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n my December
I article I talked about how making floorplans ‘ location aware ’ is key to solving the navigation challenge for visitors at large-scale events . Can 2023 be the year that show navigation moves into the mainstream and we put behind us this unnecessary source of dissatisfaction ? Crowd Connected has been investing in QR codes to make that prospect more likely . Visitors can scan a QR code on event signage to find out where they are in relation to where they want to be , providing the person ’ s location when they most need it - when they need to plan a route .
As event planners know , there is no single solution to helping
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visitors navigate and the cost of printed floorplans and signage , ‘ you are here ’ boards , and mobile apps all mounts up . Budgets are tight and frequently events choose not to have a mobile app at all – which is often where app-less QR code navigation helps tremendously .
Another pressure organisers face is the need to remove paper and waste from events to meet their sustainability goals . Going digital is both better for the environment more user-friendly . Interactive maps can be searched for points of interest , and the quickest route to a destination can be shown .
At this point , many organisers will be wondering what ’ s new about putting a floorplan online ? And , if you are matching QR codes to maps with specific locations
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QR codes used on ICE London ’ s signage
“ Frequently
events choose
not to have a
mobile app at
all – which is
where QR code
navigation
helps
tremendously ”
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marked , doesn ’ t this create a huge workload ? Makes you sweat just thinking about it .
By incorporating high-resolution QR codes into show signage , either as part of the design or as a sticker , all that needs to be done on set-up day is to mark the digital floorplan the location of the scanned codes . After that , the location of all the show ’ s signage has been checked and put on the map for the visitors to navigate .
This is precisely how we helped Clarion ’ s gaming industry mega show , ICE London , tackle the navigation problem in February . Andy Ventris , event director at ICE , explained : “ ICE has the biggest footprint of any exhibition at London ’ s ExCeL , so navigation can be a headache , especially for firsttime visitors who are unfamiliar with the show .”
If you ’ re following Clarion ’ s lead to tackle navigation at your next event , and aren ’ t investing in a mobile app , you might want to consider QR codes . Simple to deploy and low cost , they help the visitor in their moment of need to navigate the show . All that ’ s needed is a smartphone . And every visitor comes with one of those .
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