Penguin signs its newest client in Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company in partnership with Coverage Points
Penguin signs its newest client in Saudi Arabia:
King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company (KAFD) in partnership with Coverage Points
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 10th May 2023 – In a signing ceremony held at KAFD, Saudi Arabia’s prime business and lifestyle destination, the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC) formalized an agreement with Penguin for the development of a comprehensive indoor and outdoor navigation solution designed to improve the experience of the district’s tenants, residents and visitors.
Set in the heart of the Saudi capital Riyadh, KAFD is home to 1.6 million square meters of state-of-the-art office space, world-class venues and iconic luxury residences, designed to transform the way urban communities live, work, learn and play. A landmark development, KAFD is a key driver of Riyadh’s economic ambitions, and is owned and managed by the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC).
With the new mapping solution, tenants, retail and hospitality businesses in the district will be able to apply indoor navigation for their employees and customers to facilitate the management and improvement of their experience. In this way, users’ experience of mobility within KAFD will be tailored to their individual needs. Visitors will therefore be able to select their path within KAFD to their end destination, find the best parking options, and choose from any of the mobility solutions available while residents can enjoy a home-to-office navigation experience that provides them with the most ecologically-friendly mode of travel.
“KAFD is a well-planned urban space that integrates public transport systems, but also encourages non-motorised transport through its network of skywalks and the provision of sustainable modes of transport, from scooters to an exclusive shuttle service,’ explained Gautam Sashittal, Chief Executive Officer of KAFD DMC. ‘Smart technology is integral to the district’s living experience and we are looking forward to the provision of a holistic navigation solution that will improve the quality of our services, and life at KAFD.”
“We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting project and look forward to working with the KAFD DMC team to enhance their smart city solutions. We are confident that our expertise and experience in the industry will enable us to deliver exceptional results for KAFD,” said Dr Mohammed Smadi, the CEO/CTO of Penguin. He added, “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.”
As part of the district’s innovative smart city solutions, KAFD will connect its virtual and physical worlds through a mobile app for guests, tenants and residents alike. The navigation solution will be available for all app users.
Penguin offers Smart Campus solutions, including maps, navigation, traceability, and environmental sensing to offer technology-enabled campus experiences. The KAFD Campus Wayfinding project is an example of the scale of Penguin’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for digital transformation and the company’s investment in research and development for smart solutions.
Cisco & Penguin Location Services Present: New Norm Workplace Safety Webinar – Advanced Location-Based Services for Post-Pandemic Office Return
Are we not all excited about safely returning to work from the office environment?!
Cisco and Penguin Location Services are excited to showcase innovative applications of location-based services and workplace safety technology to help create the New Norm of modern workplace operations and employee safety protocols.
Join us on Wednesday, August 19th at 11:00 AM (GMT +3) for our comprehensive live webinar focused on workplace safety solutions and digital transformation!
Webinar Topics: Advanced Workplace Safety and Location Intelligence
In this workplace technology webinar, we will be discussing:
Strategic objectives of employers and facility operators to satisfy the New Norm workplace safety requirements and CDC workplace safety guidelines.
Indoor positioning systems, RTLS technology, and other digital workplace tools supporting safe office reopening strategies and employee health monitoring.
Cisco connectivity platforms as enablers for building comprehensive workplace safety use cases and location-aware solutions aligned with OSHA workplace health standards.
Reliable and actionable workplace data available to support employee health containment efforts and contact tracing protocols recommended by World Health Organization contact tracing guidelines.
Workplace Technology Solutions Featured:
Real-time location systems (RTLS) for employee safety monitoring
Indoor positioning technology for space utilization analytics
Contact tracing solutions for workplace health protocols
Social distancing monitoring through location intelligence
Occupancy management systems for safe workspace capacity
Emergency response coordination via connected workplace platforms
Discover how leading organizations are leveraging advanced location-based services and connectivity solutions to create safer, more efficient workplace environments in the post-pandemic era. Register now
Revolutionizing Healthcare Safety: Advanced Indoor Positioning and Critical Communications Solutions
Dr. Mohammad Smadi from Penguin Location Services recently demonstrated groundbreaking indoor positioning technology specifically designed for healthcare facilities. Moreover, he showcased how hospitals across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East can enhance patient safety and staff security through integrated IoT tracking solutions.
This comprehensive platform combines real-time location services (RTLS) with critical communications systems. As a result, it creates a unified safety ecosystem that transforms emergency response capabilities in modern healthcare environments.
