Why Every Venue Needs an Interactive GIS Event Map
Advancements in technology have changed both how events are planned and how guests experience them in real-time. For example, attendees can often check the kind of view they will get from a seat before booking it. Additionally, technology has helped expedite planning through 3D venue modeling.
Interactive GIS event mapping is one such technology transforming the world of event planning. It uses the power of GIS to help attendees navigate big venues independently. With interactive mapping, attendees never experience the disorientation associated with unfamiliarity.
Since GIS mapping technology is relatively new, experts at Maptelligent, a pioneer of event management software, have scrutinized its benefits and highlighted easy ways to create an interactive map. Read on to take advantage of this groundbreaking event planning invention.
What are the benefits of GIS mapping?
GIS mapping offers many conveniences for users. It is designed to eliminate disorientation for people when they are in a large space for the first time. It also offers the benefits of saving people time when they are navigating through a space, and increasing ROI for event planners by improving customer experiences. Some of the direct merits of the GIS event mapping software include:
Saved Time
The 3D event layout generated by an interactive GIS event map lets attendees quickly move from one place to the next. As a result, the technology cuts down the time they would have spent meandering around. With intelligent maps, attendees easily locate convenience facilities like reserved seats, parking areas, washing rooms, emergency exits, and exhibitor stalls.
Improved Venue Planning
The event map creator used in interactive GIS mapping generates 2D or 3D floor plan models that help event planners inspect a venue before it is occupied. With the models, event planners can spot and fix issues that would compromise attendees’ experience. For instance, with the 2D or 3D models, event planners divide up floor space in a way that simplifies navigation and minimizes foot traffic as attendees move around the venue.
Improved Venue Accessibility
Hosting mega events comes with lots of challenges. For instance, the roads heading to the venue can experience massive traffic, attendees can find it hard to locate parking spaces, and some entrances can experience higher traffic than others.
With event mapping software coupled with real-time updates, attendees can know alternative routes if there’s a traffic jam on the major road heading to the venue. The event layout program also enables planners to give real-time updates that help attendees locate free parking slots.
Reduced Expenses
In the past, event planners employed several venue management assistants to help attendees navigate venues comfortably. Event planners spent considerable budgets to hire enough ushers to guide attendees during an event.
With venue management software, this is unnecessary. The technology helps guests move from the parking lot, entrance, sitting area, washrooms, expos, exhibitor stalls, and any other essential place using an app installed on their phones. Event managers can hire a decreased number of staff and still rest assured that guests will have their needs met.
Maximum Event Attendance
Though an event map does not increase attendance immediately, it can motivate people to attend future events. How? Many attendees shy away from attending mega events due to the perceived challenges of navigating the venue. Populations such as those in wheelchairs or with other mobility issues, older folks, people with social anxiety, or even moms who are breastfeeding children can all benefit from having a real time overview of a space, so they can navigate it in a way that allows them to feel safe, and meet their needs.
On the other hand, a venue map maximizes attendance to all expo stalls within a venue. In the past, attendees gave attention to easy-to-access stalls, leaving out those in hard-to-reach venue locations. With GIS mapping, attendees can be more aware of all the available vendors, and visit them easily.
Increased Exhibitor ROI
As mentioned, a custom event map allows attendees to locate and interact with all exhibitors within a venue, should they choose to. As a result, the exhibitors will generate maximum ROI from an event. Indirectly, increased exhibitor ROI makes event planners more marketable since exhibitors and attendees alike are more likely to hire a company they’ve had a positive experience with.
How do I Make a Virtual Interactive Map?
At a glance, creating an interactive indoor or outdoor event mapping can feel like an intimidating task reserved for tech experts. However, creating the map is straightforward, as long as you have the right GIS mapping tools. Here is the simple process to get you started.
Get the right GIS Mapping Software
Creating a virtual interactive map starts with finding the right event management system. One such software is ESRI Mapping, a dynamic mapping software designed to simplify event mapping. You need to feed the software with the correct data, and it does the designing part.
Add Venue Layout
After acquiring the right mapping software, add detailed layouts like floor plans, custom symbols, images, and everything else you need to make your map more interactive. Many software for event management guide users step by step through map creation.
Evaluate the Map
Before releasing the map to attendees, scrutinize it to ascertain if it guides visitors from one spot to another smoothly. Refine it to make it more interactive and practical. To make sure your map is as interactive as possible, get third parties to evaluate it.
Problem Solving an Event in Real-Time
From finding the purpose, planning the details, and hosting the event, organizing an event can be overwhelming. However, once those details are hammered out, the actual feat of hosting the event is the next hurdle. Many event planners will say that having an unforeseen problem or challenge come up during an event is one of their biggest fears.
GIS Mapping can serve as a problem solving tool for those moments. Common examples include: identifying a bottleneck of guests, and using GIS mapping to inform the best location to move food or beverage stations to better assist the flow of people. Responding in an emergency by ensuring guests are aware of their emergency exits is another incredible benefit.
What is Mapping Software Used for?
An event mapping software, just as the name suggests, helps event planners create interactive maps from given location data. It is a valuable tool for event planners, marketers, sales teams, emergency response teams, and facility managers.
Contact Maptelligent For More Information
Using interactive maps in event management is an ideal way to get maximum return on investment from an event. The maps improve attendees’ convenience, expedite floor planning, cut costs, improve attendance, and raise exhibitor ROI. It is a must-have tool for savvy event planners looking to host events that benefit attendees and exhibitors.
Are you ready to create an interactive map of your next event’s venue? Contact the Maptelligent team today!
