The Joys of Technology!
1st March 2016
Technology within events is continually developing as we are now in the age of print at home tickets and contactless payments! But are event organisers really thinking with a sustainable hat on?
Print at home tickets
Print at home tickets have been introduced for a range of events such as music events and sporting events. The idea behind these developments is to save the consumer’s time and also to reduce the environmental effects of printing tickets. However the printing of tickets is still happening just in the comfort of our own homes?
Whenever communicating with stakeholders by designing, promoting, and running an event, organisers have to take into account its impacts on the environment. So when events are organised and tickets can be printed at home by the consumer is this really sustainable and is this the only way that tickets can be produced.
- Paperless ticketing technology has been available for over 11 years, but paperless tickets only account for about 1% of the over 100 million live event tickets sold annually.
- Despite their potential benefits, sustainable technologies are often slow to be adopted by event companies.
- Research suggests that buyers perceiving new technologies as risky as paperless tickets will need increased informational needs from the company in order to change the way they attain tickets.
- Therefore it is essential that the event companies play a key role in providing the information needed to ensure the consumers perceived risk and promote the benefits of using sustainable technologies.
- Resistance to new technologies stems from existing practices and habits, lower evaluation of the technology’s attributes and features, and higher perceived risks.
- Habits are formed when buyers purchase and use the same products over time.
Problems with using technology
There are many different ways in which companies can provide consumers with a ticket to an event such as scanned in QR code on their phones or simply showing a confirmation email, however the effectiveness and efficiency of these methods has not yet been proven. Some methods can be time consuming and also require technology that not all consumers will have which can create problems. The reliability and efficiency of new technology may also come in to question when using these methods, as these factors are hard to measure. However if consumers who are attending events can see that new technology is making their experience more enjoyable then they will without doubt buy in to the idea.
Does this really save money?
The whole idea of print at home tickets is to save companies money by reducing printing cost but are they not just shifting the expense of printing to us in our homes? Surely not? By printing tickets at home it saves the organisers money because they are not having to print tickets themselves which means they don’t need to pay staff costs and other costs such as the cost of using machines to print tickets. So that means it will save the consumer money? No, it doesn’t save the consumer money due to the fact that paper needs to be bought in order to print the tickets off not to mention a printer and ink. That’s right you heard correctly you as a consumer are paying for the ticket itself, a booking fee and then printing it yourself at home!
Environmental effects
As a result of economic and environmental initiatives, paper recycling rates continue to rise. In Europe, recycling has increased by nearly 20% within the last decade or so, reaching a level of almost 72% in 2012.
As a way of encouraging event organisers to think of the environment and for these rates to continue to rise the government could offer more incentives in regards to recycling at events, for example all tickets that have been printed on paper for the event can be recycled and reused. At the end of the event whether it be a festival or sporting event, attendees can dispose of their tickets printed on paper into specific bins/containers on the way out which can all be sent off to be recycled. This would then reduce the effect on the environment in the long run, meaning not as many trees will have to be chopped down and used to make paper. By doing this events could potentially promote pro-environmental behaviour change amongst attendees.
Apart from the financial implication there are also other factors such as the environment to think about, and the ways in which we use our natural surroundings and raw materials to produce everyday things.
Are event companies thinking sustainably about the environmental effects that their events can have?
Are there ways in which they can be more sustainable and responsible…?
Printing tickets at home is something I am noticing more, but like it is stated in this the cost is simply being shifted its not necessarily making an environmental effect with less waste as the tickets are still there. In this day and age many people get emails to their phones, could e-tickets not be spread wider instead? As with many events I have been to being festivals, concerts or the theatre I find that either myself or the people working at the event simply bin the tickets. The idea of having designated bins to support and encourage the recycling of these tickets is a good one as long as they’re easily accessible with the impatient and busy nature that comes with the majority of events. I feel like printing tickets at home is just a small step with the technology that is available to companies to creating a more sustainable future and having a bigger impact on the environment.
Hi Joanne, Thank you for both your comments! I totally agree with your points especially the point about companies going to all e-tickets because it would most definitely reduce the effects on the environment and also potentially save the consumers money. I think this would spread e tickets wider and would also make it easier for consumers by them not having to remember to bring there ticket confirmation because it would be on their phone. I have worked at festivals in the past where the tickets that have been printed at home are either given back to the consumer when they entered the event or just simply been put in the bin. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by the event companies and rules need to be enforced.