Penguin’s healthcare indoor positioning platform serves multiple verticals but excels particularly in hospital environments where staff safety and asset management are critical operational requirements. Furthermore, the system provides comprehensive visibility into hospital operations through advanced Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tracking technology.
Comprehensive Staff and Asset Management Dashboard
The healthcare dashboard provides real-time visibility into:
Staff Tracking Capabilities:
Real-time physician location tracking throughout hospital facilities
The platform’s panic button functionality represents a critical advancement in healthcare staff safety. In particular, it is important for hospitals across the Middle East and GCC region where staff security concerns continue to grow.
Real-Time Emergency Alert System
Dr. Samadi’s demonstration showcased how the BLE panic button triggers immediate emergency responses:
Instant Alert Generation:
Location-specific panic alerts identifying exact staff position during emergencies
Real-time notification delivery to security and supervisory staff
Additionally, automatic incident logging creating comprehensive emergency response records
Through partnership with SingleWire (InformaCast) and Cisco ecosystem integration, the platform delivers:
Mobile application notifications reaching senior nursing teams instantly
Furthermore, Cisco IP Phone alerts utilizing existing hospital communication infrastructure
PA system integration enabling facility-wide emergency announcements
Multi-device notification delivery ensuring no emergency goes unnoticed
Critical Communications: Reducing Healthcare Risk
Arun from SingleWire, representing the InformaCast critical communications platform, emphasized how the integration specifically addresses Code Blue situations and other healthcare emergencies where patient lives are at risk.
Enhanced Emergency Response Capabilities
Integrated Communication Channels:
Senior nursing team mobile alerts enabling rapid response team deployment
Additionally, Cisco IP Phone integration leveraging existing hospital infrastructure
PA system connectivity providing facility-wide emergency notifications
Multi-modal alert delivery ensuring message receipt across all communication channels
Healthcare-Specific Applications:
Code Blue response optimization reducing critical response times
Additionally, multi-site integration for healthcare system-wide implementations
Healthcare Compliance and Security in the Middle East
Understanding the unique requirements of healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the broader GCC region, the platform addresses critical compliance and security concerns:
Data Security and Privacy Protection
HIPAA-Compliant Architecture:
Encrypted data transmission protecting sensitive patient and staff information
Additionally, role-based access controls ensuring appropriate data visibility
Getting Started with Healthcare Indoor Positioning
Healthcare facilities across Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the Middle East seeking to implement comprehensive indoor positioning and critical communications solutions can leverage this proven technology partnership.
Furthermore, staff training programs maximizing system adoption and effectiveness
Ongoing support services maintaining optimal system performance
Additionally, continuous optimization adapting to evolving healthcare requirements
Contact Information for Healthcare Solutions
For hospitals and healthcare systems interested in implementing advanced indoor positioning and critical communications solutions throughout the Middle East region:
📩 Healthcare Solution Inquiries:[email protected]
🏥 Cisco Healthcare Marketplace:Penguin Healthcare Solutions
🆘 Critical Communications Integration: SingleWire InformaCast Partnership
🌐 Regional Coverage: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman
Penguin Location Services is excited to announce its strategic technology partnership with Cisco Meraki and is now proudly featured in the app listing on the innovative Meraki.io app store platform, advancing digital workplace transformation through cutting-edge indoor positioning solutions.
“We recently launched our indoor positioning solutions with Cisco DNA Spaces and today we continue to expand our collaboration with the extended Cisco ecosystem by offering comprehensive location-based applications use cases through the meraki.io app store marketplace,” explained Mai Aqel, Product Manager at Penguin Location Services.
Comprehensive Indoor Positioning and Digital Workplace Solutions
Penguin Location Services operates as a specialized managed indoor positioning provider. Additionally, we enable complete digital transformation of physical workplace spaces through innovative use cases that leverage existing Wi-Fi network infrastructure.
Whether organizations require automated attendance systems with precise presence detection capabilities or advanced indoor navigation solutions demanding high positioning accuracy, Penguin’s location intelligence technology provides tiered accuracy levels suitable for diverse workplace applications and business requirements.
