Oktoberfest is a bacchanalian extravaganza – beer, food, lederhosen, German music, and crazy crowds. It’s messy, busy and fun. If festival organisers aren’t careful though, the messiness and busyness can get in the way of the fun. Long queues, slow payment systems, risk of theft – these all hinder the Oktoberfest experience.
At ID&C, we’ve worked with some of the biggest music festivals in the world to implement RFID wristband technology, with amazing results. Processes are more efficient, customers are happier, vendors make more money and festival organisers have cause for celebration. Read on to discover why we want to bring RFID to Oktoberfest celebrations everywhere.
Long queues are bad for business
At large festivals, queues are to be expected. But some queues – those especially slow, long ones where you doubt you’ll ever make it to the front – are not okay. Those kinds of queues mean big losses in revenue, as people give up, leave early and buy less. With RFID wristbands, festivals can go cashless, which reduces average transaction time and encourages spending. At recent cashless festivals, spending has risen between 35% and 100% compared to using cash or card.
Most payment systems are tedious
Cash, token and card payment systems are the industry standards, but they all have their downsides. Customers queue twice for cash and tokens; vendors count their revenue piece by piece. And amidst the rowdy Oktoberfest atmosphere, cash and tokens are easily lost or stolen. Card payment systems might be a bit easier, but not all cards are universally accepted, and vendors lose profits to credit card companies.
RFID simplifies and streamlines the payment system. Customers don’t have to carry cash, queue for tokens or check that their cards are accepted. Vendors don’t have to count their revenue manually or pay card fees. With more transparency in overall takings, Oktoberfest organisers can more accurately handle reconciliations and ultimately make more money.
RFID improves data capture and digital engagement
Oktoberfest has an incredibly strong brand that customers know and love. RFID makes engaging with this brand super easy. Customers can link their social media accounts to their RFID wristband for instantly posted updates. Vendors can boost their engagement by running interactive social media competitions during the festival. All of these digital engagements, as well as sales, stock and revenue information, is captured with RFID. This enables accurate measurement which can be used to improve performance in future years.
RFID improves security
Fake tickets, pass-backs, overcrowded beer tents – these can all be common problems at Oktoberfest; RFID offers simple solutions. For ticket fraud, this means wristbands and passes that are harder to fake than paper tickets. RFID also provides accurate access control – once someone has entered with an RFID pass, that pass cannot be reused by someone else. For overcrowding and public safety, RFID provides better real-time data. When organisers know where the biggest crowds are, they can send additional staff to prevent accidents and support crowd control.
RFID is virtually fool-proof to use
As a wristband and pass supplier, ID&C partners with the world’s leading RFID technology companies to create RFID systems that anyone can use. Festival organisers can rely on backup servers and real-time reporting to ensure smooth, uninterrupted sales. Customers are already familiar with contactless payment systems, so adapting to RFID wristbands is easy. With a simple tap or scan, they’ve purchased a pint and can continue their fun. If the wristband is lost or stolen, it can be immediately deactivated and a new one issued.
Ultimately, RFID technology helps to make Oktoberfest exactly what it’s supposed to be – a relaxed, safe, fun celebration of all things Bavarian, with plenty of bier and brezeln to go around. Prost!
If you’re interested in finding out more about how RFID can transform your Oktoberfest celebrations, get in touch today.
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