Sydney-based wayfinding startup BindiMaps has stamped a partnership with Australia Post in a bid to launch the world’s first accessible indoor navigation system.
BindiMaps, which was launched in 2017 by CEO and co-founder Dr Anna Wright, alongside chief commercial officer Mladen Jovanovic and chief product officer Tony Burrett, confirmed to SmartCompany that its new hyperlocal technology will first roll out in three Australia Post locations, two in Melbourne and one in Sydney.
Partly funded by a $1 million innovation grant through the NSW Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program, the BindiMaps “Hyperlocal” technology will guide Australia Post customers from the entrance of the post office through to retail counters, as well as towards post office boxes, parcel lockers and individual items in store.
The partnership with Australia Post comes after BindiMaps revealed in June that it is assisting Guide Dogs Victoria to achieve its goal of building the world’s first fully accessible sensory campus, with the startup also in the throes of a $4 million capital raise to help it continue to grow.
In 2023, Sunshine Coast Airport became the first Australian airport to install the inclusive wayfinding app to make navigating the airport easier for its 1.62 million annual passengers.
The BindiMaps app has now been downloaded 65,000 times.
Speaking with SmartCompany on Wednesday, Dr Wright says the startup has partnered with Australia Post to help customers who are blind or have low vision find what they need at the post offices, and do so independently.
“With our new hyperlocal technology, we are accurate to around 30 centimetres, which lets people find things down to say the stamps or envelopes,” says Wright.
“We have just launched this at AusPost but we have been doing indoor accessible technology for many years now.
“The tech helps anyone find their way around a complicated indoor space, using a simple smartphone.
BindiMaps’ new hyperlocal technology will replace the startup’s existing bluetooth beacon system. The system will allow building managers and owners to roll it out at 24 times the speed, from 24 hours down to one hour, with no disruptions and without altering the space itself.
The system can be used in all indoor spaces, regardless of size, shape or type. This includes heritage-listed sites, landmark architectural buildings, parking lots, small shop fronts, parks, temporary outdoor event spaces, and transport hubs like train or bus stations.
According to Wright, the indoor navigation and wayfinding system offers unprecedented accuracy.
“Using GoPro footage to create detailed 3D digital maps and advanced machine learning, it pinpoints users’ locations within buildings with incredible precision,” she says.
This technology surpasses previous systems by offering faster deployment, broader application, and potential adaptability through user data.
“Beyond aiding those with vision impairments, Hyperlocal benefits businesses by increasing efficiency and improving customer experiences especially for the POV community. Its potential to transform indoor navigation is immense, promising to enhance accessibility and convenience for everyone.”
Josh Bannister, Australia Post’s executive general manager of retail, brand and marketing, said Australia Post is committed to improving the accessibility of its retail stores.
“It’s important to us that all customers are able to navigate our post offices easily and independently,” he said in a statement.
“The introduction of this technology is a great opportunity for us to test and learn how we can support the vision impaired community, as part of our commitment to innovation and modernising our post offices.”
