Matterport Indoor Navigation brings marketing success in Husum
-88%
Appointment delay
+75%
Reception relief
100%
Area rental
The Challenge
After renting a spacious, three-story residential and commercial building in the center of the North Frisian town of Husum, the Husum Clinic Center faced a massive organizational and logistical challenge. The building was to be converted into a central outpatient diagnostic and therapy center to ensure medical care for the region and the numerous holidaymakers on the North Sea coast. However, the selected property had a complex, historically grown architectural structure. Due to subsequent extensions, fire protection divisions, and various access routes, an confusing labyrinth of corridors, intermediate levels, and two separate elevator shafts had developed inside. Every day, hundreds of patients streamed into the building, many of whom were elderly people with limited mobility or visiting tourists who were completely unfamiliar with Husum. The disorientation led to significant disruptions in the practice workflow: patients arrived late for their treatments, doctors and therapists had to spend valuable treatment time waiting, and the hallways in front of the consultation rooms were permanently overcrowded. The staff at the central information desk in the entrance area was chronically overburdened, as they had to give directions constantly. Traditional printed signs and boards quickly reached their limits because the occupancy and responsibility of the treatment rooms continuously changed during the opening phase. Each change would have required the costly production of new physical signs. Dissatisfaction grew, significantly blocking the successful marketing and utilization of still available practice spaces for cooperating doctors.
Our Solution
The solution to this logistical problem was provided by FotoEstate through the implementation of an innovative, digital 3D guidance system with integrated indoor navigation. Our specialists captured the entire building, with a total area of over 3,800 square meters, using high-resolution Matterport Pro3 cameras. This scanning process produced a millimeter-precise three-dimensional point cloud and a photorealistic, walkable 3D model of the entire complex (a technology foundation that we also use to boost sales of exclusive spaces through purely Matterport tours like in Delitzsch). Based on this, we developed an interactive guidance system. Even before their appointment, patients received a link to the 'Digital Twin' of the clinic with their appointment confirmation via email or SMS. This allowed them to virtually follow the route from the parking lot or bus stop to the exact treatment room comfortably from their home computer or smartphone. On-site, highly visible QR codes were placed at all important decision points, such as main entrances, elevators, and hallway intersections. As soon as a patient scans this code with their smartphone, the indoor navigation opens directly in the device’s web browser exactly at their current location. An animated, colored path line guides the patient step by step along the optimal route through the corridors to the correct practice door. Barrier-free routes without stairs could be specifically selected. In addition, we integrated interactive info points (Mattertags) with further information on office hours, doctor profiles, and links to online appointment booking.
The Result
The introduction of FotoEstate's digital Matterport indoor navigation led to an immediate and sustainable improvement of all operational processes at the Husum Diagnosis and Therapy Center. Already in the first month after the system was fully activated, the number of late or missed appointments due to disorientation dropped by a spectacular 88 percent. Patients expressed extremely positive feedback in surveys about the stress-free, intuitive wayfinding on their mobile devices. The clinic reception staff were significantly relieved, as the time-consuming on-site directions decreased by 75 percent; the employees could once again focus on their core tasks in patient intake. The marketing of the remaining practice spaces also benefited enormously from this forward-looking technology. Potential tenants and specialists recognized the digital guidance system as a clear locational advantage for their patients and signed contracts significantly faster. Within just two months of the system being activated, all the vacant spaces in the residential and commercial building were fully rented. The investment in the digital twin paid off for the clinic center through increased efficiency and the rapid full occupancy in a very short time.
Project Deep Dive: Process & Details
The initial situation: A demanding marketing
Husum, the charming 'gray town by the sea' in North Frisia, attracts not only permanent residents but also hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. The Husum Clinic Center planned to bundle various medical specialties under one roof in order to establish a modern diagnostics and therapy center. The residential and commercial building rented for this purpose in the city center offered excellent spatial conditions with its 3,800 square meters of usable space. However, the structural layout proved to be highly complex. Due to several renovation phases in the past, the building had been divided into a confusing network of staircases, staggered levels, and winding corridors. To operate the project successfully in economic terms, a rapid utilization of the practice rooms and smooth logistics of patient flows was required. The vision was that general practitioners, cardiologists, physiotherapists, and a medical supply store would work hand in hand. The planning challenge was to structure this architectural complexity in such a way that strangers – often with health limitations or stressed – could immediately orient themselves without external help. During the planning phase, the classic methods of orientation quickly reached their limits.
