Mappedin vs. Pointr: Indoor mapping software comparison

Guest experience and digital innovation teams face mounting pressure to optimize shopper journeys, increase dwell time, and deliver measurable improvements in foot traffic and tenant satisfaction. The challenges they face aren’t new, but they’re growing more complex by the year:

• customers struggling to find stores in large spaces
• outdated static maps leading to shopper frustration
• lack of visibility into guest analytics
• time-consuming manual map update processes

Luckily, venues are finding support with breakthrough software taking administrative work off their plates to better hit revenue and guest satisfaction goals. Indoor mapping software has taken huge leaps in recent years – mapping is no longer static directory signage for lost shoppers; the best tools are now strategic platforms that drive customer satisfaction scores, digital engagement metrics, and revenue per square foot.

For retail venues, Mappedin and Pointr are two of the go-to options when it comes to indoor mapping software, with good reason. Both provide innovative tools for indoor mapping and mall operations, trusted by some of the world’s most iconic shopping venue brands.

But the choice between these two vendors actually represents distinct approaches to wayfinding, positioning technology, and analytics-driven space optimization.

This comparison evaluates Mappedin and Pointr for retail shopping venues and mall environments—whose ops and marketing teams are tasked with balancing customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, tenant relationships, and digital transformation initiatives.

Mappedin vs. Pointer at a glance

Mappedin: Best for enterprise-scale multi-building venue experience

• Speed to market, merchandising flexibility, and customer engagement over positioning precision
• Rich digital showcases with promotional content and visual discovery, boosting tenant satisfaction
• Accessibility and compliance without compromise
• Fast wayfinding and map updates without infrastructure reconfiguration for seasonal store changes, pop-ups, or renovations

Pointr: Best for indoor positioning requiring sub-meter accuracy through hardware infrastructure

• Data-driven space optimization with granular heatmaps, precise positioning analytics, and journey path insights
• Centimeter-level foot traffic metrics that justify tenant placement and rental rates
• Long-term spatial intelligence strategy

Key differences between Mappedin and Pointr

Mappedin overview

Mappedin is an excellent choice for retail venues looking for an all-inclusive venue experience platform. Featuring scalable, multi-floor mapping software, digital directory software, and features for both the retail operations teams and guest experience, Mappedin is ideal for mall management seeking a future-ready solution.

Wayfinding depth

Mappedin provides best-in-class dynamic indoor maps with turn-by-turn navigation, multi-floor wayfinding, accessible routes prioritizing elevators and ramps, and route optimization. Mappedin can generate directions between pre-defined locations or from a user's current location to any point of interest.

Developer experience

Mappedin is powered by an award-winning development team. Comprehensive SDKs for Web (JS/React), React Native, iOS, and Android with extensive documentation, code samples, and developer tools including Mappedin Studio, 3D Model Mapper, and Blue Dot Location Generator.

Integrations

Mappedin offers enterprise data synchronization with existing CMS platforms, Power BI integration, WordPress plugins, Broadsign digital signage, Microsoft Places integration. Some notable partners include Vemco Group, Yarooms, GreyOrange, and integrations for IPS, asset tracking, emergency management, and workplace collaboration.

Accessibility

Mappedin adheres to WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements, ensuring compliance with most countries' accessibility standards. Supports screen readers, responsive text sizes, accessible routes prioritizing elevators and ramps, and multi-language content presentation.

Analytics & insights

Mappedin’s Analytics Dashboard provides detailed reports on visitor searches, desired destinations, foot traffic, visitor behavior, space utilization, search analytics, navigation patterns, session duration, and popular destinations enabling data-driven decision-making.

Security & compliance

Mappedin is SOC 2 (Type 2), GDPR, and WCAG 2.1 Levels A and AA compliant. Penetration testing on all core applications. Data hosted in AWS and Azure data centers (ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type 2 compliant). Mappedin offers Two-Factor Authentication and Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities.

Limitations

While Mappedin does not sell indoor positioning hardware or solutions directly, maps are compatible with these technologies. Mappedin leverages infrastructure-free positioning technology, meaning venues can deploy wayfinding without installing beacons, sensors, or additional hardware.

Interested in seeing how Mappedin can power exceptional visitor experiences at your venue? Get a personalized demo →

Pointr overview

Pointr is a strong option for indoor mapping. Its strength, however, lies in its positioning technology for venues looking to get precise visitor location, versus being a holistic venue experience software.

Wayfinding depth

Pointr provides instant blue-dot navigation with 1-3 meter positioning accuracy, multi-level detection with automatic floor changes within 3 seconds, seamless indoor-outdoor GPS transitions, smart re-routing, and AR wayfinding capabilities.

