Systems and methods for determining the status of loading docks and resources at product distribution centers

A system for determining the status of loading docks and resources at product distribution centers, the system comprising:

• a product distribution center configured to store merchandise and including a plurality of loading docks configured to receive trailers transporting shipments of merchandise;
• a plurality of beacons disposed at a plurality of predetermined locations in the product distribution center, each beacon configured to transmit a unique signal;
• a mobile device with a microcontroller configured for communication with one or more beacons to determine the position of the mobile device in the product distribution center relative to the plurality of loading docks;
• a control circuit communicatively coupled to the mobile device, the control circuit configured to:
• receive tracking information from the mobile device based on the device's communication with the one or more beacons to determine the position of the mobile device in the product distribution center;
• determine the use and availability of the loading dock closest to the mobile device;
• determine the scheduled or estimated arrival times of trailers with incoming shipments of merchandise at the loading dock closest to the mobile device;
• determine the status of resources at or near the loading dock closest to the mobile device;
• cause to display on the mobile device the use and availability of the loading dock closest to the mobile device, the estimated or scheduled arrival time of trailers at the loading dock closest to the mobile device, and the status of resources at or near the closest loading dock;
• wherein the control circuit communicates with the microcontroller to transmit and cause to display local information to the mobile device at a specific area in the product distribution center based on the microcontroller's communication with the one or more beacons.