The idea of printing tickets at home to be more sustainable is s good one but I agree all it really does is shift the cost from the company to the consumer as the tickets are still being printed and therefore we are still in the same situation as before. With technology ever developing and the day and age that we live in where people lead the busy lives that they do more and more people receive their emails straight to their phones. Bearing this is mind could companies not completely elimate the paper waste by having e-tickets? I find that no matter the size of the event or nature of the event you are going to the tickets more often than not end up in the bin unless people keep them for a momento and even then how long is it before they go in the bin? The idea of having designated bins for the tickets to be put in and recycled in a good one and probably the easiest and cheapest way to ensure that the waste is actually recycled. With technology ever developing companies too could use this to create more sustainable and Eco-friendly events.
Hi again Joanne,
I think there also needs to be more incentives for consumers implemented by the event companies in order to have a positive effect on the environment.
This is an interesting topic, although I can see why the printing tickets at home initative would be more helpful to venues and events being more sustainable by passing this on this only causes individuals to print when they dont need too. Maybe the way forward would be to reward delegates entering online with a discounted ticket?
Hi Jas,
Thank you for commenting. This would be a great idea, it also wouldn’t take a lot of time or money for the event companies to enforce it.
Maybe some event companies may want to stick to there ‘old ways’ and keep printing tickets? and not really thinking about the environment.
I think paperless ticketing will be a natural progression as we become more and more immersed into the world of smart phones. However, I for one will be disappointed. There is something about receiving an official ticket in the post. The feel, the smell, being able to hold it and more so, keep it afterwards as a memento are lost in the advances of technology.
I’m not sure the event companies can really claim that they are reducing their environmental impact by providing a print at home service. Yes, they themselves aren’t creating the waste but all they have done is offset the waste to the consumer. What exactly does the booking fee cover?! However, by providing a electronic way of ticketing, will reduce the impact on the environment. Would this not increase fraud though?
Interesting point about using a designated bin to recycle after the event. I would imagine most people would have already discarded the ticket or tucked it away out of sight and wouldn’t think about using the recycling on site. You would also have the sentimental people who would want to keep it! I’m not sure this would be a feasible option.
I don’t envy the event companies in lessening the environmental impacts of events. It will probably always be a working progress!
Hi Hannah,
Thank you very much for your comment you cover some good points. With regards to booking fees a lot of companies don’t actually tell you what the booking fee covers so maybe this is something that more companies need to do. The increased risk of fraud is a concern but that risk is always there even in our day to day lives especially now where we are in the age of contact less cards! maybe if there was some kind of incentive for event goer to recycle the used tickets it may work but would need to be developed by the event companies?
I’ve printed tickets at home for all kinds of spring events and it is more convenient but not helpful to the environment. I have used paperless tickets for flights and the technology works well so maybe there’s a bigger market for that.
Hi Bethany thank you for taking the time to comment, I agree with you I have done the same in the past. Maybe it just comes down to event companies investing in technology to improve visitors experience?
Interesting blog! I went to the cinema and the theatre last week. At the cinema I booked online, was sent an image which was then scanned at the entrance and I was directed to the relevant screen. Fast, easy, slick and environmentally friendly. I also booked my theatre tickets online, to collect at the box office. I was sent a reference number. When I arrived at the theatre, I had to queue, quoted my ref no and was handed a string of perforated pieces of card in an envelope with my name on it. I took 4 steps into the auditorium and handed said pieces of card to an usher who took them, tore them in half and kept them and directed me to my seat. It did strike me at the time that the process was unnecessarily complicated, even though there was some technology involved in some of the process and the ticket thing seemed utterly pointless, heavy on manpower, wasteful on energy and I was left with an envelope to dispose of. I’m all for technology taking the strain but I would like to see the cost saving reflected in the price of the experience and why there is a booking fee attached to the e-process is beyond me. I’m sure in my younger days we didn’t have booking fees and it just seems like an added cost to increase profits. As you point out, if a printed ticket is required and you are expected to do it yourself, then to charge a booking fee feels llike I’m being robbed for doing all the work!
