Wayfinding is more than simply getting from A to B. It’s about understanding the environment you are in when entering a public place. This varies from individual to individual: whether it’s searching for something specific or simply understanding what’s available, and then how to get to that particular destination. We use numerous tools to help us with wayfinding, such as maps, compasses, or even floor plans that show the location of specific shops in a mall.
Helping people understand your site can be essential for businesses. After all, people can’t shop at a store if they can’t find it. And some shopping districts or centres can be vast, with enormous malls with so many stores that it can become challenging to find what you want. Such locations can be so expansive that traditional floor plans and similar maps don’t offer quite enough when it comes to helping people find their way around large buildings.
However, the good news is that wayfinding tools have developed from the 2d maps and boards we’ve used for generations. Technology has helped traditional tools develop into digital wayfinding solutions that are much more helpful than digital solutions.
What is Digital Wayfinding?
Whenever you find yourself in a shopping mall, trade show, or some other large public places, you are bound to find information boards, maps, plan layouts, and similar showing you where to go. Such tools are, of course, very useful but are still limited in terms of the information they can give.
Thankfully digital wayfinding kiosks are far more effective at helping their users.
Digital wayfinding is the process of finding your way to the desired store or other location with help from digital tools rather than unresponsive, static boards. So, for example, a digital wayfinding kiosk in a mall will help give shoppers all the details they need. This includes information on the day’s promotions and other useful information.
With help from touch screen technology and other features, users can now interact with floor plans and ask the questions they need answers to. For example, instead of having to look for what they want from a list of hundreds of stores, users can now request which store they want to find. The digital wayfinding solution can then help the user locate the store and even give directions.
Digital Wayfinding Kiosks
One of the main benefits of digital wayfinding technology is that it can be placed where it will have the most impact. For example, the kiosks can be located strategically in shopping malls and other locations, making it easy for shoppers to find the right store.
And not only are the kiosks found in convenient locations but they’re also designed to be easy to use. With an intuitive interface and straightforward designs, it becomes easy even for first-time users to use the kiosk. The kiosks can also be located securely and are durable, reducing the need for replacements and repairs.
Added Flexibility
Another key benefit of digital wayfinding technology is its flexibility. With traditional solutions, you would have to replace boards occasionally as the layout changes over time. Making such replacements will take time, meaning boards will be giving incorrect information until corrected. Some stores will use stickers or similar to make temporary corrections, but such stickers can damage aesthetics and appear unprofessional. And not only does updating boards take time, but it can also take money.
However, digital platforms can be re-programmed as soon as something changes, meaning your information services will always be up to date. Not only that, but re-programming is easy to do, meaning that staff can make the changes without extensive training.
Digital wayfinding platforms offer numerous benefits to their users:
- Benefits for End Users/Shoppers
Most of us have found ourselves in huge shopping malls, spending hours walking around looking for a particular store. The same can be said for trade shows, entertainment centres and any other complex that covers a large surface area. Not finding what you need can be time-consuming and frustrating, potentially resulting in a ruined day out and shoppers returning home without buying what they need.
However, digital wayfinding technology helps to make it quicker and easier for people to find what they need, improving their overall experience. And because the wayfinding software can be updated quickly and easily, they will always send users to the right location.
Individual Stores/Stalls
For individual stores wanting to make their location known, digital wayfinding kiosks can be a godsend. Thanks to the technology, their potential visitors will find it easy to find them. This means more revenue and happier customers, potentially helping a business blossom.
Not only can digital wayfinding technology benefit stores, but it can also help people with stalls at a trade show or any other event where they want to make their presence known.
Shopping Malls
Shopping malls are just like any other business in that they provide a service to their customers. That service is providing a safe and convenient place for stores to market and sell their products to a steady stream of customers. The more shoppers a mall attracts, the better service it provides to its tenants, helping ensure the mall’s well-being long into the future.
As such, it makes sense for the mall to improve the customer experience by ensuring their customers have access to all the information they need to shop. Armed with the right information, the consumers’ shopping trip is more likely to be a positive experience.
With digital wayfinding kiosks located strategically around the mall, it becomes easier for the end user to find what they need. The result is a better experience for the consumer and more customers returning to the mall.
Marketing
Digital wayfinding signage also opens up a swathe of marketing opportunities. For example, the signage can be programmed to display promotions or other information, potentially boosting revenue for individual stores. Not only that, but some digital signage kiosks will also let users ask questions directly on a touch-screen keypad. Such questions can include enquiries into which promotions are available at the time. The kiosks themselves can also be branded to help ensure companies remain highly visible.
Summary
Overall, digital wayfinding offers numerous benefits to mall owners, store owners, event organizers, individual consumers, and many more. They are easy to install, easy to use and easy to update, helping to make them a pleasure to use for everybody. With professional digital wayfinding solutions installed, Abuzz Solutions can help your business grow while enhancing your customer’s experiences.