Real-Time Location Systems for Healthcare Market Report: Size, Share and Outlook by 2031

The real-time location systems market size was valued at US$ 3.27 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 10.66 billion by 2031; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 18.6%% from 2025 to 2031.

The real-time location systems market is segmented into five major regions-North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South & Central America. Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2024, followed by North America and Europe, respectively.

Hospitals and healthcare providers are increasingly adopting RTLS technologies to enhance patient safety, streamline asset management, and improve workflow efficiency amid growing patient volumes. The government's strong support for smart hospital initiatives and investments in healthcare modernization is crucial in fueling RTLS adoption. In 2023, the National Health Commission (NHC) launched a campaign to improve the quality and safety of medical treatment nationwide. This initiative emphasized the importance of refining, standardizing, and digitizing internal process management in public medical institutions, laying the groundwork for adopting technologies such as RTLS to enhance operational efficiency and patient safety. The push for digital transformation continued in 2024, with the NHC and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine planning to establish integrated operation and management information platforms in all tertiary public hospitals by the end of 2027. By 2025, 50% of these hospitals were expected to adopt these platforms, promoting modern information technologies such as AI, big data, and cloud computing, which are integral to RTLS solutions..

Real-time location systems market future trend: In the evolving healthcare landscape, RTLS is vital for asset visibility, patient flow optimization, and staff safety monitoring. A defining trend driving their broader adoption is the advancement of enhanced battery life and energy-efficient RTLS tags. These improvements reduce the logistical and financial burdens associated with frequent battery replacements and system maintenance-making RTLS implementations more sustainable and scalable across healthcare environments. A practical example is the development of disposable Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags, such as those created by Kontakt.io. These tags are inexpensive, activated via NFC, and last up to two years with low-frequency use. They are suitable for temporary tracking needs, such as monitoring patient charts or transporting biopsy specimens, where long-term durability is not required but cost-efficiency is crucial.

Beyond disposable solutions, the rise of energy-harvesting and ultra-low-power chipsets is unlocking a new generation of RTLS tags requiring minimal energy. Companies such as Atmosic, Wiliot, and E-peas are pioneering technologies that either harvest ambient energy or extend battery life, making it feasible for healthcare providers to deploy RTLS at scale while reducing ongoing maintenance costs. Academic innovation is playing a critical role. Researchers have developed WakeLoc-an ultra-low-power, ultra-wideband (UWB) RTLS solution that uses wake-up radios. This system offers sub-13 cm accuracy while maintaining battery life for up to five years using a single coin-cell battery.

Zebra Technologies Corp, AiRISTA Flow Inc, Kontakt Micro-Location Sp. Z.o.o, Impinj Inc, GE HealthCare Technologies Inc, Advantech Co Ltd, Siemens AG, Qorvo Inc, CenTrak, and Sonitor Technologies AS are among the key players profiled during this market study. Several other essential market players were also studied and analyzed to get a holistic view of the global real-time location systems market and its ecosystem.

The overall real-time location systems market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources. Exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the real-time location systems market size. The process also helps obtain an overview and forecast of the market with respect to all the market segments. Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants to validate the data and gain analytical insights. This process includes industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the real-time location systems market.