Global Location of Things Market: Analysis By Technology/Mode of Action, Product Type, Application, Deployment Type, Region - Market Size, Industry Dynamics, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast for 2026-2035

The Location of Things market underwent a transformative infrastructure upgrade in 2024, setting the stage for rapid expansion in the years that followed. By 2025, the market was valued at approximately US$ 35.09 billion, reflecting the immediate impact of these advancements. Looking ahead, the market is projected to experience extraordinary growth, reaching an estimated valuation of US$ 737.7 billion by 2035. This remarkable increase corresponds to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.6% throughout the forecast period from 2026 to 2035, highlighting the accelerating adoption and integration of Location of Things technologies across various sectors.

This upgrade significantly enhanced the technological foundation and capabilities of location-based services, enabling more precise, reliable, and scalable tracking solutions. The Location of Things market's dramatic growth is underpinned by a seismic infrastructure upgrade in 2024 and propelled by the rapid proliferation of IoT devices, technological advances in 5G and edge computing, and proactive government policies for smart urbanization. These factors collectively fuel the rising demand for real-time tracking, logistics optimization, and personalized engagement solutions, positioning the market for unprecedented expansion and innovation over the coming decade.

Noteworthy Market Developments

Key players in the Location of Things market, such as HERE, Google, Esri, Qualcomm, and Bosch, are driving innovation and shaping the industry's future through a combination of technological advancements, strategic partnerships, and targeted acquisitions. Their focus is on enhancing location intelligence capabilities for tracking assets, people, and vehicles with greater accuracy and reliability. These companies continuously invest in developing sophisticated location-based services that integrate cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and ultra-wideband (UWB), enabling more precise and context-aware location data.

In December 2025, HMD Global announced the upcoming launch of the HMD XploraOne, a phone specifically designed for children, developed in partnership with the wearable brand Xplora. This new device is positioned as a child-safe first phone, offering essential communication features such as calling, texting, and location tracking, while intentionally excluding internet access and social media platforms to protect young users from online risks.

Also in December 2025, Newburgh-based engineering firm Ciholas launched the CUWB Real Time Location System (RTLS), a groundbreaking solution powered by Ultra-Wideband technology. CUWB delivers high-precision location data that enables real-time tracking of assets across various sectors, including logistics, manufacturing, entertainment, sports analytics, and healthcare. The system's ability to provide accurate and reliable location information is revolutionizing asset management and operational efficiency in these industries.

In October 2025, Life360, a well-known family safety app, expanded its product portfolio by entering the pet technology market with the launch of Pet GPS, a new tracking device designed to attach to a pet's collar or harness. This device offers pet owners real-time location updates for their dogs and cats, addressing a growing consumer desire for reliable pet tracking solutions.

Core Growth Drivers

The rapid expansion of 5G networks is emerging as a major driving force behind the growth of the Location of Things market, particularly by enabling precise indoor positioning capabilities. Unlike previous generations of wireless technology, 5G offers significantly higher data speeds, lower latency, and increased network capacity, which collectively enhance the performance and reliability of location-based services. These improvements are especially critical for indoor environments where traditional GPS signals are often weak or unavailable, making accurate indoor positioning a long-standing challenge for many industries.

Emerging Opportunity Trends

The deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for global coverage is poised to become a major opportunity trend driving substantial growth in the Location of Things market. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites, which orbit at much higher altitudes, LEO satellites operate at lower altitudes-typically between 500 and 2,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface-allowing for faster data transmission, lower latency, and improved signal accuracy. This technological advancement enables continuous, real-time tracking and communication capabilities across the entire planet, including remote and previously underserved regions where terrestrial networks are limited or nonexistent.

Barriers to Optimization

Escalating consumer concerns about data privacy and the ethics of surveillance present a significant challenge that may hamper the growth of the Location of Things market. As location-based technologies become more pervasive, consumers are increasingly aware of how their personal data is collected, stored, and used. This heightened awareness has led to growing apprehension about potential invasions of privacy, unauthorized tracking, and the misuse of sensitive location information. Such concerns can result in resistance to adopting location-based services, particularly if consumers feel that their rights to privacy are not adequately protected or if there is a lack of transparency in how their data is handled.

