You manage hundreds of shows at your venue each year. And at each one, you feel the excitement as you open the door for showtime. This is make-or-break time for your event and your venue.

A very long line or a small ticketing hiccup can quickly result in a frustrated crowd. Even a tiny glitch might be broadcast at lightning speed on Twitter or Facebook, tarnishing your reputation. Thankfully, you can use technology to prevent that chaos.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a wireless technology that’s been around since the 1970s. If you’ve ever used a hotel door-entry card or a motorway toll tag, you’ve used RFID. And now, more and more consumer applications of the technology are emerging — especially for events and venues.

Here’s how RFID can reduce your at-the-door stress and keep attendees happy.

Life without RFID

Venues have always had a hard time managing entry. It’s tough to get attendees in quickly when someone has forgotten their paper ticket or your scanner can’t read a faded barcode. You might have to physically stamp each attendee’s hand, slowing down the line. Or worse, you need to review every ticket to monitor for fakes.

That manual entry method once worked — it was the only option. But it’s not the only option anymore. With the growing popularity of events, and the pressure for your staff to provide a seamless experience for your attendees, you have to be ahead of the curve. Upgrade your venue entry process to free up staff, keep attendees happy, and stay relevant.

The benefits of RFID

Venues for large events are turning to RFID to improve entry and increase staff productivity. The wireless technology enables shorter lines, richer data, and more engaged attendees and sponsors. So how does RFID solve classic venue problems?

Get attendees inside quickly

No one enjoys waiting in lines. RFID can seriously speed up event entry — keeping your attendees happy and your staff productive. With RFID, attendees simply wave their wristband or badge over a sensor to get in.

No more digging in purses to find tickets, or struggling to make scanners process wet or wrinkled barcodes. The tech can seamlessly handle re-entry for multi-day events, or provide easy access to multiple zones within your venue (like a VIP area).

Simplify the box office

RFID makes it easier for venues to sell on site. If attendees lose their tickets, you can help them without worrying about copies. Since the tickets are associated with individual IDs, you can instantly deactivate the lost wristband or badge and issue a new one. No more spending time setting up new accounts for attendees.

Eliminate fraud

Unlike traditional print-at-home tickets, RFID chips have a unique identifier that makes them nearly impossible to duplicate — making counterfeit tickets less of a threat.

Is RFID right for you?

While the technology is rapidly becoming more affordable, it still takes commitment to succeed with RFID. Here’s how to know if you’re ready to take the leap now, or if you should wait a couple of years before investing.

If you say yes to more than half of these, start looking into RFID providers:

  • There are more than 10,000 attendees at your venue — or you’re willing to invest in your smaller, fast-growing event
  • You’re willing to spend around £3 per attendee on the RFID technology (or pass on the cost in the ticket price)
  • You have the budget for additional RFID-related investments in staff and infrastructure
  • Your venue has multiple zones or sections (for example, General Admission and VIP)
  • Attendees re-enter your venue multiple times (for example, over multiple days)

RFID is just one of many ways to upgrade your processes. So, even if RFID isn’t the right fit, you can still dramatically improve your productivity just by changing the way you work. This blog gives some more tips.