1. The type of wayfinding information to present
Does your airport need to present all Points of Interest (POI) available in the airport, concourse or property such as emergency, medical, administration, etc.? Or, is the primary focus on specific passenger needs such as Quick Serve Restaurants (QSR) and other retail concessionaires? By understanding the focus of your wayfinding signage, you can more precisely define the required capabilities you need.
2 . The efficiency of a single-user experience vs. a multi-user experience
Airport patrons have become accustomed to both public and private media experiences. On one hand, passengers have traditionally consumed directional wayfinding information through large public signage. More recently, travelers have learned to enter or verify very private information through flight check-in and rental car kiosks. When providing interactive wayfinding information, does the screen size leave people feeling exposed, knowing that others may eavesdrop on their experience? Personalized wayfinding is more aptly handled in a manner that gives users some sense of personal space.
3. Management of interactive wayfinding systems
Printed wayfinding signs have traditionally proven to be costly and have very limited life cycles. While digital signage and interactive wayfinding are significant steps in alleviating some of those costs, Administrators should realize and appropriate resources for continued management of these systems. Manufacturers, resellers or agencies that provide design and content management services should be favored when weighing these considerations. Systems that also offer the simplicity and flexibility of being managed by Airport Staff should also be given weighted consideration.
4. Using an interactive wayfinding system as a value-add or revenue generating mechanism
Investment in interactive wayfinding is not an inconsequential expenditure. How do Airport Administrators maximize that investment and shorten the ROI realization term? Many interactive wayfinding systems will allow for value-added options like wireless coupons or ad-driven content. Administrators can also take advantage of interaction metrics that are reported back by the digital signage system. These metrics can be used to improve user interface design, spot search trends and to discover hidden user behavior patterns.
5. Buying vs. leasing an interactive wayfinding system
Today, more progressive agencies and manufacturers realize the effect of Moore’s law on technology and hardware; a cutting-edge product this year may be obsolete two years after implementation. So how do airport administrators protect themselves from this effect? More and more end-users are electing to lease equipment for terms of 3-5 years, depending on use. The market will begin to see more facilities choose lease options that allow them to return equipment at the end of a limited term in exchange for updated equipment. The service model will continue to trend towards a Software as a Service (SaaS) model that has been popularized within other business markets.
