What is geofencing? How product teams use geofencing APIs to build smarter location features

Geofencing is one of the most powerful tools in a modern location tech stack, and one of the most underused.

With the right geofencing API, product and engineering teams can detect when users enter or exit real-world locations, power location-based features, and automate operational workflows. And you can do it all with just a few lines of code.

In this post, we'll break down what geofencing is, why it matters for app developers and product teams, how it's used across industries, and how Radar helps you build smarter, more accurate location features at scale.

What is geofencing?

Geofencing means creating virtual boundaries around real-world places, like stores, airports, or delivery zones, and triggering actions when a user enters, dwells in, or exits those areas.

Geofences can be:

Circles, like a custom radius around a store.

Polygons, like the exact footprint of a building or shopping center.

Isochrone, to create geofences based on travel distance.

Using a geofencing SDK or API, your app can listen for these events in real time. No beacons, no manual check-ins, and no unnecessary battery drain.

Why geofencing matters for product and engineering teams

Geofencing is about more than knowing where a user is. It's about enabling real-world interactions that drive better engagement, faster fulfillment, and more reliable attribution.

Here's what you can do with it:

Trigger personalized messages or actions

• Send push notifications when users are near a store.
• Unlock features or content based on physical presence.
• Log app behavior based on where users are.
  

Automate physical operations

• Detect arrival at curbside or pickup zones.
• Trigger prep workflows when a customer is on the way.
• Reduce manual check-ins and polling.

Attribute real-world behavior to digital campaigns

• Track in-store visits and campaign ROI.
• Measure conversion from push notifications or ads.
• Run location-aware A/B tests.

Enable context-aware UX

• Surface relevant content based on location.
• Personalize experiences dynamically.
• Make apps feel smarter and more intuitive.

Common geofencing use cases by industry

Geofencing isn't just for maps or location tracking. It enables real-time features and workflows across industries, from retail and restaurants to logistics, gaming, and workforce management. Here's how leading product teams use geofencing in the real world.

Retail

Retailers use geofencing to bridge the gap between digital and in-store experiences, driving more visits, purchases, and engagement.

• Detect in-store visits for loyalty and attribution.
• Trigger Store Mode or in-store offers.
• Power curbside pickup workflows.

Restaurants and QSR

Restaurant brands use geofencing to streamline pickup and drive-thru experiences, reduce wait times, and increase repeat orders.

• Detect arrival for order ahead or drive-thru.
• Trigger prep and reduce wait times.
• Send reminders or upsells near a store.

Logistics and delivery

Logistics teams use geofencing to improve real-time visibility, automate arrival detection, and optimize operations.

• Detect check-in and check-out events.
• Track drivers in real time and improve ETAs.
• Reduce missed handoffs and optimize routes.

Gaming and compliance

Gaming operators use geofencing to stay compliant with jurisdictional laws, block restricted regions, and detect spoofing or fraud.

• Verify user location for legal jurisdictions.
• Block access from restricted zones.
• Detect spoofing and device tampering.

Workforce management

Workforce and field service platforms use geofencing to track shifts, automate timekeeping, and improve accountability.

• Automate clock-in and clock-out.
• Track contractors in the field.
• Enable geofence-based timesheets.

What makes Radar's geofencing platform different

Radar is the leading geolocation platform, trusted by thousands of companies to power real-time location features across hundreds of millions of devices.

Radar's geofencing platform includes:

• Unlimited geofences, including circles and complex polygons.
  
• Accuracy down to 5 meters, up to 10 times more precise than iOS and Android defaults.
  
• Battery-efficient tracking, with adaptive logic to preserve user battery life.
  
• Remote configuration, so you can manage geofences without app updates.
  

And Radar goes beyond just geofencing. You also get maps, routing, address validation, and geo-compliance tools in a single platform.

Why product teams choose Radar

Easy to integrate. Radar's SDKs for iOS and Android are lightweight and developer-friendly. With remote configuration and open-source tooling, teams can go from zero to integrated in a single sprint. Fast-start documentation helps you launch quickly without wading through complexity.

Highly accurate. Radar offers real-time geofence detection on-device without relying on polling or constant GPS use. It works reliably in dense urban areas or high-traffic zones, giving you precision and performance where it matters most.

Enterprise-ready. Radar powers experiences for brands like Panera Bread, Whataburger, and T-Mobile. The platform is built to scale, with support for millions of devices and billions of API calls per day.

Cost-effective. Radar's pricing is based on monthly tracked users, not number of geofences. This makes it easier to scale and forecast costs. Many teams save up to 50% by consolidating geofencing, maps, and location services with Radar.

Start building smarter location features

If your app depends on location, geofencing isn't just helpful. It's essential.

Radar helps you go from raw coordinates to real-world context with speed, scale, and precision. Whether you're building a better checkout experience, automating fulfillment, or measuring campaign ROI, Radar’s geofencing platform makes it easy to get started.

Explore our geofencing docs, or contact our team to talk through your use case.