A method of prolonging battery life of an inventory tracking tag , the tag including a battery , a position detection subsystem , a cellular communication subsystem , and a short-range communication subsystem , the method comprising: receiving, at a remote server , a report from the inventory tracking tag containing location data regarding the location of the inventory tracking tag, wherein the report is sent by the inventory tracking tag over a cellular communication network using the cellular communication subsystem; determining at the remote server, based on the location data and stored data regarding short-range communication networks coverage areas, that the inventory tracking tag is located within a first coverage area of a first short-range communication network ; and sending an instruction message from the remote server to the inventory tracking tag instructing the inventory tracking tag to cease using its cellular communication subsystem and to initiate use of its short-range communication subsystem to report further location data via the first short-range communication network, wherein the instruction message is stored at the inventory tracking tag for reporting the further location data at a next reporting interval, and wherein the instruction message includes credentials to enable the inventory tracking tag to gain access to an access point associated with the first short-range communication network, and wherein, in response to the instruction message, the inventory tracking tag enters a sleep mode until the next reporting interval when it enables the short-range communication subsystem and sends another report regarding the further location data, wherein in sleep mode the short-range communication system is deactivated. receiving, at a remote server , a report from the inventory tracking tag containing location data regarding the location of the inventory tracking tag, wherein the report is sent by the inventory tracking tag over a cellular communication network using the cellular communication subsystem; determining at the remote server, based on the location data and stored data regarding short-range communication networks coverage areas, that the inventory tracking tag is located within a first coverage area of a first short-range communication network ; and sending an instruction message from the remote server to the inventory tracking tag instructing the inventory tracking tag to cease using its cellular communication subsystem and to initiate use of its short-range communication subsystem to report further location data via the first short-range communication network, wherein the instruction message is stored at the inventory tracking tag for reporting the further location data at a next reporting interval, and wherein the instruction message includes credentials to enable the inventory tracking tag to gain access to an access point associated with the first short-range communication network, and wherein, in response to the instruction message, the inventory tracking tag enters a sleep mode until the next reporting interval when it enables the short-range communication subsystem and sends another report regarding the further location data, wherein in sleep mode the short-range communication system is deactivated. <EOS>