The Orange County Convention Center has installed new digital wayfinding technology, making it easier for show attendees to find their way around the country’s second-largest convention center.
So far, 14 kiosks have been installed around the Center of Hospitality. Four of them are mounted to the walls in the North/South building and 10 stand-up units are strategically placed throughout the West Concourse (8) and North/South (2).
“It’s enhancing the attendee experience,” said Yulita Osuba, deputy director of the Orange County Convention Center. “At any one time we can welcome upward of 70,000 people to our facility.”
The wayfinding kiosks were first installed and used during the 2018 Design & Construction week held in January, which brought together more than 80,000 design and construction professionals for three days of networking, education and exhibits.
This year’s installation of the wayfinding kiosks is the result of nearly two years of work. The technology and program used were designed internally and the OCCC partnered with 22Miles for the units. 22Miles has worked with other large businesses and destinations to create other digital signage and wayfinding tools.
The systems are designed to be useful in two ways: by giving center guests an overall view of the campus before exploring it on foot and giving them detailed directions to where they want to go.
Each kiosk displays turn-by-turn directions on campus and to the connecting hotel properties. Additionally, those directions can be downloaded to the user’s cell phone. Using a QR code, the directions can be saved and referenced in real time as the guest walks to their destination.
“We are just following the path of technology,” said Mike Distler, the Center’s Information Technology Project Leader.
According to Distler, the technology is meant to be used as a complement to Center employees who know to stop and give directions to show attendees whenever asked.
“It is not only our job to work with clients to ensure they have a great show, but it also crucial we make it easy to navigate and get around our beautiful campus,” said Distler.