Integrations

Pointr integrates with Epic MyChart, Siemens, and product databases. Its notable partners include Microsoft, CBRE, Cisco, Extreme Networks, Honeywell, Bluetooth SIG, NVIDIA, Okeenea, and DHS-approved systems.

Accessibility

Pointr is partially compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. It offers accessibility mode avoiding stairs, turn-by-turn voice directions, and partnership with Okeenea for enhanced navigation for visually impaired users, and supports multiple languages.

Analytics

Pointr provides anonymous visitor flow tracking, heatmaps, zonal footfall analysis, journey replay, usage analytics, wayfinding analytics, and map interaction analytics.

Security & compliance

• ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISO 27017 certified, and GDPR compliant.
• Data is secured, encrypted, and not shared with external parties.
• Systems built on Microsoft Azure meeting modern security standards.

Pointr limitations

REST API for pathfinding has no automatic path updates, no optimized re-routing, and no offline capability. Its Web SDK requires internet connection to download map content and showcase routes, and third-party map integration presents challenges including slow loading speeds for raster maps, georeferencing difficulties, and poor user experience.

Also, Pointr doesn't currently offer ready-made directory software, which can be a major hurdle for revenue-driven retail venues. Venues must invest in custom development to create touchscreen experiences, directory search functionality and wayfinding interfaces.

Mappedin vs. Pointr feature comparisons

Wayfinding & visitor navigation

Wayfinding and navigation are critical to an enjoyable, stress-free guest experience. When a customer can find their way around the venue, it directly impacts customer dwell time, conversion rates, and in-store satisfaction for retail environments.

Seamless navigation reduces shopper frustration, increases time spent browsing (instead of searching), and drives customers to promotional areas or anchor stores.

When malls provide guests with easy wayfinding tools, it translates to measurable KPIs like:

• increased foot traffic to targeted zones
• higher basket sizes
• improved Net Promoter Scores

Mappedin wayfinding

Mappedin delivers powerful, easy-to-use, and multi-device wayfinding with personalized turn-by-turn directions that guide shoppers to stores, products, and amenities across retail environments.

Mappedin's wayfinding capabilities that are key for retail venues include:

• Multi-device accessibility – Seamless wayfinding experience across web, mobile apps, and on-site kiosks
• Turn-by-turn directions – Clear, step-by-step navigation to stores, products, restrooms, parking, and other amenities
• Multi-level routing – Intelligent pathfinding across escalators, elevators, and stairs in complex shopping centers
• Promotional routing – Direct customers toward featured stores, sales events, or anchor tenants to drive foot traffic
• Accessible routing – Elevator-only and mobility-friendly path options for inclusive shopping experiences
• Search and discovery – Shoppers can search by store name, category, product type, or amenity

The platform excels at handling complex multi-level shopping centers and retail complexes. While promotional routing is a strong differentiator, customization of routing logic sometimes requires additional configuration to align with specific merchandising strategies or seasonal campaigns.

Pointr wayfinding

Pointr provides blue-dot navigation with indoor positioning technology for retail spaces, offering precise location tracking and turn-by-turn wayfinding across large shopping centers.

Their solution uses multiple positioning technologies like WiFi and BLE to guide shoppers through complex retail layouts.

However, the infrastructure requirements that could include things like beacon deployment and WiFi mapping can mean longer implementation timelines and higher upfront costs, ultimately impacting speed-to-value for retail operators focused on seasonal campaigns or rapid store layout changes.

The verdict

For most retail environments prioritizing speed to market, Mappedin’s retail wayfinding software offers superior value.

Its multi-level and multi-building routing, proximity-based advertising, and faster deployment align better with retail's need for agility in directing shoppers to high-margin zones and adapting to seasonal layouts. Pointr's precision positioning offers value for extremely large retail complexes but it comes at the cost of implementation flexibility that retail environments demand.

Take a self-guided tour of Mappedin for retail →

Digital directory

Digital directories serve as the primary discovery tool for shoppers, directly influencing store visibility, tenant satisfaction, and conversion from browsing to purchasing.

For retail marketing and customer experience teams, interactive directories automate aspects of the guest journey by:

• reducing shopper friction in finding specific stores or products
• increasing discoverability of lesser-known tenants
• providing valuable data on search trends and customer intent

Strong directory functionality translates to KPIs like reduced customer service inquiries, improved tenant ROI (through better discoverability), and increased engagement with promotional content.

