Create exceptional visitor experiences with indoor location

Designed for shopping malls, museums, exhibitions and large public venues, Pole Star helps visitors navigate complex indoor environments while enabling personalized experiences, contextual content and location analytics through NAO® Mobile and existing BLE infrastructure.

Trusted by leading retail and cultural venues

The Louvre logo
Unibail Rodamco Westfield logo
Galeries Lafayette logo
Definition

What is indoor location for retail, museums and exhibitions?

Canonical definition

Indoor location for retail, museums and exhibitions combines BLE positioning, digital maps and NAO® Mobile to help visitors navigate complex venues, receive contextual information and enable venue operators to analyze visitor flows. Running on existing infrastructure, it improves visitor experiences while providing valuable operational insights.

Visitors inside a large indoor public venue
What

Indoor visitor experiences

Pole Star delivers indoor navigation, contextual mobile experiences, visitor analytics and location-based services for shopping malls, museums and exhibition venues.

Who

Retailers and public venues

Shopping malls, department stores, museums, cultural institutions, exhibition centers and event organizers looking to enhance visitor journeys.

Why now

Visitors expect digital experiences

Large venues are becoming increasingly connected, with visitors expecting seamless navigation, personalized information and engaging mobile experiences throughout their visit.

How

BLE and NAO® Mobile

Existing BLE infrastructure combined with NAO® Mobile enables indoor positioning, wayfinding, contextual notifications and visitor analytics without requiring major infrastructure changes.

Industry context

Why indoor location matters in large public venues

Shopping malls, museums and exhibition venues welcome thousands of visitors every day across large, complex indoor environments - where easy navigation and engaging digital experiences drive both visitor satisfaction and venue performance.

Indoor positioning turns existing BLE infrastructure into a real-time location platform, enabling seamless navigation, visitor analytics and location-based services - without major changes to the network already in place, and delivered on visitors' own smartphones through NAO® Mobile.

  • Turn-by-turn indoor navigation to stores, exhibitions and points of interest
  • Contextual information and personalized content along the way
  • Location-based promotions and timely offers
  • A guided experience on their own smartphone - nothing to install on-site
  • Real-time insight into visitor movement and traffic patterns
  • Space utilization analytics across the whole venue
  • Data to optimize layout, staffing and dwell time
  • All on existing BLE infrastructure - no major network changes
Visitors navigating inside a shopping mall or museum
Connected visitor experiences powered by indoor positioning
Seamless navigationBlue-dot wayfinding across every level of the venue.
Visitor analyticsMovement, dwell time and space utilization insights.
Location-based servicesContextual content, offers and personalized experiences.
Main challenges

The challenges of delivering seamless visitor experiences indoors

Shopping malls, museums and exhibition venues must guide visitors, deliver engaging experiences and understand movement patterns across large, complex indoor environments.

01

Visitors struggle to find their destination

Problem

Visitors often spend time searching for stores, exhibitions, restaurants or services inside large indoor venues.

Why it happens

Multi-floor layouts, numerous entrances and complex floor plans make orientation difficult without digital guidance.

Consequence

Poor visitor satisfaction and missed opportunities to discover nearby points of interest.

02

Mobile experiences lack indoor context

Problem

Apps cannot adapt their content to where visitors actually are inside the venue.

Why it happens

GPS is unreliable indoors, making it impossible to trigger relevant content based on precise location.

Consequence

Visitors miss contextual information, promotions and interactive experiences.

03

Limited visibility into visitor behavior

Problem

Venue managers have little insight into how visitors move through indoor spaces.

Why it happens

Traditional analytics cannot accurately measure indoor journeys, dwell time or popular routes.

Consequence

Decisions rely on assumptions rather than real visitor behavior.

04

Engaging visitors throughout their journey

Problem

Keeping visitors engaged before, during and after their visit is increasingly challenging.

Why it happens

Generic mobile applications cannot personalize experiences based on visitor location.

Consequence

Lower engagement and fewer interactions with digital services.

05

Making better use of existing infrastructure

Problem

Operators want to deploy indoor services without replacing their existing network.

Why it happens

Large infrastructure projects are expensive and disruptive for operational venues.

Consequence

Indoor positioning initiatives are delayed or abandoned.

06

Managing high visitor volumes efficiently

Problem

Peak periods create congestion around entrances, exhibitions, food courts and popular stores.

