Presence engine

Geofences at Spot Social

Seamless, privacy-first venue detection that powers check-ins, live presence, and contextual actions — only when it matters.

How it works Get the app

Privacy-first
Dwell + hysteresis
BLE-boosted indoors

Venue Zone

GPS • Wi-Fi • Motion • (BLE†)

† at supported venues

Basics

What is a geofence?

A geofence is a virtual boundary around a real place. When you enter or exit that boundary, your device (with your permission) lets our app trigger relevant, time-boxed features — like confirming attendance or surfacing a venue special.

In short: presence with purpose — only where and when it’s useful.

Smart check-ins

Automatically confirm you’re at a partnered venue during the event window — no manual QR needed when signals are strong.

Live presence

Power real-time ‘who’s here’ rosters with strict privacy guards, so friends can meet up in the moment.

Contextual prompts

Surface relevant actions (join the line, claim a special, share a photo) while you’re actually on-site.

Reliable RSVPs

Reward accurate planning and follow-through by tying attendance to time-bound geofence signals.

Signals & policy

How it works

Signals: GPS, Wi-Fi, and motion detect region entry/exit. At supported venues, BLE beacons boost indoor confidence.
Windows: Checks are scoped to event time ranges to avoid noise outside relevant hours.
Dwell & hysteresis: Short dwell and hysteresis prevent “edge” positions from flapping.
Privacy guards: No public tracing; private invites remain private. You can revoke permissions any time.

Why background access?

“Always/All the time” location allows accurate arrival detection even if you don’t open the app at the door. Prefer not to grant it? You can check in manually when you arrive.

Quick permission flow

Open Spot Social → Settings → Location
Enable “Always/All the time” and Precise location
Optionally enable Bluetooth for better indoor accuracy

Help

Troubleshooting

Permissions

Location: Allow “Always” (iOS) / “Allow all the time” (Android) for background detection.
Bluetooth: Recommended for higher indoor accuracy at supported venues.
Notifications: Optional, but helps with timely check-in prompts.

Device power settings

Disable Battery Saver during events.
Android: remove app from “Optimized/Restricted” battery lists.
Keep network (Wi-Fi/5G) on — assists with faster region updates.

On-site behavior

Open the app once when you arrive to refresh tokens and quickly confirm presence.
Stay inside the venue boundary for a few minutes to register a strong dwell.

Still stuck? Contact support.

Answers

FAQ

A virtual boundary around a place. When your device crosses it (with permission granted), the app can trigger privacy-respecting actions like check-in prompts.

No. We only process minimal location signals needed for venue windows you choose to interact with. You control permissions at any time.

So we can detect arrival during an event window even if the app is in the background. Without it, you’d need to open the app exactly on arrival.

Outdoors (GPS + Wi-Fi) is strong. Indoors varies; supported venues may add BLE beacons to improve zone confidence and reduce edge false-positives.

We use dwell time, hysteresis, and multi-signal checks to avoid flapping. You can always confirm or dismiss a prompt manually.