You’ve likely heard the buzz about Microsoft Places and its potential to transform workplace management. Imagine arriving at the office only to find the desk you booked no longer exists or navigating a floor plan that doesn’t reflect the reality around you.
Modern workspaces are dynamic by nature, constantly evolving with small changes like rearranging desks or reconfiguring cubicle walls, and with larger shifts like relocating departments or building renovations. To navigate and make sense of these changes, companies need tools that provide a clear, up-to-date view of their space.
Now, picture a workplace where finding a specific desk, locating a meeting room, or navigating a building feels intuitive and reliable. By optimizing wayfinding, resource allocation, and hybrid work planning, Microsoft Places aims to improve the employee experience.
Central to this transformation is Microsoft’s recommendation to visualize floor plans, converting raw spatial data into maps that enable the most valuable features.
To add maps to Microsoft Places, companies need IMDF (Indoor Mapping Data Format) files. These files:
This guide explains how to integrate maps into Microsoft Places, outlines the challenges of IMDF file creation, and highlights how MapsIndoors provides a scalable solution.
Microsoft's vision of what a Microsoft Places map looks like.
IMDF (Indoor Mapping Data Format) files are a collection of data used to define physical spaces. Microsoft Places requires an IMDF file in order to fully function.
On their own, IMDF files are static and foundational. IMDF files use standardized data structures that integrate with applications like Microsoft Places or MapsIndoors. Tools like these use the data in IMDF files to create digital indoor maps, primarily designed to enable detailed visualization of floor plans.
IMDF files simply provide the spatial data necessary for advanced applications to represent indoor spaces, including rooms, hallways, and access points.
Creating IMDF files presents challenges requiring technical expertise and careful attention to detail. Files must meet exact specifications for georeferencing, data structuring, and formatting to ensure compatibility with Microsoft Places. Knowing the difficulty of creating IMDF files, Microsoft itself recommends partnering with a solution provider rather than attempting in-house development.
Behind the scenes of an IMDF file: coded language the map engine uses to display visuals.
Digitization begins with existing floor plans, often in formats like CAD. These files are then processed by:
Not exactly. IMDF files are standardized, but their configuration depends on the application they’re used with - whether that’s Microsoft Places, Apple Maps, Google Maps, etc.
Microsoft Places uses a unique variant of the IMDF standard, which only includes specific data like building outlines, and uses polygons to represent rooms, workspaces, restrooms, stairwells, etc.
No, Microsoft Places requires an IMDF file for floor plan integration and visualization. While companies can attempt to create IMDF files in-house, Microsoft themselves recommends partnering with an expert solution provider to ensure accurate and compliant files.
For companies managing large or complex layouts, manual IMDF creation is time-intensive and error-prone. Common obstacles include:
Without the right knowledge and tools, creating IMDF files becomes a bottleneck that prevents you from the intended functionality of Microsoft Places. MapsIndoors solves this by combining expert oversight and automation, delivering precise and scalable results.
We take the complexity out of IMDF file creation:
Creating an IMDF file is only the first step. Regular updates are essential to keep Microsoft Places relevant as workplaces evolve. From smaller changes like moving desks or reconfiguring cubicles, to larger efforts such as relocating departments, or building renovations, every adjustment impacts your map.
Without updates, inaccuracies quickly render the system ineffective, wasting time and resources. The manual effort required to maintain this level of continuous accuracy across dynamic environments is unsustainable. Automation is the only scalable solution for reliable maps.
Accurate maps power real-time applications like desk and room booking, navigation, and more. Automation ensures your maps remain up-to-date and functional without requiring manual effort.
MapsIndoors’ Map Update Automation detects layout changes and integrates them continuously while maintaining precision. This allows your internal teams to focus on strategic priorities rather than ongoing data maintenance.
MapsIndoors simplifies IMDF creation and maintenance by delivering ready-to-deploy, compliant files for Microsoft Places. Scalability is at the core of MapsIndoors, delivering consistent, high-quality mapping solutions for companies managing anything from a single building to a global campus.
MapsIndoors-created IMDF files aren’t limited to Microsoft Places applications. IMDF files lay the groundwork for a variety of workplace solutions, including navigation, resource management, and monitoring.
MapsIndoors bridges technical challenges with practical solutions, and companies benefit at every level:
Workplace Experience Managers:
Designing intuitive, technology-driven environments is a key priority for roles with a focus on enhancing daily employee interactions. MapsIndoors supports this by delivering accurate, up-to-date maps with real-time occupancy insights and tools for seamless navigation, aligning with broader workplace technology goals.
Tech Teams:
IMDF file creation demands expertise in spatial data and adherence to strict standards. MapsIndoors removes this complexity by delivering ready-to-deploy IMDF files, allowing IT to focus on configuration and implementation instead of creation.
Facilities Managers:
MapsIndoors’ dynamic maps provide tools to manage spaces effectively, with features like real-time occupancy data and actionable insights into space usage. This ensures facilities managers can make informed decisions without extra administrative burden.
Leadership:
MapsIndoors enables faster implementation of Microsoft Places, providing leadership with a clear ROI. By simplifying setup and ensuring maps stay accurate, we help companies unlock the platform’s potential for streamlined operations and long-term efficiency.
MapsIndoors offers the tools and expertise to simplify your Microsoft Places integration. From creating accurate IMDF files to ensuring they stay updated, MapsIndoors provides a scalable solution for your workplace needs.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve a more connected, efficient, and dynamic workplace.