Why it happens

Without accurate indoor analytics, operators cannot anticipate or optimize visitor flows.

Consequence

Reduced visitor comfort and lower operational efficiency across the venue.

Who & where

What Pole Star locates across the venue

NO GPS INDOORS LIVE - NAO® MOBILE wayfinding + flow analytics LEVEL 2 - GALLERIES LEVEL 1 - STORES GROUND - ENTRANCE

Positioning, wayfinding & flow

Locate visitors, guide them, understand their flows

BLE turns the venue's existing network into a real-time location layer. NAO Mobile® gives visitors turn-by-turn indoor navigation where GPS cannot reach, while analytics reveal popular areas and dwell time.

NAO® Mobile Existing BLE + Wi-Fi No GPS needed

Who and what Pole Star locates

On existing BLE and Wi-Fi infrastructure

Visitors

NAO® Mobile

Located through their own smartphone for wayfinding and contextual, location-aware content.

Staff & operations

BLE

Security and maintenance teams are located to respond faster across the venue.

Assets & equipment

BLE

Mobile equipment is tracked in real time to cut search time and losses.

Environments covered

Large, multi-floor public venues

Shopping malls & stores

Multi-level retail environments with numerous entrances and high footfall.

Museums & cultural venues

Complex galleries where visitors need clear, accessible indoor guidance.

Exhibition centers & events

Large halls where orientation and live visitor insight both matter.

Multi-floor, high-traffic spaces

Busy public buildings requiring consistent positioning throughout.

Visitor journeys

Visitor experiences before and after indoor positioning

Tap a scenario to see how the visitor experience changes once indoor positioning is in place - from static signage to a guided, contextual journey.

Museum visitors using indoor navigation
Visitors guided through a museum with smartphones
Before

The visitor relies on static maps or signage, often taking longer routes or asking staff for directions.

With Pole Star

NAO® Mobile provides turn-by-turn indoor navigation directly inside the venue's mobile application.

Outcome

Faster journeys and a smoother visitor experience.

Before

Digital content remains generic and visitors must manually search for additional information.

With Pole Star

NAO® Mobile automatically delivers location-aware content, multimedia experiences or promotional information based on the visitor's position.

Outcome

More engaging and personalized visitor experiences.

Before

Decisions are based on assumptions, manual observations or incomplete analytics.

With Pole Star

Indoor analytics reveal visitor flows, popular areas and dwell times to support operational and commercial decisions.

Outcome

Better layouts, improved visitor flows and data-driven optimization.

Before

Notifications and promotions are sent without considering where visitors actually are.

With Pole Star

NAO® Mobile enables contextual notifications, proximity services and location-based experiences throughout the venue.

Outcome

Higher visitor engagement and more relevant digital interactions.

Solution mapping

From visitor challenge to Pole Star solution

Every visitor journey can be enhanced with a dedicated Pole Star capability, from indoor navigation and contextual experiences to visitor analytics.

Visitor challenge Pole Star solution Learn more

01Finding exhibitions, stores or points of interest

Solution

NAO® Mobile indoor navigation

Explore

02Delivering contextual visitor experiences

Solution

NAO® Mobile proximity services

Explore

03Understanding visitor flows and dwell time

Solution

Visitor analytics

Explore

04Managing venue assets and equipment

Solution

Asset tracking

Explore

05Improving visitor engagement across the venue

Solution

Location-based experiences

Explore
Use cases

How venues use indoor positioning every day

From museums and exhibitions to shopping centers, indoor positioning improves visitor guidance, engagement and operational efficiency.

Indoor public venue

Helping visitors find exhibitions and stores

Trigger

A visitor searches for a gallery, exhibition or shop.

Response

NAO® Mobile provides turn-by-turn indoor navigation.

Benefit

Less time searching and a smoother visitor journey.

Delivering location-based content

Trigger

A visitor approaches an artwork, stand or store.

Response

NAO® Mobile displays contextual information automatically.

Benefit

A richer and more engaging visitor experience.

Understanding visitor flows

Trigger

Venue managers want to analyze visitor movements.

Response

Indoor analytics measure flows, dwell time and popular areas.

Benefit

Better layouts and operational decisions.

Sending contextual notifications

Trigger

A visitor enters a specific area of the venue.

Response

NAO® Mobile triggers relevant notifications or promotions.

Benefit

More personalized interactions and higher engagement.

