TL;DR: I attended a Regional IoT in Healthcare Summit in Bangkok to showcase Fennec, our real-time location technology. While the event had its challenges—such as lower-than-expected engagement and a focus on product sales over meaningful dialogue—I found valuable moments, especially in interactions with students and my team. These experiences reinforced our mission to drive positive change through technology and mentorship. Moving forward, I’ll be more selective about the events we participate in, ensuring they align with our values and offer genuine opportunities for learning and connection. Despite the hurdles, I’m excited about the future and committed to pushing boundaries and inspiring change.
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Why did I say yes to this invitation? Well, a few reasons:
- It was a free event, which is always a plus.
- I saw it as a prime opportunity to talk about Fennec and get it in front of the right audience.
- I was told that 150 top executives from hospitals would be there, and I was invited to be a speaker. That sounded like a chance I couldn’t pass up.
But now, let’s be honest and take a step back to look at what actually happened.
Free Event
Yes, it was free of charge to exhibit at the event. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t come with other costs—both financial and personal. I ended up investing in the booth, decorations, uniforms, lunch for the team (happy to pay), and other expenses. But more than anything, I invested my time and energy to make this the best event it could have been.
So, let’s be clear: there’s really no such thing as “free.” Every time we’re told something is “free,” it’s important to remember that it usually comes with its own set of costs, whether that’s money, effort, or the opportunity cost of what else you could have been doing.
Fennec as Private Real-Time Location Technology
This objective failed clearly. We didn’t have many opportunities to sell Fennec. When we did, Thai audiences didn’t seem to understand the importance of “privacy” much. Was I surprised? Not really. Privacy in real-time location tracking is still a new concept in this country. I have a habit of doing things that most people don’t follow. I couldn’t help but lead the team to focus on the future, even if it’s something too far and difficult for others to see right now.
The most frequent questions about some of Fennec’s features, like encrypted communication (during transmission and at rest) and dynamic identity protection, were whether those features are necessary. This sent a direct message to me that we have a long way to go in educating the market about the importance of privacy in real-time location tracking.
My answer? “It’s not necessary until it is.” Does that sound arrogant? Maybe. But it was the best response I could give without conflicting with my principles. The question implied that privacy is often overlooked when it comes to tracking. Most people don’t think about it until it’s too late.
In a normal situation, privacy and security don’t seem to be important. We doubt their value until we’re faced with a breach. People always find ways to cut costs and bring up arguments during price negotiations. But nothing is important until it’s too late. Privacy in tracking is the same thing. Imagine if your system is attacked and just a fraction of personal data is stolen. What would you feel? Would you ask yourself, “What if…?” If yes, then it’s too late to fix. Don’t let that happen.
No one wants to be tracked, which makes it the responsibility of decision-makers and purchasers to take privacy seriously when building or buying tracking solutions. It’s always better to overprotect than underprotect.
Privacy has been one of the three pillars of Fennec since day one, alongside modularity and cost-effectiveness. At Fennec, we firmly believe that when it comes to privacy, there is no middle ground. Either you commit fully to protecting it, or you don’t. Half measures simply won’t suffice. We must continue to make our community aware of this.
It’s not just us—privacy in real-time location tracking is becoming a big deal globally. With all the concerns about data breaches and how personal information can be misused, more people and businesses are waking up to the need for better protection. I think this growing awareness is going to work in our favor in the long run. As more people start to care about how their location data is handled, the way we prioritize privacy in Fennec is going to stand out even more.
In general, visitors asked about Fennec’s UI, and they seemed to appreciate the clean and modern design. They were intrigued by the Stealth Mode feature that masks the current location of people and objects. Some wondered how we can locate IT devices like laptops and tablets. We do so through Fennec Agent for Windows and Android. A demo I gave made this clearer, but it seemed that none of them saw this as something they wanted. Understandable—I need to do better in explaining why Fennec Agents are innovative and very useful.
