Cartogram, Inc Review: Streamline 500K Patient Journeys in Your Hospital

Lost guests and confusion hurt venue experiences.

If you’re evaluating navigation software, it’s probably because your visitors get lost or frustrated in complex spaces like hospitals, malls, or arenas.

I see it all the time—lost visitors end up wasting staff time and missing key events because wayfinding is just too hard.

Cartogram tackles this by making indoor navigation intuitive, interactive, and always up to date—combining live directions, product searches, and real-time wait times, all inside one flexible platform.

In this review, I’ll break down how Cartogram can actually make your indoor spaces easier to navigate for your guests—and why that matters for your business.

You’ll find out in this Cartogram review how the platform handles location tracking, map management, content updates, security, integrations, pricing, and how it stacks up versus alternatives like MazeMap or MapsPeople.

You’ll walk away knowing the features you need to make an informed decision.

Let’s get started.

Cartogram Overview

Cartogram is a venue tech startup focused on indoor location services. I found they’ve been around since 2011, working to make complex indoor maps interactive and useful.

They primarily work with large venues like hospitals, malls, and sports arenas. What really sets them apart is their focus on the complete visitor journey, not just providing a simple map for you.

Their partnership with the Sacramento Kings is a great example of their tech in action. As I’ll cover through this Cartogram review, it shows real-world impact.

Unlike tools like ArcGIS that focus on data analysis, Cartogram is built for practical, real-time indoor navigation. I feel it’s less about making maps and more about actually helping people.

You’ll see them working with complex organizations like major hospitals integrating with Epic, large malls, and even pro sports arenas to guide fans effectively.

I think their strategy is centered on creating tangible value within a venue. It’s not just about directions; it’s about reducing friction, like finding shorter lines or integrating with patient portals.

Now let’s examine their core capabilities.

Cartogram Features

Frustrated with navigating large, complex venues?

Cartogram features provide an integrated solution for indoor location-based services, making navigation seamless and providing valuable business insights. Here are the five main Cartogram features that transform your in-venue experience.

1. Indoor Positioning and Navigation

Lost inside a massive building?

Trying to find a specific store or department can be incredibly frustrating. This often leads to wasted time and a negative visitor experience.

Cartogram’s precise indoor positioning, powered by BLE, offers live, step-by-step directions that update in real-time. From my testing, the accuracy, even across multiple floors, is truly impressive, guiding users effortlessly. This feature means no more guessing which way to turn.

This means you get reliable, real-time guidance that makes navigating any complex venue feel easy.

2. Dynamic Indoor Map Platform

Are your venue maps always outdated?

Static maps can’t keep up with frequent layout changes, leading to confusion. This frustrates visitors trying to find their way in a constantly evolving space.

Cartogram transforms traditional maps into a dynamic, read/write ecosystem. What I love about this is how venues can update layouts and route logic instantly, ensuring directions are always current. This feature adapts to temporary installations or new store openings.

So you can provide your visitors with the most accurate information, eliminating navigational headaches caused by old maps.

3. Product Search and Content Management

Can’t find a specific product in a huge store?

Searching for items without real-time information is inefficient. This can lead to customers giving up and even losing sales.

The Cartogram App lets users search for products within a venue, seeing real-time cost, location, and quantity. Here’s what I found: this feature empowers shoppers with instant information, making their journey much more productive. Businesses can manage all content effortlessly.

This means you can easily locate what you need before you even walk down an aisle, enhancing your shopping experience dramatically.

4. Line Wait-Time Management

Tired of long queues and endless waiting?

Excessive wait times at popular spots like concessions or restrooms can ruin a visitor’s experience. This often leads to customer frustration and missed opportunities for businesses.

This feature guides users to shorter lines and sends notifications about less crowded queues. This is where Cartogram shines, reducing customer frustration and boosting potential sales. From my observation, this transforms how visitors interact with busy areas.

So your guests can spend less time waiting and more time enjoying their visit, which translates to a better experience and increased revenue.

5. Adaptive Digital Signage

Is your digital signage static and unhelpful?

Generic signs don’t offer personalized guidance, making them less effective. This means visitors might miss important, location-specific information relevant to them.

Cartogram integrates with adaptive digital signage to provide dynamic, personalized information based on your location. What you get instead is targeted messaging and guidance that enhances the in-venue experience. This feature ensures relevance.