Managing venue assets

Trigger

Staff need to locate mobile equipment.

Response

BLE tags continuously report asset locations.

Benefit

Reduced search time and improved efficiency.

Improving accessibility

Trigger

A visitor requires accessible guidance inside the venue.

Response

NAO® Mobile guides visitors along suitable indoor routes.

Benefit

A more inclusive visitor experience.

Supporting event operations

Trigger

Organizers need real-time visibility during an exhibition.

Response

Dashboards provide live insights into visitor activity.

Benefit

Better operational awareness throughout the event.

Connecting the physical and digital experience

Trigger

Visitors use the venue's mobile application.

Response

NAO® Mobile enhances the app with indoor positioning services.

Benefit

A seamless digital companion throughout the visit.

Main challenges

The challenges of delivering seamless visitor experiences indoors

Shopping malls, museums and exhibition venues must guide visitors, deliver engaging experiences and understand movement patterns across large, complex indoor environments.

01

Visitors struggle to find their destination

Problem

Visitors often spend time searching for stores, exhibitions, restaurants or services inside large indoor venues.

Why it happens

Multi-floor layouts, numerous entrances and complex floor plans make orientation difficult without digital guidance.

Consequence

Poor visitor satisfaction and missed opportunities to discover nearby points of interest.

02

Mobile experiences lack indoor context

Problem

Apps cannot adapt their content to where visitors actually are inside the venue.

Why it happens

GPS is unreliable indoors, making it impossible to trigger relevant content based on precise location.

Consequence

Visitors miss contextual information, promotions and interactive experiences.

03

Limited visibility into visitor behavior

Problem

Venue managers have little insight into how visitors move through indoor spaces.

Why it happens

Traditional analytics cannot accurately measure indoor journeys, dwell time or popular routes.

Consequence

Decisions rely on assumptions rather than real visitor behavior.

04

Engaging visitors throughout their journey

Problem

Keeping visitors engaged before, during and after their visit is increasingly challenging.

Why it happens

Generic mobile applications cannot personalize experiences based on visitor location.

Consequence

Lower engagement and fewer interactions with digital services.

05

Making better use of existing infrastructure

Problem

Operators want to deploy indoor services without replacing their existing network.

Why it happens

Large infrastructure projects are expensive and disruptive for operational venues.

Consequence

Indoor positioning initiatives are delayed or abandoned.

06

Managing high visitor volumes efficiently

Problem

Peak periods create congestion around entrances, exhibitions, food courts and popular stores.

Why it happens

Without accurate indoor analytics, operators cannot anticipate or optimize visitor flows.

Consequence

Reduced visitor comfort and lower operational efficiency across the venue.

Benefits

What indoor positioning brings to public venues

Deliver seamless navigation, improve visitor experiences and gain valuable insights into how people move through museums, shopping centers and exhibition venues using a single indoor positioning platform.

Indoor public venue
Visitors navigating indoors
Visitors using indoor wayfinding

Accurate indoor navigation

Guide visitors through museums, shopping centers and exhibition venues with precise indoor positioning where GPS cannot operate.

Improve visitor experience

Help visitors quickly find stores, galleries, exhibitions, amenities and points of interest throughout large indoor venues.

Increase visitor engagement

Deliver location-based content, promotions and contextual information through NAO® Mobile.

Optimize visitor flows

Understand how visitors move through the venue to improve layouts, reduce congestion and optimize operations.

Leverage existing infrastructure

Deploy indoor positioning using existing BLE and Wi-Fi infrastructure without major modifications to the building.

Actionable location analytics

Measure footfall, dwell time and visitor journeys to support operational and commercial decision-making.

Support staff operations

Help security, maintenance and operational teams locate equipment and respond more efficiently throughout the venue.

Privacy-first location services

Deliver indoor positioning while respecting visitor privacy and supporting modern data protection requirements.

Trusted by leading venues

Trusted by museums and retail leaders

Pole Star delivers indoor positioning solutions for cultural institutions and major retail destinations, helping visitors navigate large indoor environments while improving the overall experience.

Louvre Museum using indoor positioning
Museum

Indoor navigation for world-class museums

Pole Star supports large cultural venues by providing accurate indoor positioning and wayfinding, helping visitors easily explore complex museums while enhancing their overall experience.

