Are you aware of RFID technology for events but not sure how it works and what it can do for you? Read on to discover the main benefits and uses of the technology that will revolutionise your event management.
Summary
1. What is RFID technology for events?
RFID technology is a system that enables the storage and transfer of data by radio frequency. This is particularly useful at events and has a variety of uses, as we’ll see below.
The attendee’s information is stored on an RFID or NFC chip/tag in their cashless wristband. Using RFID readers and specialised software, this data can then be read, modified and managed in a way that’s useful for attendees, the organisation and sponsors.
2. Use of RFID wristbands at events
RFID technology has different uses depending on the event’s type and characteristics, but we’ll focus on two major uses which offer great benefits and which can be taken advantage of in various ways: access control and cashless payments.
The most important data stored on the RFID wristband, especially for events such as music festivals and corporate events, is the attendee’s access rights and the money on their cashless account which they can spend on food and drinks. Each vendor has an RFID reader that can read the information on the chip and write new information on it, such as deducting and updating the available balance.
3. Benefits of RFID technology for event management
Faster payments and access control = less time queuing
The most well-known benefit of using RFID technology at events is that it allows the event or festival to reduce queues at all key points! This ensures faster movement of flows at both the venue entrance and bars.
From an attendee’s point of view, it’s clear that spending less time queuing is a great source of relief as it leaves more time to enjoy the event, but it’s also hugely beneficial for organisers:
- Fewer queues at access control means that attendees show their tickets and gain access in a streamlined manner, increasing security at a critical point for any event. The sooner people can access the venue, the sooner they can start purchasing food and drinks, enjoy the activities prepared for them, communicating, and so on. It’s a matter of image as much as anything else!
- Fewer queues at bars increases the potential to serve people and makes staff available to take more orders and make payments at a faster rate – all resulting in more sales.
Control de aforo y de zonas restringidas
Control over capacity and restricted areas
As well as their use at entrances, RFID wristbands can also be of great help in controlling capacity (as long as there is careful supervision of entrances and exits) and access to restricted areas such as backstage or VIP areas. Each attendee’s access rights are written on the wristband, meaning that the RFID reader can be used to authorise or deny access to a certain area. This is much easier and faster than visually checking different coloured wristbands!
A secure, reliable system
Weezevent’s system of RFID cashless payments and access control is robust thanks to triple security protection (wristbands, readers and the system itself). This guarantees peace of mind for everyone.
It also allows cash management to be concentrated at certain wristband top-up points (except at 100% online cashless events, where cash is completely eliminated – even better!), this all helps to improve the event’s security.
Boost sales and revenue
Using an RFID cashless system at your event can help boost your revenue in various ways, some more direct than others.
The most direct is the increase in sales, since reducing queues at bars will allow you to sell more food and drinks. However, you’ll also be able to offer personalised promotions, which will build loyalty among your audience.
It’s also worth noting what RFID cashless technology can bring you through your sponsors: a new communication medium (the RFID wristband) on which you can offer to feature their brand image. The information you collect through this system can also be useful for your sponsors in helping them to better plan their brand activations.
Business Intelligence: real-time data tracking
Today, technology can generate a large amount of interesting data for your event. In particular, with RFID cashless payment and access control, you can collect and generate data that allows you to analyse activity at your event by point of sale, by bartender, by period etc. Use this valuable information wisely to optimise your resources and initiate actions in a range of areas, such as organisation, communication and attendee loyalty.
Having a control panel where you can observe what’s happening in real time is highly useful for making immediate decisions, but RFID technology will also allow you to accumulate this information and analyse it thoroughly once the event is over.
4. Benefits of RFID technology for attendees
Speed in topping up the RFID cashless wristband and purchasing items
With the RFID system, attendees will notice the difference. When entering the event, they’ll receive their RFID cashless wristband which will give them access and allow them to purchase items without needing to queue or worry about their wallet.
Depending on the event’s layout, attendees will be able to top up their RFID cashless wristbands before and during the event, either online or at physical top-up points. If they’ve topped up before the event, they’ll be able to purchase food and drinks as soon as they enter.
Fast and secure spending controls and refund requests
Creating an online cashless account gives the attendee control over their spending, as they can check their balance and purchase history at any time.
What’s more, after the event, they can easily request a refund of the remaining balance, depending on the conditions set by the event.
Good communication is key in this sense, as it allows attendees to make the best possible use of the system. If you clearly explain that they can top up online before the event to save time, and that they can request a refund of the remaining unspent balance, they’ll top up more money in one go and purchase items without worrying or weighing up each purchase.
Enable the digital experience that attendees are looking for
Event attendees are increasingly seeking a comprehensive, convenient and digitised experience. The use of RFID cashless payments have already taken root and become a consumer habit, especially at festivals. Proof of this is the online top-up rate of RFID wristbands which is increasing year on year.
Improving the VIP experience
Audiences are also becoming more demanding, but they are willing to pay more to get the experience they’re looking for, which is why the VIP audience is growing every day, as we’ve seen at festivals we worked with this summer.
RFID technology and our cashless solution enables the management of these small but important groups of people who aren’t part of the rest of the audience as they’ve acquired extra rights. The information included on their RFID wristband is all that these groups need to enjoy benefits such as access to restricted areas.
5. How to implement an RFID cashless system at your event
RFID technology can help events go further in their management and in their relationship with attendees. Despite the many benefits of this technology it’s worth remembering that the means of implementing and using a technology are as important as the technology itself, if not more so.
Our experts support you step by step and are keen to share the best practices observed in our experiences with a range of events of all types and sizes, whether in terms of cashless payment, access control or online ticketing.
