In today's rapidly evolving technological world, indoor navigation maps have become a must-have for any business with a physical location. Indoor navigation maps help customers find their way through complex buildings, providing a seamless navigation experience. Whether your activity concerns shopping malls, office buildings, airports, hospitals or universities’ campuses, creating the best indoor navigation maps is crucial to enhance the customer experience and increase foot traffic. But where to start from? Our experts are here sharing 6 crucial steps you should follow to come up with effective and user-friendly indoor navigation maps for your business.

Step 1: Understand the layout of the surfaces to be mapped

 The first step in creating indoor navigation maps is to have a deep understanding of the layout of the building you are going to map. This includes where your entrances, exits, elevators, stairs, and other important landmarks (aka the Point of Interest, POI) are precisely located. You should also take into account any potential obstacles such as construction, renovations, or temporary barriers. Why? Simply because knowing the layout of your building is crucial in creating accurate and up-to-date maps.

Tip: Start with floor plans (ideally the .dwg AutoCAD format) and blueprints to get a better understanding of the layout of your building. This will help you create more accurate and detailed indoor navigation maps.

Step 2: Set a clear goal for your Indoor Navigation Maps to be achieved 

It is crucial to clearly outline your specific objectives from the very beginning, before launching any developments for your indoor navigation map. The type of industry or workspace you are operating in - whether it be corporate buildings, malls, or public institutions - may require specific adaptations depending on its ultimate goal: for instance, building owners may seek to enhance workplace efficiency and safety, while others may prioritize improving visitor experience. In the case of shopping centers, a store may open or close, making it a must to be able to make frequent updates and also create an accurate layout of the premises. Similarly, airports or train stations may opt for indoor navigation maps to streamline passenger flow to different platforms more effectively.

Tip: When setting your goals, here’s a few questions you should ask yourself to better guide your reflexion:

• What is the ultimate purpose of the map?
  
  
• What is the target audience (their age, abilities and needs)?
  
  
• What is the scope of the map (one or more buildings to cover)?
  
  
• What are the specific features to provide map users with (real-time updates, turn-by-turn navigation, room reservation)?
  
   

Step 3: Choose the best Indoor Mapping Software for your business

The next step is to choose the right mapping software for your business. There are various options available on the market today, each one with its peculiarities. However, it is important to keep in mind that the ideal mapping software should be user-friendly, accurate, and customizable to suit your business needs, like the Visioglobe Map Editor.

Moreover, other additional criteria you may wish to consider are to opt for your provider are:

• the years of experience,
  
  
• similar indoor mapping use cases,
  
  
• the company’s support and maintenance services,
  
  
• both online and offline access to your future indoor navigation maps,
  
  
• the tool flexibility to integrate with other solutions (i.e. with IoT technologies).
  
  

Tip: You can also consult with an IT professional or directly with solution partners to help you make the right decision for your indoor navigation map solution.

Step 4: Collect and input data onto your Indoor Map

 Once you have chosen your mapping software, the next step is to collect and input the data onto the map. This includes adding labels, markers, and annotations to indicate different locations and points of interest (POI) within your building. Be as detailed as possible, and make sure to update the map regularly to follow any change that may occur in the layout of your surfaces.

Tip: Use color-coding and symbols to make your indoor navigation map more user-friendly and as crystal-clear as possible to understand.

Step 5: Test and Gather Feedback

 Before making your indoor navigation map available to the public, it is important to test it thoroughly. This will help you identify and fix any potential bugs or glitches, and ensure that the map is accurate and easy to use.

Tip: You should try beta testing with a small group of employees and/or customers to get real-time feedback and enhance your map.

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Step 6: Make your Indoor Navigation Maps accessible

 The final step is to make your indoor navigation maps accessible to the public. There are several ways you can do this, such as incorporating the map into your business's mobile app or making it available on your website. You can also display the map at key locations, through kiosks, for customers to easily access it and better navigate the building.

Tip: Ensure that your indoor navigation map is compatible with different devices and operating systems to reach a wider audience.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, creating the best indoor navigation maps for your business requires careful planning, accurate data, and the right tools. By following these 6 steps to guide your indoor navigation maps project, you can ensure a successful and seamless navigation experience for your customers. As we saw, continuously updating and improving your maps to keep up with any changes within your building is absolutely key. Finally, thanks to a powerful indoor navigation maps tool like Visioglobe Map Editor, you can definitely enhance the overall customer experience and improve your business performance from any point of view.