Located on the prestigious Avenue Jean Médecin, Nicetoile Shopping Centre is a must-visit shopping destination on the French Riviera. Spanning 21,800 m² across several floors, it welcomes local residents, urban professionals and international tourists every day.
Since 2016, ViaDirect has partnered with Nicetoile to enhance its digital wayfinding experience. The company provides a complete solution combining interactive software, a touchscreen interface and Gazelle kiosks. Thanks to this integrated ecosystem, the shopping centre offers visitors a smooth, fast and intuitive journey.
A Long-Standing and Evolving Partnership
The partnership between Nicetoile and ViaDirect demonstrates the long-term value of our solutions. It also highlights our ability to support the evolving needs of major shopping centres.
Three key milestones have shaped this collaboration:
- 2016 (Initial Installation): ViaDirect installed three interactive kiosks featuring its exclusive Gazelle design. Their integration complemented the shopping centre’s architecture. They also helped visitors navigate the shopping galleries more easily.
- 2022 (Software and Hardware Modernisation): Following the takeover of the centre’s management by Altarea, the partnership continued. ViaDirect deployed its Wayfinding Software V4, customised to match Altarea’s brand identity. Our teams also replaced the media players. In addition, ViaDirect integrated Visioglobe’s interactive 3D mapping into its application via API.
- 2024 (Lifecycle Management and Custom Maintenance): The kiosks retained their original design. However, their screens required an upgrade. Our technical teams therefore designed a custom adaptation enclosure. This allowed the installation of a next-generation high-brightness display without replacing the entire structure.
Strategic Kiosk Placement Designed Around the Visitor Journey
The three interactive kiosks are positioned at key circulation points throughout the shopping centre. This strategic placement helps visitors find their way from the moment they arrive.
- Level 0 (North Entrance): Directly welcomes pedestrians arriving from Avenue Jean Médecin.
- Level 0 (Masséna Entrance): Provides immediate directions to visitors arriving from public transport and Place Masséna.
- Level -1 (Parking Connection): Assists visitors as they leave the parking areas. It also provides access to information about electric vehicle charging stations.
Each kiosk features a connected control unit for proactive system monitoring. ViaDirect’s Service Desk also provides remote technical assistance to ensure reliable operation.
Features Designed for Visitors and Shopping Centre Operators
ViaDirect customised the graphical interface to match Altarea’s brand identity. It brings together a comprehensive range of digital services:
- Multi-Level 3D Wayfinding: Interactive route calculation takes escalators and elevators into account. The solution also supports visitors with reduced mobility (PRM).
- Multi-Criteria Search Engine: Visitors can quickly find stores and services. They can browse alphabetically (A–Z), by product category or by restaurant type.
- Services and Mobility: The interface provides practical information about parking facilities, public transport in Nice and nearby infrastructure.
- Promotional Displays: Dynamic display areas showcase seasonal campaigns, including sales, the Nice Carnival and year-end celebrations. They also promote the shopping centre’s loyalty programme and gift card.
Dynamic Content Management and Responsive Technical Support
An effective wayfinding solution must always reflect the shopping centre’s current layout and offering. That is why ViaDirect continuously updates its database.
Our teams quickly add new stores and adjust exceptional opening hours. They also adapt the interfaces to reflect seasonal campaigns and special events.
The smooth transition between property management companies and successive software upgrades demonstrate ViaDirect’s long-term commitment. We design durable hardware, scalable software and responsive technical support to meet the changing needs of each venue.
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