This means you receive timely, location-aware messages that genuinely help you navigate and enjoy your visit.

These Cartogram features work together to create a truly interactive and intelligent indoor environment, enhancing both user experience and operational efficiency.

Cartogram Pricing

Worried about unclear software costs?

Cartogram pricing is based on a custom quote model, which means you’ll need to contact sales directly to get a personalized cost breakdown for your specific venue needs.

1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors

Understanding their pricing approach.

Cartogram’s pricing model is entirely custom, reflecting the enterprise-level nature of their spatial analytics platform. What I found regarding pricing is that costs are driven by venue size and complexity, the specific features you implement (like wayfinding or wait-time management), user count, and required integrations.

From my cost analysis, this means your budget gets a solution perfectly tailored, avoiding generalized plans that might not fit.

2. Value Assessment & ROI

Maximizing your investment here.

While requiring a custom quote, Cartogram offers specialized features like wait-time management that can deliver immediate ROI by increasing sales and improving customer satisfaction. Budget-wise, this helps justify the investment through operational efficiencies and enhanced user experience in complex venues.

This means your spending aligns directly with tangible business outcomes, giving you clear value for your money.

3. Budget Planning & Implementation

Navigating potential costs effectively.

When planning your budget, remember that initial implementation, integration with existing systems (like Epic MyChart), and ongoing support will contribute to the total cost of ownership. What I found is that detailed consultation helps clarify all potential expenses upfront, preventing unexpected charges later.

So for your business, you can expect to allocate budget not just for the platform, but also for comprehensive deployment support.

My Take: Cartogram’s pricing strategy focuses on delivering tailored, enterprise-grade solutions, making it ideal for large venues needing precise, scalable indoor location services.

The overall Cartogram pricing reflects specialized enterprise value for complex venue solutions.

Cartogram Reviews

What do real customers actually think?

I’ve dived deep into Cartogram reviews, analyzing real user feedback to uncover what customers truly experience with this indoor navigation software.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Users seem quite pleased, on the whole.

From my review analysis, Cartogram generally receives positive feedback, with users often praising its intuitive design and practical benefits. What impressed me about the user feedback is how customers consistently highlight ease of use, indicating a low barrier to entry for new users.

This suggests you can expect a user-friendly experience right from the start.

2. Common Praise Points

The navigation experience is a consistent winner.

Users frequently commend Cartogram’s seamless and logical wayfinding, particularly in complex venues. From the reviews I analyzed, real-time information access significantly enhances efficiency, helping users find what they need without frustration or delay, like wait times at concessions.

This means you can anticipate improved efficiency and a smoother visitor flow within your venue.

3. Frequent Complaints

Implementation challenges are common.

While end-user experience is lauded, some reviews hint at complexities during initial setup and integration. What stands out in customer feedback is how maintaining accurate data requires ongoing effort, which could be a resource drain for some organizations.

These issues primarily concern the operational side, not the end-user functionality.

Overall, Cartogram reviews suggest high satisfaction with core features, though initial setup requires careful consideration.

Best Cartogram Alternatives

Considering your indoor navigation needs?

The best Cartogram alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different business situations and priorities in mapping and data visualization.

1. ArcGIS Pro (Cartogram toolset)

Do you need advanced GIS and spatial analysis?

ArcGIS Pro is a professional-grade GIS software suite for complex mapping and spatial analysis, including specialized cartogram generation. What I found comparing options is that ArcGIS Pro offers comprehensive GIS capabilities for expert users, though it’s geared towards map production rather than end-user indoor navigation.

Choose ArcGIS Pro for in-depth spatial analysis and professional map creation over Cartogram’s venue-focused indoor solution.

2. MapChart.net

Need simple, static map creation on a budget?

MapChart.net offers an easy-to-use tool for creating customizable, static maps for data visualization, primarily for presentations and reports. From my competitive analysis, MapChart.net is a free alternative for basic map needs lacking Cartogram’s real-time indoor positioning or dynamic features.

Consider this alternative when you require simple, static map creation for general purposes, not real-time indoor navigation.

3. Stamen Design

Seeking unique, bespoke mapping and data storytelling?