Detailed Market Segmentation

By Product Type, the location analytics platforms segment dominated the Location of Things market in 2025, holding the largest market share at 33.89%. This leadership position is primarily driven by the growing demand from businesses to transform vast amounts of raw spatial data into meaningful and actionable insights. As organizations accumulate increasing volumes of location-based information from various sources-such as GPS devices, sensors, and connected assets-the need to analyze and interpret this data effectively has become critical for gaining a competitive advantage and making informed strategic decisions.

By Technology, the GPS and satellite-based tracking segment emerged as the leader in the Location of Things market in 2025, capturing the highest market share of 32.55%. This strong position is largely fueled by substantial investments in next-generation space hardware, which have significantly enhanced the capabilities and coverage of satellite navigation systems. These advancements have made GPS and satellite-based tracking more accurate, reliable, and accessible across various industries, driving widespread adoption and solidifying their prominence within the market.

By Deployment, the on-premises deployment segment holds the largest market share in the Location of Things market, accounting for 34.73% of the total revenue. This dominance is primarily driven by stringent data sovereignty and security requirements, especially within the defense and industrial sectors. Organizations operating in these fields often handle sensitive and classified information, making it imperative to maintain tight control over their data. On-premises solutions provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure that critical location data remains within the organization's own secure environments, minimizing exposure to external threats or regulatory complications associated with storing data in third-party or cloud environments.

By application, the supply chain and logistics tracking application holds a significant position within the Location of Things market, accounting for more than 30% of the total market share. This substantial share reflects the urgent demand from businesses to address critical challenges such as inventory shrinkage and the need to optimize fulfillment processes. As supply chains become increasingly complex and globalized, organizations face mounting pressure to maintain visibility and control over their goods at every stage, from manufacturing to final delivery. The ability to precisely track shipments, assets, and inventory in real time has become essential to minimizing losses and meeting customer expectations for timely fulfillment.

Segment Breakdown

• By Product Type
• Location Analytics Platform
• Asset Tracking Solutions
• Geofencing & Geolocation Tools
• IoT Sensors & Beacons:
• Ancillary Tools & Software:

By Deployment Type

• Cloud-Based
• On-Premise
• Hybrid

By Application

• Supply Chain & Logistics Tracking
• Asset & Equipment Management
• Retail & Customer Engagement
• Smart Cities & Transportation
• Others

By Technology

• GPS & Satellite-Based Tracking
• Bluetooth Low Energy/UWB Tracking
• RFID/NFC Technology
• Wi-Fi/Cellular Network Tracking
• AI & Predictive Location Analytics

By Region

• North America
• The US
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• Western Europe
• The UK
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• Poland
• Russia
• Rest of Eastern Europe
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia and New Zealand
• South Korea
• ASEAN
• Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• UAE
• Rest of MEA
• South America
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Rest of South America

Geography Breakdown

• North America currently leads the Location of Things market with a commanding 32.73% share of the revenue, a position largely driven by the United States' successful commercialization of both orbital infrastructure and consumer applications essential for precision tracking. The region's dominance in this market is underscored by significant advancements in satellite technology, which provide the foundational capabilities for accurate and reliable location services. These orbital assets enable high-resolution tracking and positioning that are critical for a wide range of industries, from transportation and logistics to retail and consumer electronics.
• The foundation of North America's supremacy in the Location of Things market is deeply rooted in private aerospace achievements. American aerospace companies have made remarkable strides in developing and deploying satellite constellations and other space-based infrastructure, which are instrumental in delivering precise geolocation data on a global scale. This private sector innovation has accelerated the deployment timelines and expanded the capabilities of location services, giving the U.S. a strategic edge over other regions. Such advancements have not only enhanced the quality and reliability of tracking technologies but have also lowered costs, making precision tracking more accessible to a broader range of applications.

Leading Market Participants

• Cloud Software Group, Inc.
• Environmental Systems Research Institute
• HERE Technologies
• International Business Machines Corporation
• Microsoft Corporation
• Navigine
• Pitney Bowes Inc.
• Qualcomm Incorporated
• Ubisense
• Verizon
• Wireless Logic
• Zebra Technologies Corp.
• Other Prominent Players