# Walk-by scanning with staff phones

> The Hirro app hears tags in the background as staff walk the yard, so you can track equipment without installing gateways.

Last updated: 2026-11-02

Walk-by scanning uses the phones your staff already carry as readers. The Hirro app runs in the background and hears every tag within Bluetooth range as people walk the yard. Each sighting places the asset in a zone. Because people walk most of the yard during a shift, the inventory stays current without gateways or wiring.

## Can I track equipment without gateways?

Yes. Walk-by scanning needs only tags and staff phones with the Hirro app. In a field test on a Belgian rental and crane yard from 16 to 23 October 2026, phones did all the reading and placed each asset in a zone of the yard, with no gateways installed.

## How does the app hear tags?

The app listens for the Bluetooth signal that each tag sends every few seconds. Staff do not need to open it or tap anything. When a phone passes within range, it reports the tag, the time and the signal strength to Hirro. Staff open the app only to search for an asset or to link a new tag.

## How much battery does it use?

In the October 2026 field test, the app used about 3 to 5% of phone battery per shift on the phones of staff walking the yard.

## What does the phone report about the person carrying it?

You choose. In tag-only mode, the phone reports which tags it heard and nothing about where the person is. If your policy allows it, the app can also report the phone's location. You set the mode per company or per team. See [Security and privacy](/reference/security-and-privacy/).

## When is walk-by not enough?

| Situation | Add |
|---|---|
| A stage should update without anyone walking by, such as the gate or the wash bay | [Site gateway](/tracking/site-gateways/) |
| You want to know which attachments left on which truck | [Vehicle gateway](/tracking/parent-and-child/) |
| A unit leaves the yard on its own and you want its position on the road | [Live tracker](/tracking/live-trackers/) |
| A hall or a corner of the yard where nobody walks | Site gateway, or a walking route |