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Stadium events are an immersive experience that has thrived for thousands of years. Fans are naturally drawn to the excitement and overall sense of unity that comes with sporting events. To maintain the thrill of the fan experience, stadiums have evolved over the course of the years, accommodating several solutions to seamlessly connect the fan to the ultimate stadium experience. As technology becomes a prominent part of everyday life, it is only natural that it would find itself in today’s stadiums.
From admissions to personalization, stadium technology has become a vital tool to secure fan satisfaction and brand loyalty. While fans are primarily seeking high-quality entertainment, technology solutions can remove obstacles such as:
- Long wait times
- Product shrinkage
- Poor crowd control
- Accessibility constraints
- Sudden merchandise stock outs
- Double-booking and scheduling conflicts
4 Technology Systems Empowering Modern Stadiums
More often than not, stadiums are also cultural centers with historic value, which means they may present unique space challenges requiring different sets of technologies. Nevertheless, common solutions include the following systems:
1. Mobile POS systems
Studies have found that 45% of fans are now abandoning concession lines due to prolonged wait times which can be as high as 30 minutes per customer. The same study revealed that fans could spend as much as $20 more in concession purchases if their wait time was cut in half. While some stadiums have tried to overcome the issue with loyalty program perks, most fans are unwilling to download mobile applications for specific venues.
As a result, mobile POS systems can help get fans to their seats faster while enabling them to complete purchases from anywhere in the venue. Easy-to-use devices such as an enterprise tablet equipped with payment processing and an integrated scanner can empower workers to take in-line orders. Zebra’s rugged tablets and touchscreen handhelds take this a step further by delivering a PCI-compliant system in an Android interface for intuitive navigation. Streamlined checkout systems have been shown to reduce customer wait times by 23% increasing overall fan spend.
2. E-Ticketing
The advent of e-ticketing has brought about a remarkable convenience for sports enthusiasts who wish to avoid the hassle of standing in long queues at the stadium to purchase tickets. This technology enables fans to purchase tickets online easily and securely, without having to leave the comfort of their homes. It's a time-saving and hassle-free solution that has revolutionized the way fans attend sports events.
To avoid over-booking and support crowd control initiatives, an e-ticketing system needs real-time communication with your database. Flexible connectivity options embedded into your ticketing device prevent lagging signals from creating blind spots in the admission process.
Mobile printers and custom wristbands can also help optimize admission ticketing by connecting to your database and issuing entry wristbands faster, diminishing wait times. Next-generation printers can print up to 4 inches per second, shaving off queue time.
3. Digitized Inventory Management
No matter what industry it finds itself in, manual data processing is a gateway to costly errors. As workers spend more time updating inventory counts by hand, stadiums lose valuable time -and money- that could be spent serving fans. Furthermore, correctional costs for missed errors can far exceed automation implementation costs once you factor in wasted labor, lost customers, and wasted inventory.
A digital inventory management system (IMS) reduces the need for manual data entry while automating cycle counts. As workers are equipped with real-time stock levels, the chance for overstocking and/or stockout decreases, protecting the profits and preventing shrinkage. A digital IMS can involve several components, but at its core, it includes:
- A digital terminal – Handheld devices such as mobile computers, enterprise smartphones, and tablets are a few of today’s common digital terminals empowering stadiums. Touchscreen interfaces tend to be more helpful as they provide a user-friendly interface for workers who are already accustomed to touchscreens from their personal devices. Regardless of what type of terminal you choose, the device must be connected to your IMS software and other supporting devices to provide on-demand visibility into inventory quantities and locations.
- Automated data capture – Instead of recording cycle counts by hand, automated scanning transmits data faster and without errors. This can be particularly helpful during high-demand hours as inventory is sold faster. Advanced handheld devices similar to Zebra’s TC5x computers combine computing and scanning in one device, allowing you to process inventory data on the go through one terminal and with less training.
- Legible labels – Lastly, identification labels play a large role in improving inventory control as they hold crucial information about products to be transmitted to your IMS. Modern label technology has also enabled tamper-proof labels, which assist in minimizing product shrinkage in crowded areas.
4. Wearable Technology
Underlying most of the systems discussed above, ergonomic, wearable technologies leverage natural muscle movement to increase mobility and accelerate workflows. When combined with your mobile POS, wearable devices such as wrist-mounted computers and headsets expand the worker’s range of motion, empowering them to do more with less effort. This can also diminish worker fatigue, preserve safety, and bolster worker satisfaction.
Which solution is best suited for your space?
Modernization without an initial evaluation may end up being more complex than it has to be. That’s because preliminary assessments help identify bottlenecks and blind spots within your workflows and set attainable goals for your plan. When seeking to mobilize workflows, make sure your initial plan prioritizes the following benefits:
- Expand operational visibility – Whether in admissions or concessions, augmented visibility empowers teams to quickly adjust to change and prevent sudden disruptions.
- Adapt your connectivity network – As more devices enter your infrastructure, your team should ensure connectivity systems can support changes in all major areas of your venue.
- Secure personalization through actionable data – Today’s fans desire a personalized entertainment experience. Digitized data processing providing actionable insights can support accurate forecasting for personalized experiences and recommendations for fans.
For a more detailed overview of your implementation steps, download our solution guide here.
Technology has revolutionized the stadium experience, making it more enjoyable and convenient for fans. With the continued advancement of connectivity systems and modern devices, we can expect even more innovations to further enhance the fan experience in stadiums. To learn more about the technologies revolutionizing today’s leading venues, contact Strategic Systems.