Hot desking is a popular and versatile concept of workspace arrangement within an organization enabling optimal workspace utilization. It allows employees to reserve a desk, meeting rooms, and other resources through a
Wayfinding Solutions for Complex Campus Environments
Introduction
Wayfinding is a word coined by Kevin Lynch, an American urban planner and author, in 1960. In his book The Image of the City, Kevin Lynch used it to describe the concept of environmental legibility, the elements of the environment required to navigate through complex spaces.
Ref: http://webservices.itcs.umich.edu/mediawiki/DigitalRhetoricCollaborative/index.php/Wayfinding
Current Context:
It refers to displays or signage that help people find their way through a complex commercial or public space. No one likes feeling lost, especially when trying to be productive or meet a potential new employer or business partner.
Organizations across the globe are leveraging technologies to develop more flexible, smarter, and better-connected workplaces. When navigating complex campus environments like corporate headquarters, implementing wayfinding solutions can help employees and visitors find their way efficiently. Here are some common strategies and technologies deployed for effective wayfinding.
Please read our blog on “Wayfinding: How to Stop People from Getting Lost!” to understand its fundamentals and how it works.
Wayfinding Signage
It refers to a system of strategically placed signs and visual cues that direct people to different locations within and around a building. They include typography, icons, directional arrows, and symbols.
Kiosks
Interactive kiosks provide a user-friendly interface, allowing individuals to navigate the building, locate floors, specific rooms, or departments, and access other relevant information.
Users can access detailed maps of the building, including floors and areas. They can pan across the map, select a location or point of interest, and receive directions from the current location.
While these are the basic functionalities of wayfinding devices, integrating various arrangements, such as workspace booking systems, has revolutionized the wayfinding solutions.
Integrated systems
The kiosks, web, or mobile app-based wayfinding solutions can be integrated with other facility management systems, such as room booking software, security systems, and calendars. Employees or higher management staff can check the availability of different working areas, such as desks, conference rooms, and meeting rooms.
Based on the availability of the facilities for a particular day and time slot, they can book them. The system automatically updates the occupancy across the devices with access to the availability information. If the scheduled activity, event, or meeting overruns, the organizer can extend the booking slot as per requirement.
Automatic systems can be configured to free up the booked but unutilized space per the booking schedule. It allows effective space utilization by making it available for an employee needing the facility.
An option is to customize map views on wayfinding mobile apps for staff and the public. It allows tailoring different access levels to other user groups, such as visitors and employees. In addition to maps of the corporate complex, the interface for employees gives access to detailed office views, the availability of meeting rooms, and a booking system. In contrast, visitors can only access maps, search for locations of different amenities, and receive directions to the destination. Here is an illustration.
Integrated systems allow workspace and facility managers to efficiently schedule and implement maintenance activities. It also enables them to assess office space utilization and streamline resource allocation.
Beacons and indoor positioning systems
These are high-precision location tracking and navigation technologies for indoor environments where GPS may not be readily available or accurate. User devices, such as smartphones and tablets, detect the signals emitted by beacons and IPS.
Based on the signal characteristics, such as strength, users receive information on their distance from the location. By strategically installing multiple systems, this wayfinding solutions can notify users of their position within a building and give them directions via a compatible navigation application.
The remarkable benefits of beacons and indoor positioning systems are enhanced precision and proximity-based position tracking and interactions. It allows security personnel to monitor the movement of employees and visitors in restricted areas and send alerts to the connected devices close to the beacons and IPS.
These systems also allow integration with building automation systems, such as HVAC systems, to provide additional functionality. For example, lighting and temperature settings in a room can be automatically adjusted based on occupancy, leading to energy savings.
How can companies profit from wayfinding solutions?
- Brand recognition
Wayfinding signages can help present a strong visual identity of the business to visitors and clients, which can increase brand recognition. It can be achieved by designing them in the company’s style, color scheme and incorporating the brand logo and message. Thus, wayfinding solutions can also serve branding purposes.
- Improved client interaction
Every interaction is an opportunity to promote what the company is selling. A well-designed wayfinding solution can motivate clients to explore the office space and familiarize themselves with the company. A smooth navigation of people around the office and a relaxed vibe offer a subtle air of professionalism and sound practice to potential partners and investors. - Ease of workflow
Customized maps of complex buildings can assist cleaners and maintenance staff. They help create work routes for the day and locations of necessary tools and resources.
Even for contractors who are new to the company, wayfinding solutions can be generated and shared. They help them navigate through the areas where their service is required.
They help the service personnel reach their destination on time and deliver their work. Thus, it provides for business operations avoiding delays.
Conclusion
With rapidly advancing integrated technologies, wayfinding is no longer a mere assistant to navigating complex buildings. The solutions have become instrumental in optimizing office space utilization as well.