Advanced Location-Based Applications and Workplace Efficiency Solutions
The strategic partnership with Cisco Meraki offers existing and future enterprise clients access to comprehensive location-based applications. These include:
Automated attendance tracking systems with real-time presence detection
Moreover, staff and asset zone-based tracking for operational efficiency
Indoor navigation and wayfinding solutions for large facilities
Additionally, location-based messaging and notifications for targeted communications
Advanced workplace analytics and business intelligence dashboards
Furthermore, customizable business rules and automation based on location data
The primary focus centers on driving workplace operational efficiency and digital transformation across multiple industry verticals. These include healthcare facilities, enterprise corporate environments, and retail backend operations, aligning with modern workplace technology transformation trends.
Penguin Location Services is proud to have successfully participated at GITEX Global 2019 in Dubai from October 6th to 10th, 2019. As a strategic technology partner, Penguin collaborated with Waseela to present PenTrack, Penguin’s flagship indoor tracking and real-time location systems (RTLS) products to the Middle East technology market.
Advanced RTLS Technology Demonstrations at Dubai’s Premier Tech Event
Penguin’s location intelligence services had the valuable opportunity to showcase two prominent applications of its cutting-edge RTLS solution platform at the prestigious Dubai technology exhibition, namely:
Smart campus tracking solutions for educational institutions and corporate environments
Innovative healthcare facility monitoring for hospitals and medical centers
PenTrack’s advanced real-time tracking capabilities for people and asset management in enterprise environments strategically leverages existing Wi-Fi and network infrastructure, eliminating the need for costly additional hardware installations.
Dr. Smadi – Penguin’s Managing Director – commented that “PenTrack is the application of our unique indoor positioning technology for tracking purposes. We have fully developed solutions for specific use cases with concrete ROI. Whether for healthcare, education or other verticals, the opportunities are countless and we are excited to be enablers of the smart and digital space.”
GITEX Dubai: Premier Middle East Technology Exhibition Platform
GITEX Technology Week is an annual gathering of global industry leaders and innovators in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field. The 2019 edition of GITEX hosted over 100,000 technology professionals and visitors alongside more than 4,500 exhibitors from around the world, taking place at the renowned Dubai World Trade Center.
As an early-player in the indoor positioning field, Penguin’s location services has witnessed the evolution of the demand for the technology. People are now able to imagine the application for Penguin. Many visitors even commented that indoor technology can even help them solve the indoor navigation problem at GITEX.
Penguin location servicesis proud of having participated at GITEX 2019 in Dubai from 6th to 10th October 2019. As a technology partner, Penguin collaborated with Waseela to present PenTrack, Penguin’s featured indoor tracking products.
Penguin’s location services had the chance to showcase two prominent applications of its RTLS solution, namely: one demo for smart campuses and one for innovative healthcare facilities. PenTrack advanced real-time tracking of people and assets in an enterprise environment leverages the existing infrastructure.
Dr. Smadi – Penguin’s Managing Director – commented that “PenTrack is the application of our unique indoor positioning technology for tracking purposes. We have fully developed solutions for specific use cases with concrete ROI. Whether for healthcare, education or other verticals, the opportunities are countless and we are excited to be enablers of the smart and digital space.”
To learn more about Penguin Location Services and discover how PenTrack can transform your organization’s operational efficiency, please visit our comprehensive solutions at www.penguinin.com or contact our regional team directly at [email protected].
As part of the new alliance between Penguin Location Services and Ruckus Networks, Penguin was glad to accept Ruckus’s invitation to its corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA. and seized the chance to deploy its indoor wayfinding solution on site.
Amongst some others, Penguin Location Services nominated Ruckus Networks as a partner that offers a solid Wi-Fi network. This can be leveraged and combined with Penguin’s state-of-the-art positioning engine in order to introduce a blue dot that is eligible for most of indoor RTLS use cases.
Indoor Wayfinding, an essential RTLS solution, has been deployed at Ruckus’s office. From now on, the indoor positioning system can be used for demo purposes so Ruckus can demonstrate Penguin’s solutions to its interested customers.
Penguin Location Services is pleased with the achievements of the initial demonstration and deployment of its indoor positioning systems (IPS). After a few days of preparation and deploying hardware in the form of BLE beacons, the Indoor Navigation worked with excellent smoothness. On top of that, Ruckus networking’s team was surprised by the accuracy with which the real-time movements were presented in the web portal.
Usually, an open space, as found in Ruckus office, is a challenge for IPS as there are no walls that could reduce the distribution of readings which results in a multitude of interfering data. Nevertheless, Penguin’s IPS did not face any difficulties as the logic for the indoor positioning engine is crafted in a way that takes these difficulties into account.