I considered the objective to unofficially launch Fennec to the public for the first time a failure. Am I being too harsh? Perhaps. My expectation was that we would get about ten visitors ready to sign up for a beta test and reserve a Fennec First Year spot. We got less than that. Just three visitors showed serious interest: two system integrators, who plan to propose it to their clients, and a Head of IT from a major university in northern Thailand. He has been building his own solution for over a year but admitted it’s not elegant or very reliable. When I showed him Fennec’s price list, he was shocked and said, “It’s a great price.” At least I received valuable feedback on my pricing. I took that as a win.
There was another win when the same Head of IT asked if Fennec works with BLE tags from other brands. “Yes, as long as it’s Eddystone,” I replied. He smiled big time. That moment confirmed that we’ve done a good job building Fennec as an open solution, capable of connecting with other elements in the whole tracking ecosystem. It’s small wins like these that remind me why we’re on the right track.
The Top Management
I was told that around 150 top executives from Thailand’s top hospitals would attend, so I set my expectations very high. In hindsight, I realize that was a mistake—I was disappointed, big time. I’m not blaming anyone, especially not my team. If anything, I was overly optimistic.
Let’s do a quick calculation: Thailand has around 1,400 hospitals. If we consider that hospitals with more than 500 beds are large and have access to funds, that leaves us with just about 60 hospitals nationwide. Assuming each has around eight top executives—CEOs, COOs, and Directors—we’re talking about less than 500 people in total. What are the odds that 30% of them would be in the same room at the same time? Was I being delusional? In retrospect, yes.
Being on stage, I couldn’t tell how many of the audience members were top management. My best guess was no more than 20. After the session, three of them visited our booth. That’s a 15% conversion rate, which isn’t bad by today’s marketing standards. One out of those three immediately wanted to discuss collaboration with us—a 33% conversion rate from “qualified leads” to “in negotiation.” Not bad at all. My mistake was wishing for a lot more leads to start with. I had fancied having 100 top executives listen to my speech, leading to 15% visiting our booth (15 people) and 33% wanting to start a collaboration (5 people). In reality, I was off by a factor of five.
Reflecting on this, I realize that my expectations were set too high. In the future, I’ll focus more on engaging deeply with a smaller audience, rather than trying to appeal to a larger group. Quality leads are often more valuable than quantity, and this event reinforced that lesson. The few conversations I did have were meaningful, and the interest in collaboration shows that we’re solving real and pressing issues for them, even if the numbers weren’t as high as I’d hoped.
The Session
I had high hopes for the session, expecting it to be a platform where industry leaders could exchange knowledge, inspire innovation, and delve into the complexities of IoT in healthcare. Unfortunately, I felt that the session wasn’t effectively arranged to meet those goals. Instead of fostering an environment of learning and discussion, much of the time was devoted to selling products and solutions. The focus seemed to be more on promoting the latest offerings rather than engaging the audience in meaningful dialogue or presenting actionable insights.
As I sat through the various presentations, it became clear that, from my perspective, the session lacked depth. The content was heavily skewed toward product showcases and marketing pitches, which overshadowed any potential for educational value. While it’s understandable that companies want to highlight their innovations, I felt that the balance might have been off. There seemed to be little room for exploring the broader implications of IoT in healthcare or discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
This approach left me questioning whether the audience—many of whom were top management from hospitals—would walk away with anything truly valuable. Of course, this is just my view, and others may have found the content more relevant to their needs. I couldn’t help but feel that the session might have missed an opportunity to inspire and inform these decision-makers about how they could leverage IoT in healthcare to improve patient care, optimize operations, and drive future growth.
Looking back, I realize that the session’s structure might have been driven by the event’s commercial interests, but it came at the cost of providing real value to the audience—or at least, that’s how it seemed to me. It’s a lesson in how important it is to strike the right balance between showcasing products and fostering an environment of learning and innovation. If I had the opportunity to influence the session’s format, I might have pushed for more interactive, discussion-based elements that encourage the sharing of insights and experiences, rather than simply promoting products and services.
Me as a Speaker
I used to do this a lot in the past for physical and online events. But after stepping down from the stage this time, I realized that I don’t feel the same about it anymore. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy talking about my work and sharing insights from the inside—I still love that. But I’ve grown weary of being controlled by the constraints of a fixed topic and a strict timeline set by the organizer.