Hi
Thank you very much for your comment. When attending the cinema I agree that being sent an image and having it scanned when you arrive is a great Idea. I only wish that more companies would do the same and not make consumers have to print out tickets and keep using more paper. I also agree with the price being reflected in the experience. With regards to the usher keeping the torn pieces of card they should be put into the recycling? They are more than likely torn up and put into a regular bin with other mixed rubbish such as drinks etc. This is having an effect on the environment because all the waste will just go to landfill. The booking fee charges need to be better explained to the consumer in order to make sure people understand better.
Interesting read! Some great points made
Thank You very much for your comment Sandra!
Hi Luke, I’ve never really thought about the cost to me for printing a ticket at home, I think it’s because most of us have printers at home already and therefore we don’t see it as an extra cost, just a use of our existing resources. I think if the point was highlighted to more consumers, there would be a higher demand for different methods of ticketing, and your blog is a great starting point to raise awareness of this issue. In terms of scanned QR codes on phones, apps such as pass book for iPhone are great meaning you don’t need to access the internet to get your ticket up once you’ve downloaded it once, however as you say not everyone has devices to use these apps or they simply don’t want to. I think we may see a change in ticketing at events over time to move more towards online /paperless ticketing, nonetheless as younger generations have grown up with this technology and are keen to use it.
Hi Jessie,
Thank you very much for your comment. I think that all companies should develop their technology as much as they can then it would make many aspects of the consumers experience much better for examples waiting times. For the people who do not have the technology other initiatives should be made.
Really interesting blog on event technology! Printing tickets at home will help to speed up entry to events. Let’s hope more events do this in the future!
I agree that printing tickets at home will speed up entry to events. However I think that event managers need to also think of ways to eliminate the printing of tickets by developing new technology?
Hi Luke ,
I have read through your blog and I agree with the points you are making. I think that more companies should become more technology driven because we are in 2016 after all! They need to be continually developing in order to make the experience the best possible for the consumers, if that means they do not print tickets for events and you just need to take something that is scanned on your phone then so be it.The effects that events have on the environment are there for everyone to see but are rarely measured which is a concern. I only wish that more people would write blogs such as this on these matters then maybe event managers would think about the environment more? Do you think there are any ways in which companies and event managers can work together to be more friendly to the environment?
Hi John,
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. In answer to your questions I think that event managers and organisers should think more about the effect on the environment. I think there are or could be ways in which event managers and companies can work together in order to think about the environmental effects. Also they could work together to develop ways in which technology can make events more attractive and give consumers a better experience.
Very intresting blog! Companies do need to use technology to help the customer have an easy experience of booking tickets. I feel companies need to use technology to limit printing at home, do less people now own personal printers then 5/10 years ago?? With online storage etc.. available.
Great blog!
Hi Olly,
Thank You! I would say that many more people own printers these days. Hopefully more companies will develop technology and make life easier for consumers!
Very thought provoking Luke. This is a very complex area of business, it not only covers the environmental aspect but also social and technological. Does printing at home save on time or cost? If there is a (hidden) cost saving, surely this actually becomes a profit margin for the company, I bet the company does not pass on any savings to its customers by way of a discount, no, they keep the difference but still expect us to pay any additional cost. Environmentally there is a status quo as you pointed out, all there is, is just a shift from producer to consumer. Technologically there is a way to go I think, how many people are comfortable with QR codes etc? I think we are talking a complete generation of learning and confidence in terms of consumers becoming more technologically savvi…
Hi Simon,
I agree that there could be a link between companies profit margins and hidden savings. I think that QR codes and other technological developments are fairly new age so they haven’t been around long. The world we live in is always developing many things and technology is just one of the areas.
Thank You very much for your comment.
Hi Luke,
I think this is a very interesting topic and i love the fact it is being thought about. I think the developments of technology are increasing everyday and i believe that it is more of an easier and efficient way for higher technology to be an essential tool to rely on. Event attendees look at capturing every moment with their smart phones, and with that use of technology it makes it a popular and key component when attending events.
Thanks for you comment Felicity! I hope more event managers will take on board ways in which technology can affect attendees experiences.
Hi Luke,
Great Blog! I agree that event managers need to work with event companies to develop technology within the events industry. Even if people do not have the technology needed there should still be ways in which tickets can not be printed out in order to save the environment. I think that is it essential that consumers experiences should be improved, especially at some popular large festival where not a lot of initiatives are provides to the consumers. Do you think that event managers are not developing technology because of the cost? Or maybe it is so time consuming maybe?