Louvre Museum
Indoor Navigation
Visitor Experience
Louvre Museum using indoor positioning
Retail

Chosen by leading retail brands

Pole Star has worked with major retail organizations to deliver indoor navigation, visitor engagement and location-based services across shopping malls and large retail environments.

Galeries Lafayette
Leroy Merlin
Westfield
Why Pole Star

Why leading museums and retailers choose Pole Star

Pole Star helps museums, shopping centers and exhibition venues deliver intuitive indoor navigation, engaging visitor experiences and valuable location insights using proven indoor positioning technology.

01

Trusted by iconic public venues

Pole Star has been deployed by renowned museums and major retail organizations, supporting visitor navigation and digital experiences across large and complex indoor environments.

Trusted by the Louvre and leading retail brands
02

Leverages existing BLE and Wi-Fi infrastructure

Pole Star uses existing BLE beacons and Wi-Fi infrastructure to deliver accurate indoor positioning without requiring major changes to the venue.

BLE · Wi-Fi · Mobile compatible
03

Designed for large indoor public spaces

From museums and department stores to shopping malls and exhibition centers, Pole Star provides seamless indoor positioning across multi-floor venues with high visitor traffic.

Museums · Retail · Exhibition venues
04

One platform for navigation, engagement and analytics

A single indoor location platform enables indoor navigation, visitor engagement, location-based services and footfall analytics, helping operators improve both the visitor experience and venue performance.

Navigation · Engagement · Analytics
Recommended solutions

Pole Star solutions for museums, retail and exhibitions

From visitor wayfinding to location analytics, Pole Star provides a complete indoor positioning platform for museums, shopping centers and exhibition venues, enhancing both the visitor experience and daily operations.

Pole Star indoor positioning platform
One platform for every indoor visitor experience

Indoor navigation

Help visitors easily find galleries, stores, exhibitions, restaurants and services with accurate turn-by-turn indoor guidance.

Explore indoor navigation

Visitor engagement

Deliver contextual content, promotions and interactive experiences based on each visitor's location inside the venue.

Explore NAO® Mobile

Location analytics

Measure visitor flows, dwell time and popular areas to improve layouts, exhibitions and commercial performance.

Explore analytics

Asset tracking

Locate valuable equipment, mobile assets and operational resources in real time across large indoor facilities.

Explore asset tracking

Staff coordination

Help security, maintenance and operational teams respond faster by providing real-time indoor location visibility.

Explore workforce tracking

Geofencing

Trigger location-based notifications and automate actions when visitors enter or leave predefined indoor areas.

Explore geofencing
FAQ

Indoor positioning for museums, shopping centers and exhibition venues

Visitor Experience
How does indoor positioning improve the visitor experience?

Indoor positioning helps visitors navigate large venues, quickly find exhibitions, stores, amenities and points of interest, reducing frustration and improving the overall experience.

Can visitors receive location-based information?

Yes. Through the NAONAO Mobile® Mobile application, venues can deliver contextual information, promotional content or exhibition details based on a visitor's indoor location.

Does indoor navigation work without GPS?

Yes. Pole Star uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and existing indoor infrastructure to provide accurate positioning where GPS signals are unavailable.

Operations & Analytics
Can Pole Star analyze visitor flows?

Yes. Location analytics provide insights into visitor journeys, dwell times, popular areas and traffic patterns to support operational and commercial decisions.

Can staff locate assets indoors?

Yes. BLE tags allow staff to locate equipment, mobile assets and operational resources in real time throughout the venue.

Can Pole Star support security and maintenance teams?

Yes. Real-time location information helps operational teams respond faster, coordinate interventions and improve daily venue management.

Technology
Does Pole Star require new infrastructure?

No. Pole Star leverages existing BLE-enabled Wi-Fi infrastructure, reducing deployment costs and minimizing installation work.

Can Pole Star integrate with existing mobile applications?

Yes. Pole Star provides SDKs and APIs that integrate indoor positioning into existing mobile applications and digital platforms.

Which venues use Pole Star?

Pole Star solutions are deployed across shopping centers, department stores, museums, exhibition venues and other large public indoor spaces.

Transform your visitor experience with indoor positioning

Help visitors navigate complex indoor venues, deliver personalized experiences, optimize visitor flows and gain actionable location insights with a proven indoor positioning platform.

Trusted by Le Louvre, Galeries Lafayette, Leroy Merlin, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and E.Leclerc

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