Not that I was too lazy to prepare. On the contrary, I worked very hard to give the best I could with all the knowledge I have. I wanted my content to be educational, inspirational, and insightful. I tailored my standard presentation on the Internet of Things for Hospitals and 10X Improvement with Hyper Location Aware Applications to align with the event host’s business and product direction. It was my way of paying respect and showing gratitude for the honor they gave me.
I wrote a word-for-word script, memorized it, and rehearsed my speech countless times. Yet, despite all this effort, I felt that I used to be better. I used to give better speeches. This time, I felt like I fell short. I’m not sure how others perceived it, but I was not happy with my performance at all.
During my 10-minute speech, I felt the pressure of the clock ticking away. There was so much more I wanted to say, but I had to stick to the script and ensure I didn’t run over time. It reminded me of why I’ve started to step back from these kinds of engagements. Speaking within such rigid parameters felt like I was sacrificing depth for brevity, and that’s not how I want to share my experiences or ideas.
“Please be on time,” the stage staff said.
“Don’t worry. I will finish my session at the perfect time,” I replied with full confidence, as I had practiced this many times.
“It would be great if you could finish early because the session has been running late,” the staff requested, asking me to cut it short.
I didn’t say a word as I walked on stage, reminding myself to stick with my rhythm. It was a real surprise when I saw a “Time’s Up” sign before I even reached the last slide. How is that possible? I asked myself while presenting. I was forced to cut it short, and I complied. I didn’t mention anything from the last slide, which contained crucial tips for utilizing the Internet of Things in Hospitals. My most important messages weren’t heard by anyone. Those tips weren’t just an afterthought—they were actionable insights that could have provided real value to the audience, helping them implement IoT in healthcare effectively in their hospitals.
I fully understood the stage staff—they needed to regain control of the schedule. Unfortunately, I became collateral damage. This was the main reason I felt unhappy with the outcome.
In the past, I might have embraced these challenges, seeing them as a way to sharpen my messaging. But now, I find myself craving more freedom in how I communicate—whether that’s through writing, direct interactions, or smaller, more intimate discussions where the focus is on real exchange rather than sticking to a schedule.
As I stepped down from the stage, I felt a sense of closure. I’m not saying I’ll never speak at events again, but if I do, it will have to be on my own terms—where I can engage without feeling rushed, and where the content is truly reflective of what I want to share, not just what fits into a pre-defined box.
The Booth
For the exhibition, we wanted to create a booth that would not only showcase our products but also engage visitors in a meaningful way. We brought along a selection of our core technologies designed to help hospitals be more productive. These included our Linen Management System with RFID, the Indoor Job Dispatching System using BLE, and the highlight of the show—Fennec, where we introduced our Private Real-Time Location technology. Each of these technologies was chosen with a specific purpose in mind, to demonstrate our capabilities in real-time location tracking.
The centerpiece of our booth was a live demonstration setup. We had all our products in place, allowing visitors to see firsthand how our tracking solutions work. We put extra effort into creating an interactive experience with Fennec. We planned a mini product tour, where we set up a few access points and our own locators to create an indoor tracking infrastructure. During the tour, we walked around the exhibition zone with BLE employee cards, BLE asset tags, a Windows laptop, and an Android phone.
This demonstration showcased Fennec’s real-time locating capabilities, including some of our unique features like Zone-Based Alerts (“In Zone” and “Out Zone”) and Status-Based Alerts (“Active,” “Inactive,” “Out of Range,” and “Potentially Missing”). We also set up a small demo to show how our Dynamic Identity Protection works.
With the product mini tour, visitors could watch as employee cards and assets were detected, location changes were tracked, and updates were instantly reflected on the dashboard. This turned out to be a small success, as we were the only booth at the event that showcased products and technologies live.
Many visitors, both local and international, thought it was cool and took video clips while we were presenting. The live demos played an important role in ensuring that we could effectively communicate our value proposition within the limited time we had with each visitor.