The hurdle: Overcoming uncertainty in prospects
Before the introduction of digital wayfinding, operations in the partially opened center were characterized by hectic activity and confusion. Dozens of patients got lost in the winding floors every day. Many arrived at their appointments stressed and late, disrupting the tightly scheduled treatment plans of the doctors. The staff at the central information desk were overloaded and constantly had to act as guides. These problems quickly became known throughout the region, massively blocking the marketing of the still available practice spaces to new specialists. None of the established medical teams wanted to rent an expensive practice space in a building where patients arrive frustrated or get lost. Rental activities stalled, and the clinic center faced the risk of high revenue losses while full operating costs for the entire building were still incurred. A fast, barrier-free, and flexible solution for patient orientation was urgently needed to regain the trust of future tenants and patients.
The concept: Visual excellence and attention to detail
The concept developed by FotoEstate relied on a complete digitization of the orientation process using an interactive, three-dimensional model of the building. Our goal was to give the patient visual control over their route even before their arrival. The concept involved capturing the building with high-resolution 3D camera technology and creating a centimeter-accurate digital twin. On this basis, a dynamic indoor navigation system was to be programmed. The highlight of the concept was its barrier-free accessibility: the patient would not need to download an app on their smartphone; instead, the navigation could be conveniently opened via a QR code scan in a standard web browser. An animated path line was to visually guide the user through the corridors. Special requirements were placed on marking barrier-free routes to specifically show wheelchair users and people with walking impairments paths without stairs and steps. This concept offered the clinic center maximum flexibility, as room changes in the digital model could be updated in the background at any time without the need to replace physical signs.
The Implementation: Technology Meets Craftsmanship
The implementation of 3D surveying and programming in Husum was precisely coordinated by a specialized team from FotoEstate. To avoid disturbing the ongoing practice operations, the scans were conducted over a weekend. The state-of-the-art Matterport Pro3 camera was used, which provides precise measurement data and photorealistic panoramic images thanks to its LiDAR sensors. In total, over 350 scan points were set throughout the building to ensure seamless navigation. In post-production, the data was registered and merged into a consistent 3D model. The next step was setting up the web platform. We integrated the architects' 2D floor plans, linked the various rooms, and set up the navigation paths. At strategic points, interactive Mattertags were placed, containing important practice information and direct links to online appointment scheduling. QR codes were generated and placed in a clearly visible manner at the entrances and elevators. After extensive usability tests on various smartphone models, the system was successfully launched live.
The result: A flawless marketing success
The result of the implementation exceeded all expectations and led to a noticeable relief of the entire clinic operation. Patients arrived on time and relaxed for their appointments, which calmed the entire daily routine of the practices. The receptionists were able to fully concentrate on their core tasks again, which massively improved the quality of patient intake. Digital accessibility became an important marketing advantage in Husum. The clinic center used the system in discussions with potential tenants as a convincing argument for the professionalism of the location. The leasing of available spaces accelerated rapidly. Within a few weeks, contracts were signed with a speech therapy practice, a medical supply store, and an outpatient care service. The building reached full occupancy in a very short time. This case study vividly demonstrates that the Matterport indoor navigation is not just an orientation tool, but a powerful economic lever for increasing value and successfully marketing complex commercial properties.
What our partners say
"The drone shots perfectly show how our properties are embedded in the surroundings. An important decision criterion for our clients."
"The investment in FotoEstate's digital solutions has paid off multiple times. A clear ROI through faster marketing."
"Virtual office staging impressively shows the potential of our commercial spaces. It helps our clients envision their future offices."
"The precise area calculations give us and our clients the necessary security during transactions. Highest reliability."
"The virtual tours are intuitive to use and run smoothly. A great experience for our prospects."
"The cinematic tours are perfectly tailored to our target group. They arouse desires and increase demand."
"The drone shots perfectly show how our properties are embedded in the surroundings. An important decision criterion for our clients."
"The investment in FotoEstate's digital solutions has paid off multiple times. A clear ROI through faster marketing."
"Virtual office staging impressively shows the potential of our commercial spaces. It helps our clients envision their future offices."
"The precise area calculations give us and our clients the necessary security during transactions. Highest reliability."
"The virtual tours are intuitive to use and run smoothly. A great experience for our prospects."
"The cinematic tours are perfectly tailored to our target group. They arouse desires and increase demand."
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