Mappedin digital directory

Mappedin provides fully interactive 3D digital directories with visual search, category filtering, and one-tap navigation to destinations.

Mappedin supports rich tenant profiles with store hours, amenities, and promotional content, plus real-time updates for store changes or temporary closures. Customization of advanced search filters or integration with tenant POS systems for real-time inventory visibility may require additional development work.

While Mappedin focuses on software excellence rather than hardware manufacturing, we've cultivated strategic partnerships with leading kiosk hardware providers to deliver complete, deployment-ready solutions. Our established hardware partnerships enable us to recommend proven kiosk configurations optimized for different venue types and use cases.

Pointr digital directory

Pointr does not offer turnkey kiosk software. While their SDKs and APIs can theoretically be integrated into kiosk hardware, this requires custom development work by the client or implementation partners. Venues seeking to deploy physical directory kiosks must build the entire touchscreen interface, search experience, and wayfinding flows themselves—or hire developers to do so.

The verdict

Mappedin's interactive 3D directories create an engaging discovery experience that aligns with modern retail expectations and drives higher tenant satisfaction through better store showcase capabilities. The ability to feature promotional content, seasonal campaigns, and rich tenant profiles directly supports revenue-generating activities that Customer Experience teams prioritize.

Indoor positioning

Indoor positioning accuracy determines whether shoppers can trust the "You Are Here" blue dot, directly impacting navigation confidence and overall experience quality. Precise positioning reduces customer frustration from inaccurate directions, enables location-based promotions triggered at the right moment, and provides reliable analytics on traffic patterns and dwell times.

Positioning accuracy translates to KPIs like increased wayfinding success rates, higher engagement with proximity marketing, and actionable heatmap data for merchandising and lease optimization decisions.

Mappedin indoor positioning

Mappedin offers indoor positioning primarily through integration with existing building infrastructure and mobile device sensors, without requiring extensive beacon deployments. The platform leverages a combination of WiFi, device sensors, and map-matching algorithms to provide positioning that balances accuracy with ease of implementation.

This approach enables faster deployment and lower infrastructure costs, though positioning precision may be optimized for zone-level accuracy (identifying which store area a customer is in) rather than centimeter-level precision across all environments.

Pointr indoor positioning

Pointr specializes in high-precision indoor positioning using a multi-technology approach combining WiFi, BLE beacons, geomagnetic positioning, and sensor fusion. Their positioning engine is purpose-built for accuracy, delivering sub-meter precision that does well in complex, multi-level retail environments.

However, achieving this accuracy requires significant upfront infrastructure investment in beacon deployment, site surveys, and calibration, plus ongoing maintenance to ensure positioning accuracy as store layouts change or beacons require battery replacement.

The verdict

Pointr leads on pure positioning accuracy. For retail environments where centimeter-level precision is critical – think luxury malls with dense tenant layouts or venues requiring highly accurate analytics – Pointr's specialized positioning technology delivers superior results.

However, Mappedin offers better value for most retail CX priorities where zone-level accuracy is preferred, implementation speed matters, and infrastructure costs need justification. Retail leaders should choose based on whether their use case demands maximum precision or faster deployment with solid accuracy for wayfinding and analytics.

Analytics

Shopping center analytics transform indoor mapping from a wayfinding tool into a strategic asset, providing actionable insights on customer behavior, traffic patterns, and space utilization. Robust analytics enable data-driven decisions on store placement, promotional effectiveness, staffing optimization, and lease negotiations with performance-based metrics.

Mappedin analytics

Mappedin provides robust visitor analytics on search queries, popular destinations, wayfinding usage, and user engagement with map features. The platform tracks which stores and amenities shoppers search for most frequently, identifies navigation patterns, and measures digital directory interaction rates. These insights help optimize content, understand tenant demand, and improve wayfinding effectiveness.

At the same time, Mappedin’s analytics may be more focused on digital engagement metrics rather than comprehensive physical movement tracking, with path analysis and dwell time heatmaps potentially requiring integration with separate foot traffic counting systems.

Pointr analytics

Pointr offers comprehensive location analytics including detailed heatmaps, journey path analysis, dwell time measurement, and zone-based traffic counting leveraging their precision positioning technology. Their analytics engine provides granular insights into how shoppers move through physical space, identifying high-traffic corridors, conversion zones, and underperforming areas. The platform's strength in physical movement analytics enables sophisticated spatial intelligence.

On the other hand, the analytics depth depends on positioning infrastructure investment, and dashboards may require technical expertise to extract actionable retail insights without dedicated data analysis resources.