Looking back, the booth was more than just a display—it was our chance to connect directly with people, show them the real-world applications of our technology, and hopefully leave them with a lasting impression of what Fennec and our other products are all about.
Me as a Salesperson
Am I a salesperson? I think I am. But beyond that, I see myself as a change agent, someone who’s always trying to put our ideas out there for the world to see. Fennec is our latest attempt to create a new wave in real-time location technology, one that prioritizes privacy, security, modularity, and cost-effectiveness. This event was my first real test of these ideas with a live audience, and I enjoyed it immensely.
The experience was completely different from being on stage. It highlighted the essence of personal connection, deep conversation, and engaging exchanges of ideas. Nothing beats talking face-to-face, where you can truly connect with people, understand their concerns, and share your vision in a way that feels authentic and impactful.
Many people stopped at our booth, curious about what we had to offer. The first question almost everyone asked was, “What is this?”
“We do tracking solutions for hospitals using Internet of Things,” I replied. And from there, the conversations began. My team and I had numerous opportunities to show how our solutions work, using real hardware and software. We conducted live demos in real-time—assets were detected, location change events were triggered, the tasks were dispatched to the mobile apps and the updates appeared instantly on the dashboard.
The visitors got a chance to interact with the technology firsthand, connecting it to their daily routines and envisioning how our solutions could address their pressing challenges. We discussed a wide range of topics candidly, exchanged ideas, and let our imaginations run wild without the constraints of time. It was the vibrant environment I had hoped for, one that made me feel truly alive. And my team felt the same way.
Interestingly, quite a few visitors asked if our platform could be extended to manage queues in a hospital’s check-up department. The main pain point was the ability to manage station queues in real-time and direct patients to the shortest queue possible to reduce waiting times.
I had researched this topic a few years ago, and my conclusion was that it was possible but not very practical. Even today, with advancements in real-time tracking technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB), creating this kind of solution presents many critical challenges—not technologically, but practically and economically. As we know, BLE cannot be very precise; it’s difficult to determine if a patient is standing at counter A or counter B when they are just a few meters apart. UWB is very precise, but it’s also very expensive, and most mobile phones don’t support UWB.
Behaviorally, it’s also a big challenge to ask every patient to download an app and turn on Bluetooth. I told my visitors that if only 20% of patients comply with this requirement, a hospital would be investing in a solution that 80% of patients wouldn’t benefit from. They all agreed.
Another interesting case that came up during my discussions was whether Fennec hardware, particularly our wristband, could help prevent patient falls. This is a significant concern in hospitals, especially with elderly or vulnerable patients. The idea of using Fennec wristbands for fall prevention sparked a deep conversation about how our technology could be adapted or integrated with existing systems to monitor patient movement and detect falls in real-time. While we haven’t specifically designed our wristbands for this purpose, the conversation opened up new possibilities for how our technology could be used to address such critical needs.
My technical leader and I immediately started discussing the possibility of modifying our BLE firmware to detect posture changes, such as from still to moving or from sitting to standing. If these posture changes are detected, Fennec could launch an alert to nearby nurses or staff, allowing them to quickly support the patient and potentially prevent a fall. This conversation opened up new possibilities for how our technology could be used to address such critical needs, and it’s something we’re seriously considering for future development.
I loved discussions like this. They were deep, engaging, and honest. I wasn’t trying to sell anything—just sharing my real experience and beliefs from years of working in this field. I’m confident that every single one of my visitors left with something valuable from me and my team. They walked away from the booth with new knowledge and insights, and many of them were inspired by what we do.
Valuable Experiences
For the past few months, we’ve had the honor of welcoming three interns to our team. They are undergraduate students from the Faculty of Applied Statistics, with a background in data science, at a well-known technology university in Bangkok. Most of their days were spent on data science-related tasks, including data gathering, preparation, and creating forecasting models for one of our hyper-location aware applications. When I first heard about the event, I saw a great opportunity for them to experience a business environment for the first time. They were with us for the entire two days of the event.
