Humans have benefitted from physical maps for thousands of years; they help us make sense of the environments surrounding us. Modern maps are accurate representations of landscapes and man-made locations. As technology has developed in recent decades, maps have also been incorporated into the digital transformation.
Most of us are familiar with digitized maps that operate with the assistance of GPS. This is an excellent tool for exploring the outside world but neglects large indoor spaces such as corporate offices. Indoor mapping is on the rise, with progressions in indoor positioning systems in constant development. Today, solutions from MapsPeople can administer reliable visibility and features within complex indoor spaces.
Intelligence: Indoor maps are intuitive guides
While traditional maps can be used to guide new employees or visitors, technology can offer faster, more intelligent solutions. Indoor maps make use of multiple technologies, such as the geographic information system (GIS), an indoor positioning system (IPS), and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
- GIS: A Geographic Information System captures and displays data about points on the earth’s surface. This computer system can make associations between apparently unrelated data points to assist individuals, and organizations, in making sense of spatial patterns. It can use any location information, e.g., latitude and longitude or ZIP code. GIS can also be an important tool for data comparison related to population, income, and so forth. The solution is applicable in hardware and software formats.
- IPS: An Indoor Positioning System refers to a system of devices that are used for location purposes where other technologies, such as GPS, cannot be precise. These locations include the interiors of large buildings and underground locations. There are various ways in which devices can be used for IPS, such as reconfigured devices like smartphones and WiFi antennas. IPS has a multitude of applications in industries, with each installation specific to the dimensions of a given space.
- IoT: The Internet of Things relates to devices that contain sensors and processing capacities that can connect to and exchange data with other devices over the Internet. This field continues to evolve as more technologies are introduced.
All these technologies help ensure that indoor mapping systems are intelligent and accurate. In fact, the IPS range can go as low as centimeter accuracy. Besides ensuring that wayfinding is a smoother experience, digital maps can minimize first-time visitor stress. Furthermore, indoor maps can ensure that individuals are provided with accessible routes, considering challenges regarding mobility.
So why should you consider indoor mapping in your office? Let us share with you three ways in which your organization’s offices can benefit from indoor mapping.
Consideration: Improve employee satisfaction and attract new recruits
The availability of intelligent solutions in the workplace can affect employee decision making and productivity. A smart office is an excellent way to uphold high standards in the workplace and improve employee satisfaction.
Technology can also provide a means for attracting new recruits. When prospective employees are visiting an office, their experience could potentially influence whether they accept a position or not. A high-tech environment can stand out from other offices that may be behind on digitalization. Visiting candidates can easily find their way around with a digital map and new employees can become more rapidly acclimated to the workspace environment.
Satisfied workforces are productive workforces. A dynamic mapping platform can, besides wayfinding, display data such as meeting room and desk availability, allowing employees to make informed decisions about where to meet and work. No time will be wasted on stressing about location, even if new employees are meeting attendees. Time and space will be used as efficiently as possible.
Utilization: Office space optimization with indoor maps
Ensuring that office spaces are being utilized efficiently is an important consideration for organizations and facilities management as a lot of money is involved in real estate investment.
Intelligent indoor technologies can help facilities managers investigate how employees move and work within the building and which areas are hotspots. This is beneficial during periods of downsizing or expansion, but it is good for managers to always have a general awareness of operations. By implementing comprehensive data systems in your office, facilities management can make notable improvements to spatial utilization and resource allocation. In fact, there are multiple areas in which workplace optimization majorly coincides with indoor mapping: understanding which areas are utilized most and least, increasing usage of IoT for administrative cost saving, and room booking organizing.
Safety: Post-pandemic measures
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned how valuable mapping tools can be for social distancing measures. Keeping a recommended distance and avoiding overcrowded areas may not be too difficult for smaller offices, but it is a real challenge for offices with 500, 1000, or even more employees. Plus, if you are a facility manager you know that physical distance is just one out of many challenges to solve when creating a COVID-proof office. A dynamic mapping platform allows you to tackle challenges such as social distancing, traffic flow, contact detection, and helping users of your facility avoid overcrowded areas.
A dynamic mapping platform is your way to introduce indoor mapping and navigation to your office spaces. Besides wayfinding, our platform, MapsIndoors, is easily integrated with your already existing third-party systems such as calendar and meeting room booking, and empowers you with an interactive and visual map of your indoor areas. This allows users to see data such as room and desk availability and booking options as well as temperature and CO2 levels within meeting rooms - everything directly via the map.
Our experts are always ready to have a conversation with you about your needs and how MapsIndoors can enhance your office spaces. Feel free to reach out and we’ll get in touch with you soon.
November 4, 2021
