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Indoor navigation is often viewed in isolation — as a standalone solution for wayfinding. But the real innovation lies in the recognition that precise location data forms the basis for a wide range of other facility management functions. A building that knows where people, equipment and resources are located can optimize processes that go far beyond routing.
Modern smart building platforms do not integrate navigation as an isolated function, but as a central element of a holistic system. The digital building map, which is created for navigation, also serves as a basis for room booking, asset tracking, access control and task management. This convergence eliminates data silos and creates a uniform digital image of physical space.
The first step to smart building transformation is creating accurate digital building maps. These maps are more than simple floor plans — they contain structured information about rooms, paths, points of interest, equipment locations, and access points.
Traditionally, map creation required specialized GIS software and external service providers, which meant five-figure costs and months of project duration. No-code platforms like Accuras have democratized this process. Facility managers can upload floor plans, intuitively draw walls and paths, name rooms and mark points of interest — without any previous technical knowledge.
This self-government is of strategic importance: Changes can be made internally and in real time. In the event of conversions, departmental relocations or renovations, the digital maps remain up-to-date, without dependence on external providers. The maps become a living, constantly adapting data model of the building.
In large facilities — hospitals, universities, manufacturing plants — considerable time is wasted searching for equipment. Wheelchairs, medical devices, projectors, mobile workstations: It is often unclear where assets are located, whether they are available or who used them last.
Asset tracking based on indoor positioning systematically solves this problem. Equipment is equipped with small trackers — cost-effective BLE tags, precise UWB tags or passive RFID solutions, depending on requirements. The position is continuously recorded and visualized on the digital building map.
Employees can immediately see where the devices they need are via smartphone or desktop and start navigating there with one click. Automatic alerts inform when equipment leaves maintenance areas, is moved unexpectedly, or is outside defined zones. Inventory management is automated, search times are reduced by up to 70 percent, and the utilization of expensive assets is measurably improved.
With the spread of hybrid working models, flexible use of space and workplace is becoming increasingly important. Employees no longer work at fixed desks, but reserve workplaces as needed. Meeting rooms must be booked and used efficiently.
Smart building platforms integrate booking systems directly into the digital building card. Users can see at a glance which rooms are available, book them directly and receive navigation to the reserved room. QR codes on room doors enable spontaneous bookings on site or check-ins to confirm attendance.
Integration with calendar systems such as Outlook or Google Calendar further automates the process. Meetings are automatically linked to room reservations, participants get navigation to the meeting room, and rooms can be automatically released in case of late arrivals.
Analyses of space use provide valuable insights: Which rooms are overbooked, which are barely used? Where should additional jobs be created, where can space be repurposed? This data supports long-term real estate strategies and workplace design decisions.
Traditional access control systems rely on cards or codes — mechanisms that can be passed on, lost, or stolen. Modern approaches combine digital credentials with position verification for significantly higher security.
The principle: Doors only open when the user is both authorized and is physically on site. Geofencing defines precise areas where access is possible. Even if credentials are compromised, unauthorised remote access is impossible.
For high-security areas — server rooms, laboratories, drug warehouses — multi-level authentication can be implemented: digital credentials plus biometric verification plus proof of location. The system automatically logs who had access, when and where, and creates seamless audit trails for compliance requirements.
In emergencies, the combination of access control and position data enables rapid evacuations. The system knows who is in critical areas, can send automatic alerts and navigate emergency personnel to people in a targeted manner.
Facility management and maintenance depend on efficient work processes. When a fault is reported, it must be clear exactly where the problem is, who is responsible and what is the priority. Task management systems with site links significantly optimize these processes.
Fault reports are linked directly to a precise location. An employee reports a faulty light and the system automatically detects the exact location. The assigned technician receives navigation to the problem location, sees relevant information (equipment details, latest maintenance, spare parts) and can mark the order as completed on site.
LinkHubs on equipment enable proactive maintenance: QR codes link physical assets with digital maintenance histories, user manuals and reporting functions. Technicians document work directly on the device, automatically provided with a time stamp and location.
Analyses of task data show patterns: Where are disruptions accumulating? Which types of equipment require excessive maintenance? These findings inform replacement purchases and preventive maintenance strategies.
Navigation data is a gold mine for insights into building usage. Anonymized movement patterns show which areas are heavily frequented, where bottlenecks occur and how visitor flows are distributed over the day.
For hospitals, this means identifying peak times in outpatient clinics, optimising waiting room capacities, adjusting opening hours. For retailers: Optimizing store layouts based on actual customer behavior, not assumptions. For event locations: Identification of bottlenecks and optimization of input and output flows.
These data-driven insights have long-term strategic value. When renovating or expanding, decisions can be made based on real usage data, not on gut feeling. The investment in smart building technology pays off through better use of space and resources.
Organizations are faced with the choice: integrate several specialized individual solutions or use an all-in-one platform? Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, but the trend is clearly towards integrated platforms.
All-in-one systems like Accuras eliminate integration complexity. Navigation, asset tracking, room booking, access control and task management share a common database, a uniform interface and central administration. Updates and maintenance are coordinated, not via fragmented systems.
For IT departments, this means fewer interfaces, fewer vendors, uniform authentication and access rights. For end users: consistent user experience across all functions. Learning costs are significantly reduced if all tools are used in a similar way.
Indoor navigation is much more than finding a way — it is the foundation for comprehensive smart building management. The digital maps and positioning technologies that enable navigation create the basis for asset tracking, room booking, access control and data-driven facility optimization.
Organizations that invest in indoor navigation today are thus laying the foundation for the long-term digital transformation of their properties. The step towards a complete smart building platform is possible incrementally and as needed, without a complete system reorganization. The future belongs to integrated, intelligent buildings — and navigation is the first, decisive step.