The most valuable experience wasn’t mine; it was theirs, and I was proud to be a part of it. Free from their usual assignments, they were tasked with learning how we navigate this type of event. They occasionally engaged with visitors by greeting them at the booth, answering simple questions, demonstrating our products, and exchanging business contacts. Naturally, they struggled to manage all of this on their own and often turned to me and my technical lead for assistance. But the experience they gained from interacting with real people was invaluable. What they learned from this event will set the tone for their future development, particularly in communication and sales.
Right after the event, I asked them to give me a short report about their experiences, feelings, and findings. They all thanked me for the opportunity to experience new things that they couldn’t find in class. They agreed that they needed to practice speaking and storytelling more to build the confidence to handle challenging situations on their own. Their willingness to stay true to themselves, not give up, and seek ways to improve showed the right attitude.
I learned something from them as well while reading their reports. One of them wrote, ‘… some of the visitors didn’t seem to care how much effort we put into building great products.’ Curious about what they meant, I asked them to elaborate.
‘They sometimes overlooked the fact that we were trying to make all of our products easy to use, comprehensive, and automation-focused to effectively solve their problems,’ one of the interns explained. ‘They hoped that the products wouldn’t change how they currently work too much, wanted them to be inexpensive, yet still meet all their requirements.’
It was a finding that even non-experienced students could detect. I felt the same way and had known this for a long time. ‘What should we do?’ I asked them.
The interns recognized that it can be challenging to align customers’ perspectives with ours. They suggested that our main task is to clearly communicate our intentions and the purpose behind our products, showing how they address current issues. They believe that even if customers aren’t ready to adopt our solutions now, making a strong impression will lead them to consider us in the future when their needs change.
Regarding the budget, they felt that while some customers may think our products are expensive, they don’t necessarily see the full value of the advanced features we offer, like enhanced privacy and security. They noted that it’s difficult to shift the mindset of buyers or executives who might only be focused on immediate needs and costs. However, the interns emphasized the importance of maintaining our position and ensuring our products and company are recognized for their innovation. They believe that as the world evolves, customers will eventually see the value and come to us because we are already positioned for the future.
That’s the spirit of this team—never dropping our standards, always striving to solve problems with the right technologies, and standing firm in what we believe in. I was proud of how they all reacted to this.
They put in all the effort to make this event as successful as it could be. I made sure to thank them as well for staying with me throughout the entire show.
As they returned to their normal routine of working with data, I hoped they brought some inspiration from the event to their assignments. I hoped they could understand why we always push the boundaries of what audiences have experienced. I wanted them to feel the importance of their work in forecasting future patient transportation jobs, managing workloads, and planning worker rosters. Most of all, I hoped they felt proud to deliver a unique and valuable feature to our beloved healthcare users—something that truly stands apart.
The Proudest Moment
This time, it was mine. The best feeling from the event didn’t come from closing a deal or receiving compliments from prospects and partners. It came from a conversation I had with third-year undergraduate students from the Faculty of Computer Engineering at a well-known university in the north-east of Thailand.
They attended the event as part of a field trip. The first group, consisting of 5-6 students, stopped at our booth, curiously eyeing the screen and hardware on the table. They seemed hesitant to step closer, so I took the initiative to start the conversation.
“We do tracking solutions for hospitals using the Internet of Things,” I briefly introduced them to our work.
“Can you explain more, please?” one of the students asked, prompting me to continue.
I spent about five minutes walking them through all of our products—the technologies behind them, the concepts that inspired their creation, the pain points we aimed to solve, and the hardware and software techniques we developed to overcome technical challenges. I spoke to each of them directly, looking them in the eyes, and I saw their interest sparking. The group grew larger as more students joined in, drawn by the conversation. They listened intently, took notes, and some even asked insightful questions, fully engaged with both me and my technical lead.
I vividly remember telling them, “We are not a software house, simply following what users want. We are a small technology company, dedicated to solving real challenges one by one for our customers through the use of advanced technologies. We take the time to study their processes, talk to as many customers as possible, and then engineer the best solutions to improve the way they work.”
Some of them nodded in agreement with our mission. Then another student asked, “Do you have intern positions open?” In that moment, I knew my technical leader and I had done a good job inspiring them. I handed over my business card, telling him to send me an email when he is eligible to apply for an internship. I also kindly reminded him to share my contact information with his peers.