The verdict

Pointr leads for physical behavior analytics. Pointr's precision positioning foundation enables superior insights into actual shopper movement, dwell patterns, and space utilization.

Mappedin, however, wins when it comes to digital visitor engagement metrics. It offers valuable digital engagement analytics for optimizing the wayfinding experience itself.

Accessibility

Accessibility is essential for creating inclusive shopping experiences for all guests—a venue’s accessibility directly impacting brand reputation, legal compliance, and market reach.

Robust accessibility support expands the customer base, demonstrates corporate social responsibility, and mitigates ADA compliance risks while improving experiences for elderly shoppers, parents with strollers, and anyone with mobility needs.

Mappedin accessibility

Mappedin’s platform makes accessibility a key function rather than an afterthought. It provides accessible routing options that avoid stairs and identify elevator/escalator locations, plus wheelchair- and stroller-accessible paths for shoppers with different mobilities.

The platform supports screen reader compatibility for visually impaired users and offers configurable route preferences based on accessibility needs.

Pointr accessibility

Pointr offers accessible routing capabilities with barrier-free path options and mobility-conscious navigation that accounts for elevators and ramps. The platform can factor accessibility requirements into route calculations and provide alternative paths when needed, and positioning accuracy helps ensure accessible routes remain accurate across complex layouts.

One downside of the platform is that Pointr indicates they are only partially conformant to WCAG guidelines.

The verdict

Mappedin leads on comprehensive accessibility. Mappedin demonstrates stronger commitment to holistic accessibility through documented screen reader support, AI-powered personalized accessible routing, and evidence from high-profile accessibility-focused implementations like airports.

Choose Mappedin if…

• You manage a multi-floor shopping center that needs to quickly adapt wayfinding for seasonal store changes, pop-ups, or renovations without lengthy reconfiguration timelines
• You want to monetize your mapping platform through promotional routing that directs shoppers to featured stores, sales events, or sponsored tenants during high-traffic periods
• Tenant satisfaction and lease renewals are priorities and you need rich digital directories that showcase stores with photos, promotions, and amenities to demonstrate value to retail partners
• You're launching a new retail development or app and need a visually impressive, engagement-focused solution that can be deployed within weeks rather than months
• Accessibility and inclusivity are brand imperatives requiring documented WCAG compliance, screen reader support, and personalized accessible routing for diverse customer needs

Choose Pointr if…

• Data-driven space optimization is your competitive advantage and you need granular heatmaps and analytics
• Lease negotiations depend on demonstrable foot traffic metrics and you must provide tenants with precise, defensible data on zone performance and customer flow patterns
• Long-term spatial intelligence strategy outweighs speed to market
• You're willing to invest upfront for positioning hardware and implementation

FAQs about Mappedin vs. Pointr

What does Mappedin do?

Mappedin is the leading provider of indoor mapping software. It includes a map editor, AI mapping, integrated digital directory, mobile pass, analytics, SDKs/APIs and enterprise-grade hosting.

Is Mappedin accessible for users with disabilities?

Yes, Mappedin is fully compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards. The platform includes screen reader compatibility, accessible routing that prioritizes elevators and ramps, wheelchair and stroller-friendly path options, responsive text sizing, and multi-language support. Accessibility is a core platform feature rather than an add-on, making it suitable for venues with strict compliance requirements.

Does Mappedin require hardware installation like beacons or sensors?

No, Mappedin does not require extensive hardware infrastructure. Unlike positioning systems like Pointr that rely on beacon or other hardware deployment, Mappedin works with your existing building infrastructure and mobile device sensors, using WiFi and map-matching algorithms to provide accurate wayfinding. This approach enables faster implementation and eliminates ongoing hardware maintenance costs like beacon battery replacements.

Can I update maps and content myself, or do I need Mappedin to make changes?

Mappedin provides a user-friendly Content Management System (CMS) that allows your team to make map updates, edit store information, modify promotions, and manage directory content independently—no technical expertise or Mappedin support required. This self-service capability is particularly valuable for retail venues managing seasonal store changes, pop-up locations, renovations, or frequent promotional updates.

What kind of analytics does Mappedin provide?

Mappedin's Analytics Dashboard tracks digital engagement metrics including search queries, popular destinations, navigation patterns, session duration, wayfinding usage, and map interaction rates. Mappedin’s Snowflake API offers deeper insights and access to raw data, helping you understand which stores and amenities customers search for most, optimize content and wayfinding effectiveness, and make data-driven decisions about space utilization and tenant placement.

Next steps

To see how Mappedin can power not only a better retail guest experience but also your operations, marketing and venue safety experience, book a 15-minute personalized consultation.