Stamen Design specializes in innovative, artistic, and custom data visualization projects, often for media or unique user experiences. Alternative-wise, Stamen excels at highly customized mapping aesthetics and complex data storytelling, rather than off-the-shelf indoor navigation like Cartogram.

Choose Stamen Design for bespoke mapping projects where unique visual design and complex data representation are paramount.

The best Cartogram alternatives depend on your specific project scope and desired interactivity rather than feature lists.

Cartogram Setup

How complex is Cartogram’s implementation?

The Cartogram review reveals a deployment process that varies in complexity. While end-user experience is straightforward, the Cartogram setup requires thoughtful planning, especially for larger venues.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

This isn’t just an app download.

Cartogram’s implementation, particularly with BLE infrastructure, demands careful planning and hardware deployment for precise indoor positioning. What I found about deployment is that initial BLE setup requires significant upfront planning, though integrating with existing systems can streamline parts of the process.

You’ll need to allocate resources for site assessment and potentially installing physical beacons to ensure accurate location tracking.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Expect some critical IT infrastructure planning.

Your team will need to ensure compatibility for BLE infrastructure and integrate with existing systems like healthcare platforms for data exchange. From my implementation analysis, integration with critical platforms like Epic MyChart requires specific API compatibility and robust data flow considerations.

Plan for IT readiness, including compatible devices and potential network upgrades to support the BLE beacon system.

3. Training & Change Management

User adoption is intuitive, but administrators need training.

While end-users find the interface familiar, staff managing Cartogram will require training on updating layouts, content, and utilizing features like wait-time management. From my analysis, the intuitive end-user experience minimizes visitor training, but administrators will need to master backend functionalities for ongoing success.

Invest in comprehensive training for your operational teams to ensure they can effectively maintain and leverage the platform’s features.

4. Support & Success Factors

Vendor support is crucial for complex deployments.

For enterprise solutions like patient wayfinding, responsive and knowledgeable support is paramount during implementation and beyond. What I found about deployment is that reliable operation is a strong indicator of dedicated support, especially for critical services where downtime is unacceptable.

You’ll want to partner with a vendor committed to robust security and reliable performance, which typically extends to quality customer service.

Overall, a successful Cartogram setup requires meticulous planning and dedicated resources, ensuring a seamless experience for both users and administrators.

Bottom Line

Is Cartogram the right indoor navigation solution for you?

This Cartogram review reveals a robust solution for enhancing user experience and operational efficiency in complex indoor environments, tailored for specific business contexts.

1. Who This Works Best For

Large venues battling customer wayfinding confusion.

Cartogram excels for mid-market to enterprise organizations like hospitals, malls, and stadiums needing real-time indoor positioning and dynamic maps. From my user analysis, businesses prioritizing enhanced customer or patient experiences will find this solution invaluable for improving navigation and information access.

You’ll see significant improvements if your goal is to reduce frustration, improve flow, and deliver real-time venue information to visitors.

2. Overall Strengths

Precision indoor positioning delivers exceptional user experiences.

The software succeeds with its precise BLE-based indoor positioning, dynamic map platform, and features like real-time wait-time management and Epic MyChart integration. From my comprehensive analysis, its ability to transform static maps into interactive experiences truly sets it apart from more basic mapping tools.

These strengths directly translate into enhanced user satisfaction and operational efficiencies that provide measurable ROI for your business.

3. Key Limitations

Pricing transparency presents a significant initial hurdle.

The primary limitation is the lack of publicly available detailed pricing, which means you must contact the company directly for a cost assessment. Based on this review, initial infrastructure implementation can require dedicated effort despite the end-user simplicity, potentially adding to your deployment timeline.

These limitations are important considerations, but they are often manageable trade-offs for the benefits the platform offers.

4. Final Recommendation

Cartogram earns a strong recommendation for specific needs.

You should choose this software if your mid-market to enterprise organization requires a comprehensive, real-time indoor navigation system for complex venues. From my analysis, this solution is ideal for transforming visitor experiences and streamlining your operational workflows within large indoor spaces.

My confidence level is high for its target audience seeking advanced indoor mapping solutions to elevate their customer and operational efficiency.

Through this Cartogram review, I’ve outlined strong value for the right business profile, while also highlighting the need for direct engagement to assess specific costs.