Img Source - Pat Grivet
Indoor navigation (indoor wayfinding) is one of the innovative solutions that is gaining popularity among businesses in various industries. Using advanced location-based technologies, companies can now provide convenient mobility for their customers in any building, be it a shopping mall, a hospital, or a business center. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of implementing digital wayfinding and why it’s better than standard visual wayfinding methods.
Standard indoor navigation methods
Many companies still use standard visual navigation to help visitors navigate their buildings. The most common ones include:
- Signs and stickers are small signs that indicate the direction of movement to certain places. May contain inscriptions or arrows indicating the path.
- Touch kiosks are made in the form of hanging or rack-mounted screens that can display maps and various reference information.
These solutions are not convenient in large spaces, since they don’t show the route to each specific object. Oftentimes, only the most frequently visited areas are indicated (for example, ticket offices and bathrooms), and there’s no information about other points within the building.
What is an indoor navigation (wayfinding) system?
Considering how inconvenient regular visual navigation solutions are, digital wayfinding solutions using smartphones are gaining popularity every year. This concept refers to a modern navigation system, which is based on sensors and special algorithms that transmit data to touch screens, interactive maps, and mobile applications. All this, together with special software (for example, Navigine SDK), allows you to build routes through buildings in real time and easily find your way to points of interest in complex spaces.
The system works using special equipment (known as beacons or tags), which is installed in different places within the building. At certain intervals, sensors send signals containing a specific identifier. As soon as a person with an already installed application on their smartphone enters the range of these impulses, the system immediately determines their location and displays them on a digital map.
To implement digital wayfinding, companies can use various technologies with an accuracy of up to 12 inches, such as:
- Bluetooth® LE;
- Wi-Fi;
- RFID;
- UWB etc.
Using these digital wayfinding solutions, it’s possible to create an effective indoor navigation system that provides accurate location of people in real time. All points of interest in buildings are displayed on indoor maps in the mobile application. The user just needs to indicate the destination, and the system will build the most convenient route and provide hints along the way.
Advantages of indoor navigation (wayfinding) compared to standard visual navigation
A digital wayfinding system has many advantages over visual navigation tools. Let's consider why it attracts companies and what benefits it brings after implementation.
Visitor access to up-to-date information in real time
When visiting a store, hospital, or other facility, users can receive up-to-date information about the location of certain objects. The system ensures that visitors get to the right place step by step, without wasting extra time wandering along hallways and floors.
Intuitive system interface for visitors
The platform has a convenient and intuitive interface that any user can understand. All information is presented on digital maps in the mobile application, so navigation management is not difficult. As you move, the point on the map moves along, meaning you always know your current location.
Quickly building a route to any point on the maps
Building routes on maps is carried out in the shortest possible time. The user only needs to specify the end point of interest, and the system will create a path from the current location. While moving, users are provided with step-by-step directions, which greatly simplifies the search for a destination.
Improving employee performance
Indoor navigation increases labor productivity and makes staff work more efficiently. With its implementation, employees no longer waste their time searching for certain offices and can devote it to more important tasks. In addition, they don’t need to constantly linger on the road and explain the route to visitors, since each user can build their own routes.
Increased visitor safety
The system plays a big role in ensuring the safety of people and assets. Using wayfinding technology, the management increases their awareness of the state of affairs in the company and can promptly identify problems related to the safe operation of the organization. The key functions of the technology in this regard include:
- planning a route in case of an emergency;
- sending emergency notifications;
- searching for employees closest to the site who can help the victims;
- identification of entrances/exits to restricted areas.
Navigine's Open Source Initiative
Digital wayfinding has become an indispensable tool for businesses looking to enhance customer experience and streamline operations. One notable solution in the market is offered by Navigine, a trusted provider in the field of indoor positioning and navigation. We have taken a unique approach by offering an Open Source solution for developers to integrate advanced indoor navigation algorithms into their applications. By leveraging the power of Navigine's open source code, businesses can create highly accurate and customizable indoor navigation systems tailored to their specific needs. This not only helps customers easily navigate complex indoor environments but also provides businesses with valuable insights into user behavior and engagement. Navigine's Open Source brings the benefits of indoor positioning technology within the reach of businesses of all sizes, empowering them to stay ahead of the curve.
If you need a ready-made digital wayfinding solution, then check out our Navigine SDK.
Which industries can implement digital wayfinding?
Indoor navigation solutions are suitable for various industries. They can be successfully used in healthcare, education, airports, shopping centers, retail stores, and other facilities that require convenient and quick movement through buildings.
Shopping centers
Many large malls include a huge number of stores, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and service companies. Digital wayfinding makes them easier to find and improves the overall experience when visiting a shopping center.
Retail stores/supermarkets
Mobile maps of retail stores help customers get to the products they need faster. This approach makes visitors more loyal to the outlet and increases profits. As an example, let's take the case that Navigine developed for the Finnish supermarket chain Kesko. After implementing the system, the average store score increased by 6%, and the brand itself became more recognizable.
Business centers
Using a navigation system in business centers helps employees find the right office and saves valuable working time.
Airports and train stations
The large size of train stations and airports sometimes results in delays for passengers. In order not to miss a flight, people can use indoor navigation to find the most important places, such as ticket offices, check-in counters, and customs posts. By using this technology, it can make it easier to navigate terminals and reduce stress when traveling.
Museums and exhibitions
Thanks to the indoor navigation system, visiting museums has become even more informative. Visitors can search for specific rooms on the map and quickly find specific exhibits.
Healthcare
Patients and visitors in large hospitals may find it difficult to navigate rooms and offices. Digital wayfinding successfully solves this problem. It allows you to save time spent searching for the right room, and, if needed, provides quick access to medical equipment in critical situations.
Colleges
Sometimes educational facilities occupy large areas and consist of many buildings. Using the indoor navigation system, you can easily find any room both inside one building and on campus. The system is relevant not only for students or teachers but also for university visitors.
Navigine provides users with Navigine SDK, which is optimally suited for implementation in mobile applications. We will help you choose the right technology and ensure the solution is integrated into your business infrastructure.
Note that digital wayfinding provides navigation through a complex indoor environment using the most convenient tools. With it, you can improve customer service, increase their loyalty to the organization, and also achieve increased productivity and increased profits. If you are interested in implementing the system in your company, fill out the feedback form or book a call with Navigine on our website.