Joining in Ruckus as a member of the RAP, i.e. Ruckus Alliance Partners, enables Penguin to support Ruckus with their mission of bringing best in class solutions to customers and redefining the future.
“We are proud that another well-established Wi-Fi provider trusts us, our technology and our unique suite that is offered as a managed service.”, said Dr. Smadi, CEO of Penguin.
After Ruckus Wireless and ARRIS have joined CommScope, this is a next strategic step for Ruckus Wireless. Their reliable Wi-Fi networks can be leveraged for a plethora of Location of Things (LoT) use cases offered by Penguin to support customers with a hand-picked solution. This partnership comes on time with the substantial rise in demand for managed RTLS solution, which is in line with forecasts unveiling the fact that the RTLS market has been growing at a CAGR of 22.5% between 2018 and 2021.
This new alliance – also consolidated by the successful demonstration – further reinforces the leading position of the two partners in the global RTLS market. Penguin and Ruckus Networks are convinced that their partnership will enhance and enrich their businesses to digitally transform their clients’ venues.
About Ruckus Networks
Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company with its headquarters in Sunnyvale provides wired and wireless networking equipment and software. Their portfolio includes WiFi, switching, cloud and software products. For more information, visit their website www.ruckuswireless.com
Penguin Location Services Presents Smart Campus Wayfinding Solution at University of Illinois (UIUC)
Penguin Location Services has successfully presented its smart campus wayfinding solution at University of Illinois (UIUC). UIUC encompasses 17 colleges attended by more than 47,000 students and about 2,641 staff members. Moreover, UIUC’s School of Information Sciences and College of Engineeringare among the best in the country. Specifically, they are ranked number 75 in QS Global World Ranking.
Large-Scale Smart Campus Navigation Challenge
Taking into account that UIUC with its 640 buildings extends over an area of almost 10 square miles, the campus resembles a medium-sized city. Furthermore, this makes it an ideal location for the impressive deployment of Penguin’s wayfinding solution. Consequently, this facilitates a seamless experience within the educational environment as part of a comprehensive smart campus initiative.
ROKWIRE Initiative: Building the Smart Campus of Tomorrow
Penguin’s solution has been the missing piece of the smart campus and ROKWIRE puzzle. This is an initiative that aims at leveraging latest technology to make students’ life easier. Additionally, it applies a living lab approach to smart campus development.
The idea behind ROKWIRE is simple: If it works at college, it can work in cities, too. Moreover, UIUC campus is considered as a perfect testbed for inspiring technology-related ideas. These ideas have the potential to impact the community of the future through smart campus innovation.
Technical Challenges and Solutions
While preparing for the PoC, Penguin detected difficulties with the handover between two Wi-Fi access points. This periodically resulted in Wi-Fi disconnection of the mobile device. Consequently, it caused navigation system.
Wi-Fi Connectivity Solution:
Penguin Location Services solved this issue by connecting the mobile devices to 3G. navigation experience.
Metal Wall Challenge:
As walls of the first floor were covered with metal, sensor readings and blue dot orientation were negatively affected. Furthermore, Penguin’s research team seized this as an opportunity for optimization. Specifically, they optimized the blue dot’s orientation by the removal of sensor’s data noise. This improved the smart campus navigation experience.
Research-Driven Smart Campus Innovation
‘We are proud to be part of this unique initiative, especially as Penguin and UIUC share an important commonality: our focus on research. UIUC is among the schools with the highest level of research activity and Penguin spares no effort in its R&D activities to meet its objectives: to leverage latest technologies and machine-learning techniques for a best-in-class indoor positioning and an excellent application of these.’, says Omar Shaer, Operations Director – North America.
Building Tomorrow’s Smart Campus Today
The partnership between Penguin and UIUC represents the future of smart campus technology. Moreover, it shows how educational institutions can serve as testing grounds for innovations. These innovations will eventually benefit entire communities campus principles.
Additionally, the living lab approach allows continuous improvement and refinement. This ensures solutions meet real-world needs and deliver measurable benefits.
Learn More About Solutions
If you’re interested in Penguin’s smart campus solutions for educational facilities, check out this link and download our flyer. Additionally, our team is available to discuss how our campus wayfinding technology can transform your institution.
Discover how our research-driven smart campus technology can create seamless navigation experiences for students, staff, and visitors at educational institutions of any size.
