Located in Marseille, in the heart of Euroméditerranée, Les Terrasses du Port is one of France’s most iconic shopping centres. This vast space brings together more than 190 shops and restaurants across 4 levels and 61,000 m². With a stunning sea view and millions of visitors each year, the centre sets a high bar for visitor experience.
From the very beginning, Hammerson trusted ViaDirect to equip Les Terrasses du Port with a high-performance digital wayfinding solution.
The initial challenge
Managing visitor flow at this scale comes with very real operational challenges. First, staff were constantly interrupted by repetitive information requests. Second, the multi-floor layout made independent navigation difficult for visitors. Third, the centre needed value-added services beyond basic location finding, such as transport connections, promotions and gift card balances. Finally, all content had to stay updated in real time without adding operational friction.
The ViaDirect solution
ViaDirect deployed a fully customised installation of 9 multitouch kiosks and a solution integrated into the reception desk. Both were designed in collaboration with Saguez & Partners, combining a metallic frame with solid wood legs.
The solution included several key features. Visitors could access an interactive multitouch map with a 3D multi-floor view. They could also check real-time traffic and transport travel times, look up gift card balances and sign up for the newsletter. In addition, a 46” dynamic display screen broadcast centre news, while web service connections kept all data live and accurate.
A relationship that never stopped: three milestones, one lasting partnership
What truly sets this project apart is not just its original scale. It is its continuity. Over more than a decade, ViaDirect and Les Terrasses du Port have gone through three major phases of evolution together.
2013
Initial deployment
Nine custom-designed multitouch kiosks go live across the centre, built in collaboration with Saguez & Partners, combining a metallic frame with solid wood legs. The full wayfinding and information solution is operational from day one.
2022
Hardware and software renewal
The centre upgrades to ViaDirect V4 software and replaces its kiosk fleet with 7 new hardware units, bringing the physical experience fully up to date and extending the solution’s lifespan for years to come.
2024-2025
Omnichannel expansion
The latest phase delivers a full UI redesign, a new API connector for improved real-time data reliability, and the launch of ViaDirect Mobile, allowing visitors to navigate the centre directly from their smartphone with no app download required.
This progression makes Les Terrasses du Port a truly omnichannel space: visitors get seamless guidance both at physical kiosks and in the palm of their hand.
Key outcomes
Modernised visitor experience at one of the most visited centres in the south of France. Reduced staff interruptions thanks to greater visitor digital autonomy. Full consistency between kiosk navigation and mobile navigation. Hardware and software continuously upgraded across three major project phases. More than 10 years of continuous partnership with Hammerson.
What this proves
“When a client of Hammerson’s calibre renews their trust year after year, it is not inertia. It is because the solution keeps delivering real value.”
Les Terrasses du Port is proof that a well-implemented wayfinding solution is not a one-off project: it is a living digital infrastructure, one that grows alongside the centre and the expectations of its visitors. From the first kiosk installed to the latest mobile navigation update, every layer of the solution has evolved, while the partnership has remained.
Is your venue ready for the next level?
If you manage a high-footfall commercial space and want to offer your visitors a seamless navigation experience, across kiosks and mobile, let’s talk.
