increase engagement, reduce lost-item risk, and support monetisation through subscriptions and premium feature adoption.

Seamless BLE Reconnection

Introduced reliable reconnection logic with automatic retries after interference or distance loss. This minimises manual intervention, reduces tracking gaps, and ensures continuous device visibility for users.

Crowd-Powered Recovery Network

Implemented a passive detection network where nearby users’ devices assist in locating lost items. This improves recovery success, increases user confidence, and strengthens the app’s overall reliability.

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Our Approach

Research & Benchmarking Phase

Studied BLE competitors
Analysed Android behaviour
Evaluated energy trade-offs

Deliverable:

Competitive Report, Research Findings

Architecture & Planning Phase

Designed system architecture
Prioritised alert workflows
Planned scalable backend

Deliverable:

System Blueprint, Technical Roadmap

Development & Integration Phase

Implemented BLE scanning
Integrated Firebase services
Built battery alerts

Deliverable:

Prototype, Integrated Modules

Testing & Optimisation Phase

Conducted stress tests
Tuned scanning intervals
Simulated device loss

Deliverable:

QA Report, Benchmark Results

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OneClick Expertise in Various Combinations

Our developers employ various combinations of modules, frameworks, libraries, and tools to build efficient and scalable applications. Here are some common combinations Our Developers used for various purposes:

Android + Room DB

Room DB with Kotlin Flow provides reactive, offline-first local storage for scan logs, device history and encrypted user data - with seamless sync when online.

Android + Firebase

Firebase Cloud Messaging and Analytics in Android deliver real-time push alerts for proximity events and deep insights into user engagement and app health.

Android + Figma

Figma-designed UI is implemented in Android XML/Compose with pixel-perfect precision, design tokens and interactive prototypes for rapid iteration and stakeholder approval.

Team Structure

Role	Responsibility
Project Manager	Overall delivery & communication
Business Analyst	Requirement gathering & stakeholder alignment
Solution Architect	System architecture & technology strategy
UX/UI Designer	Visual design and user journey
Android Developers	BLE logic, background service implementation
QA Engineer	Functionality, regression & performance testing
DevOps Engineer	Deployment, CI/CD pipelines & performance scaling

Technology Used

Languages

Kotlin
Java

Android Frameworks & Architecture

Jetpack Components
MVVM Architecture
Hilt
Coroutines + Flow
Dagger

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

Android BLE API
nRF Connect SDK
Proximity Logic

Local Database

Room Persistence Library
DataStore

Firebase Suite

Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
Firebase Analytics
Crashlytics
Remote Config
Firebase Authentication

UI/UX & Design

Figma
Material Design 3
Compose

Tools & DevOps

Android Studio
Gradle
GitHub
GitLab
GitHub Actions
Bitrise
Firebase App Distribution
Firebase App Distribution

Testing

JUnit
Espresso
MockK
Turbine (Flow)

Analytics

Firebase
Mixpanel

Security & Compliance

ProGuard
R8
Keystore Signing
Encrypted Room DB
Runtime Permissions

AI-Assisted Development

GitHub Copilot
ChatGPT
Gemini

Design Samples

Comprehensive design system and development samples demonstrating the technical excellence and visual appeal of the Outfitter platform.

Competitor Analysis

Parameter	Competitor	Our Solution	Opportunity
Background Tracking	Often killed by Android OS, unreliable	Persistent foreground service ensures uninterrupted tracking	Highlight reliability and continuous visibility
Battery Efficiency	High BLE scanning drains battery quickly	Smart BLE scanning optimises energy without losing accuracy	Position as long-lasting, always-on tracking solution
Location Accuracy	Stale or delayed last-known positions	Accurate logging with frequent updates	Build trust by providing real-time, reliable location info
Alerts & Notifications	Minimal or delayed notifications	Proactive alerts for low battery, disconnection, and out-of-range	Emphasise improved engagement, retention, and revenue from premium features
Device Reconnection	Manual retries needed, error-prone	Seamless BLE reconnection with automatic retries	Reduce frustration and enhance user experience
Lost-Item Recovery	Limited or no crowd assistance	Crowd-powered passive recovery network	Showcase faster recovery and higher reliability for users
User Engagement	Low retention due to poor reliability	Increased sessions, higher engagement	Highlight better retention, monetisation opportunities, and user satisfaction

Project Outcomes

Uninterrupted Tracking

Foreground service optimisation ensured uninterrupted background tracking, giving users consistent visibility of their belongings without service drops. It also enhanced device stability, reducing unexpected crashes or forced closures.

Energy-Efficient Scanning

Smart BLE scanning improved energy efficiency, allowing long-term, always-on tracking without draining device power. The optimised scanning cycle ensured smooth performance even during heavy usage.

Reliable Location Updates

Accurate logging provided timely and reliable location updates, reducing uncertainty and building stronger user trust. This consistency also helped users make better real-time decisions.

Engaging Proactive Alerts

Proactive alerts boosted engagement and retention, increasing revenue through subscriptions and premium feature adoption. Timely reminders reduced lost-item risks, enhancing user satisfaction and revenue potential.

Seamless Reconnection

Seamless reconnection eliminated manual intervention, reducing user frustration and maintaining continuous device visibility. It also minimised downtime, keeping the tracking process smooth and uninterrupted.

Crowd-Powered Recovery

Crowd-powered recovery strengthened lost-item detection, enabling faster recovery and improving overall app reliability. The collaborative network effect created a safety net for users in diverse locations.

Key Outcomes Metrics

Key Outcomes Metrics	Before	After
Background Uptime Reliability	55%	90%
Device Reconnect Success Rate	46%	92%
Battery Alert Timeliness (In minutes)	15	5
Crowd-Based Recovery Accuracy	52%	88%
User Session Duration(post-stabilisation)	15%	65%