When it comes to wayfinding, the idea seems simple at first glance. But anyone who’s tried using an outdated or poorly designed system knows how quickly frustration can build.
Picture this scenario: A visitor walks up to a kiosk, taps the map, and expects an instant response. They zoom in, pan across a floorplan, switch levels, and start a route. If the map lags, freezes, or displays a grainy, unusable image at the wrong zoom level, what’s meant to be a helpful tool turns into another support issue
That’s why Korbyt’s go-forward approach to wayfinding is built on MapsPeople. It’s a modern mapping foundation designed for interactive use, multi-floor navigation, and real environments that change over time.
What “good” wayfinding looks like on a kiosk
At its core, an effective wayfinding system feels invisible; when it works well, users barely notice it. Visitors tap once, find what they need, and are on their way. Korbyt, powered by MapsPeople’s technology, makes that level of ease the standard.
With MapsPeople inside a Korbyt experience, that’s the goal:
Fast interaction
Maps should feel fluid. Panning, zooming, and switching floors should be responsive, especially on large touch displays.
Easy location discovery
Users should be able to search, browse categories, or simply tap a point of interest. Categories can be configured around your space—meeting rooms, amenities, services, visitor destinations, or whatever matters in your building.
Clear multi-floor routing
A route should guide someone across floors without confusion. If the destination is upstairs, directions should naturally include the right transitions and steps.
Accessible routing options
Wayfinding needs to support real constraints. If someone needs an elevator route, the experience should accommodate it.
Kiosk mode and mobile handoff
Not all journeys are completed at a kiosk. Large offices, campuses, or multi-building environments often require users to start their navigation on a kiosk but then transition to their mobile devices.
Korbyt can support both patterns:
Kiosk anchored navigation
The kiosk automatically assumes the user’s location as the starting point (“you are here”), letting them simply choose where they’re headed. This setup eliminates guesswork and reduces confusion, streamlining the user experience.
Mobile handoff via QR
A user scans a QR code and continues on their phone. This is where organizations often start asking the right questions about governance and security, such as whether the QR code should open in a browser or only in a company app, and whether authentication should be required. Those are solvable design decisions that can be addressed early to ensure the experience aligns with the organization’s security posture.
Korbyt also supports QR-driven engagement patterns, often used alongside interactive experiences.
https://www.gokorbyt.com/resource/blog/ask-the-expert-content-qr-codes/
One map, different audiences
Most corporate environments have more than one audience. For example, corporate environments serve multiple audiences:
- Visitors: Guests may need access to public destinations and designated areas.
- Employees: Staff may require broader access across the building or restricted areas.
- Role-Specific Restrictions: Certain areas can have visibility limits based on user permissions.
With MapsPeople, these distinctions are seamlessly managed. Role-based configurations adapt the map to show only what’s relevant to each audience. A visitor using a kiosk near the lobby won’t see detailed employee-only areas, while employees navigating deeper into the building will have all the routing options they need.
2D or 3D: the map style decision
Some organizations already have beautiful 2D maps created for print and signage. Others want a more spatial 3D experience.
The tradeoff is straightforward:
If you keep existing 2D assets, you preserve the look people recognize.
If you move to a 3D model, you unlock richer perspectives and rotation, but it’s a different production path.
| Situation | 2D Map | 3D Map |
| Best use | Quick wayfinding | Understanding spatial layout |
| User speed | Faster to read | Slower but more spatial context |
| Complexity | Simple environments | Complex or multi-level spaces |
| Examples | Malls, campuses, transit maps | Airports, hospitals, stadiums |
The “right” choice depends on the space, the stakeholders, and what helps users navigate confidently.
Administration and updates over time
Wayfinding can’t be a one -and -done project. Rooms get renamed. POIs change. Routes get blocked during maintenance. Meeting rooms are renamed, new points of interest are added, and maintenance work may change routing temporarily. For wayfinding to stay effective, these updates need to happen effortlessly.
A key part of the MapsPeople approach is practical administration. After initial map digitization, teams can manage many day- to- day updates without rebuilding the whole experience. For larger changes, there are API-based update options, and for very large environments, automation pipelines.
Recommendations for updating your maps:
Update wayfinding maps as soon as navigation changes, and schedule routine reviews every 6–12 months to catch smaller updates.
| Type of Update | Examples | Recommended |
| Critical navigation | New entrances, closed hallways, relocated elevators, blocked routes | Immediately |
| Major layout change | Renovations, new departments, store openings/closures, floor reconfigurations | Within 1–2 weeks |
| Moderate change | Room name changes, tenant updates, office moves | Monthly review cycle |
| Minor change | Label tweaks, branding changes, icon adjustments | Quarterly updates |
| General review | Full map validation and UX check | Every 6–12 months |
Bringing it all together
Advanced wayfinding should be intuitive for users and efficient for administrators. Korbyt’s partnership with MapsPeople delivers on both fronts by providing:
- A responsive kiosk experience
- Multi-floor routing that makes sense
- Search and category-based discovery
- Role-based visibility for visitors and employees
- Mobile handoff that can be governed appropriately
If your current wayfinding experience is struggling with performance or scalability, this is the system built to move forward. Upgrade your navigation system for a smarter, seamless wayfinding experience.
