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An Introduction: Custom Ticket Books and Digital Tickets
Whilst Event Ticketing Systems have evolved over time, with the mass adoption of digital ticketing systems, ticket books are still being used and have their unique advantages in today’s changing landscape.
Event ticketing is a key part of event management and is used in concerts, sports games, and festivals, to name a few. It is essential for controlling entry and movement during big events.
Today, the two most commonly used forms of ticketing are paper tickets and digital ones kept on mobile devices.
Whilst custom ticket books involve physical tickets, digital tickets involve scanning QR codes or similar technology available on people’s mobile devices. In recent times, there has been an observable shift towards digital tickets. However, there is still a place for custom ticket books and paper tickets over e-tickets.
In this article, we will highlight some of the key differences between the two ticketing types, including their unique benefits and potential drawbacks.
Ticket Types - Characteristics and Applications
Main Types of Paper and Digital Tickets
There are two main types of paper tickets. The first ones are perforated tickets with a tear-off section. They are commonly used at concerts and local events and are picked up at the entry gate.
The second option is thermal tickets, which are printed using heat-sensitive paper that does not use ink but instead uses heat to ‘print’ onto tickets; they often utilise barcodes that can be scanned.
Conversely, there are also a couple of different types of digital tickets, including QR code tickets, and barcodes that are sent to attendees to be kept on their digital devices, and then scanned at event gates. Another option is the Near-Field-Communication (NFC) ticketing system that uses scanners to verify tickets.
Different Ticket Types Used in Various Events
Common uses for paper tickets:
- Local, smaller-scale events, including charity events
- Theme parks
- Fairs
- Transport systems
- Sporting events
- Zoos
- Cinemas
Common uses for digital tickets:
- Paper and printing/ink
- Security features such as holograms and perforations
- Designing the tickets
- Distribution costs, including shipping costs
How Digital Ticketing Systems Expenses Compare to Paper Tickets
Digital ticketing systems have lower upfront costs when compared to paper tickets.
The main cost associated with digital ticketing systems is digital platform expenses which involve digital platform fees. There may also be some ongoing costs in software maintenance, upgrades and cybersecurity measures, as well as ticket scanners.
Which Ticketing System Offers Better Long-Term Financial Benefits?
When it comes to the financial analysis, there are different financial benefits to each ticketing option
Whilst paper tickets have higher upfront costs, they are usually better suited to smaller events, where purchasing software for digital tickets is not realistic, and may cost more than the material and labour cost of paper tickets.
For larger events, digital tickets offer better long-term financial benefits, as they are cheaper at scale and offer some return on investment (ROI), as they also allow for advertisement and easier marketing.
User Experience - The Attendee Perspective
How Attendees Interact With Custom Ticket Books and Digital Tickets
When it comes to custom ticket books, attendees are required to store and present a physical ticket at event gates. When at the event, they are required to show their physical ticket, and they are often asked to scan it. Whilst there is potential for these tickets to get lost, they offer great sentimental value and are often kept as a memento for the event.
Digital tickets, on the other hand, are more known for their convenience. They are stored on a mobile device and scanned via QR code, barcode, or NFC. Although showing the ticket is still required, it is not physically kept.
Which Ticketing System Offers a Better User Experience?
Both ticketing systems offer different benefits in terms of user experience.
Paper tickets offer better accessibility to people who do not have access or know how to use a digital device. This can result in better customer satisfaction amongst this population. Another key benefit is that paper copies are often used as ticket keepsakes, which helps with the overall customer journey.
For people attending events where keepsakes are less of a potential benefit, digital tickets are easier to handle, and the ease of convenience for most people helps with customer satisfaction.
Factors Influencing Attendee Satisfaction With Different Ticket Types
- Convenience: Digital tickets are usually more convenient
- Contactless entry: Digital tickets often streamline event entry more
- Accessibility: Paper tickets offer greater accessibility to people who are less comfortable with technology
- Security and peace of mind: Paper tickets are less susceptible to digital fraud
- Sentimental value: Paper tickets have greater sentimental value and are often collected
Future Trends - The Evolution of Event Ticketing
New Technologies Shaping the Future of Event Ticketing
Emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain and NFTs are rapidly changing the future of event ticketing. These technologies may offer benefits such as personalised event remediation, predictive data analytics, fraud detection and tighter resale control.
How AI, Blockchain, and Biometrics May Change the Ticketing Landscape
These new technologies will likely add new features to digital ticketing rather than revolutionise ticketing. These include data-driven insights, highly specialised marketing, and additional event attendee tools. In the future, face ID may be used instead of the tickets themselves.
Will Custom Ticket Books Survive in an Increasingly Digital World?
As the world becomes more digital, it has been shown time and time again that some things never change. Physical tickets will likely remain for their unique collectible value, especially for special events where people carry sentimental value from ticketing.
They are also great for people with accessibility options and smaller events.
A Summary: Custom Ticket Books vs Digital Tickets
Both custom ticket books and digital tickets have their place in today’s ticketing systems and are likely to coexist in harmony in the future.
Whilst custom ticket books offer a sense of nostalgia and are often used in smaller events or events where accessibility issues are evident, digital ticketing systems certainly offer benefits. Digital ticketing systems are more cost-effective for larger-scale ticketing, potentially more environmentally friendly, and can have enhanced safety features.
If you’re interested in how custom ticket books can be used in your event, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 08 8363 4850, or email us at [email protected]. We’re always more than happy to help.
- QR codes/barcodes
- Near Field Communication (NFC)
- Digital wallet integration, i.e. Apple Wallet
- Blockchain Technology
- Two-factor authentication
- Encryption