After the first group left the booth, just a few minutes later, a second group arrived. I noticed some familiar faces from the first group—they had returned for our presentation a second time. Some students even brought close friends to talk to me again afterward. It was the best feeling I experienced during the entire event.
This is what my team and I are all about. We exist to bring positive change to our community through technology. We don’t just create products to make a living; we understand that our greatest responsibility is to help build up the next generation—those who will uplift our country in the years to come. My conversations with these students give me the strength to keep going and never stop. Every time I have the opportunity to share my personal experiences and beliefs—especially the conviction that only creators can drive the world forward, and that we must be those creators—I feel blessed and humbled to be here, fulfilling this life mission.
This was the proudest moment from the event, one that I will carry with me for a long time.
Gratitude for the Team: Upholding Our Greatest Strength
As I reflect on our experience at the IoT in Healthcare Summit, I realize that our success wasn’t just about showcasing cutting-edge technology—it was about embodying our core values. One of the eight principles we practice daily is that ‘Understanding customers is our biggest strength.’ This principle guided every conversation, every demo, and every interaction we had at the summit.
In today’s fast-paced world, people often chase after what’s hot, the latest trends, or the newest technologies. But as Jeff Bezos wisely pointed out, we shouldn’t bet our lives on things that change rapidly. Instead, we focus on something enduring—our ability to truly understand our customers.
Time and again, we’ve seen that our success doesn’t come from being the biggest, the cheapest, or even the most advanced. It comes from our deep understanding of our customers’ needs, challenges, and aspirations. This understanding allows us to do more than just follow their instructions. We show them a better way, inspire their future vision, and teach them how to solve problems more effectively.
At the IoT in Healthcare Summit, my team exemplified this principle in action. We didn’t just present our products—we shared our vision, our expertise, and our genuine commitment to helping our customers succeed. We engaged with visitors not just as vendors, but as trusted partners who think, build, and do with purpose. This is why customers and partners are willing to wait for us—because they know we see them, we care about them, and we lead them towards a better future.
I want to take a moment to thank my team for embodying this strength. Your ability to understand and connect with our customers is what sets us apart. We cannot afford to lose this edge, no matter how big, rich, or well-connected our competitors may be. This is our ground, and we must protect it at all costs.
So, to my team—thank you for your unwavering commitment to this principle. Thank you for making our presence at the IoT in Healthcare Summit not just a demonstration of technology, but a testament to the enduring strength that truly differentiates us. Let’s continue to be the team that understands, leads, and inspires, for it is this that will sustain us and propel us forward.
If There Will Be the Next Time?
As I write this article, I find myself wondering: if a similar opportunity presents itself again, will I say yes? The answer isn’t straightforward. This event offered many valuable moments, but it also had its challenges.
If I were to say yes to a future event, it would have to meet certain conditions. First, the event must align closely with our mission—bringing real, positive change through technology, and providing a platform where we can genuinely connect with the audience. Second, the format should allow for meaningful interactions, not just brief encounters or rushed presentations. I need the opportunity to engage deeply with attendees, whether it’s through hands-on demos, in-depth discussions, or interactive sessions.
Finally, the event must offer something valuable to my team, especially the younger members. Whether it’s a learning experience, networking opportunities, or the chance to see the impact of their work firsthand, their growth and development are as important as any business objective.
If these conditions are met, I would consider saying yes again. Otherwise, I might choose to pass, focusing instead on opportunities that align more closely with our values and goals.
Moving forward, whether it’s through events like this or other initiatives, I’m excited about the opportunities ahead. We will continue to push boundaries, inspire change, and create a brighter future through technology.
Let’s Continue the Conversation
If you found our approach to privacy-focused real-time location technology interesting, or if something from our experience at the IoT in healthcare Summit resonated with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to explore how our solutions could fit into your work, we’re here to chat.
Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about Fennec, discuss potential collaborations, or simply share your perspective. We’re always eager to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations who share our passion for location technology and positive change.
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