Cost could be an issue which could be stopping event managers from developing technology. However the amount of money that large scale events make by putting on events they should make sure some of the money goes to developing technology. Time consuming could also be an issue but if they do don’t develop technology then they may get left behind if other festivals or events decide to take the plunge and invest!
A really thought-provoking read. I, naively, have always thought by having the option to print my tickets at home was to benefit me as the consumer, when in actual fact – as you’ve highlighted – it’s purely benefiting the organisers. Since we’re now in 2016, and a large majority of people now have smart phones and other technological devices, it seems apt for organisations to start taking advantage of technology to ‘actually’ help the consumer, whilst too, being sustainable!
Hi Harriet,
I agree that organisations can do more with regards to technology to help the consumers and also be sustainable.
Thank You for taking the time to read my blog .
Hi Luke, what an interesting topic. I hadn’t thought of this being an issue at all before hand. Some really interesting facts and I agree that people need to be more tech savvy. However this could be challenging introducing new technologies to the older generations, due to the adoption of such technologies. Therefore I think that this strategy should start by targeting specific events that are targeted to the younger generation, to get the ball rolling and to make it a social norm to use an e-ticketing mobile system. I also agree with your point on the organisation educating consumers. And in time I believe that printers and paper will be used less and less.
Hi Amy, I totally agree that it will be difficult to introduce new technology to older generations but as long as the technology is available then they can be taught how to use it. I hope that in the future consumers will become more educated and also the use of paper will decrease significantly.
I enjoyed reading your blog it was interesting
Thank you very much for your comment Claire. I am glad you enjoyed reading my blog and found it interesting!
An interesting blog which gets you thinking! If more events could start using paperless tickets by making sure barcodes etc.. can be scanned straight from a phone, it could make a huge difference to the environment!
Hi Rachel, I agree that this would make things a lot easier for the consumer when attending events. Hopefully this will make a change to the effects on the environment too.
I quite often print my tickets off at home when going to an event and I have always found it very easy and reliable. In the past I have had problems with smart phones so printing it off just saves me a lot of time and hassle.
Hi Ryan, that is a very interetsing point you have made, What do you do with the paper when you have been permitted entry to the venue? Just throw it into a normal bin or a recycling bin?
What a spectacular read ! This made me consider positives and negatives to new technology’s that I hadn’t thought of before, for example printing tickets off at home is very convenient for the customer, however the cost of the ticket does not reduce eventhough the company hasn’t had to print the ticket off, very insightful!
Hi Jeff,
I am glad you enjoyed the read. I think that if it was made clear by companies why they offer a print at home service the consumers would become more educated.
Hi Luke,
Had a good read of your blog and I really enjoyed the areas that you have address. I think that event managers should develop technology in order to make the experience of the consumers better. Whether they do this by recycling more or increasing levels of technology, it has to be done. The cost of the developments will pay for themselves over time. With regards to consumers who do not have the technology this can be addressed by the event managers by having all the relevant technology available at events so they are not discriminated against.
Hi Alex,
I think that making the consumers experience more efficient is key when attending events but the environmental effects still need to addressed. Some large festivals and event the effects on the environment are ignored. I agree that the cost of developing new technology will initially be high however over time it will pay for itself. The technology should be available to everyone in order to make sure no one is missing out on making there experience better.
More recycling measures should be put in place for the print at home tickets and the technology needs to be proven in order for it to work. The figures don’t lie!
Hi Danniel,
I agree that recycling needs to be taken more seriously, equally the development of technology needs to be sustainable.
A very interesting read. I believe that as technology is advancing year after year, and more people have access to it technology, festivals and large events will turn to electronic devices for tickets. However this may narrow the audience the event is open to, as there will still be a small minority that will not have the accessibility for the appropriate technology. Will this in turn mean the company running the event lose out on money?
Hi Jess,
I believe that they are making a lot of money by holding the event in the first place so if they invested in technology it would make them more money in the long run! Thank you for your comment.
Very interesting blog, good read really think more needs to be done to tackle events companies working with technology
Hi Jack,
Thank for your comment. I agree I am not sure if more research needs to be done by the event managers into technology? or the research has been done and the technology is there but just not being used…?
We have started to use a scanner on the iPad and it saves us so much time when people are queueing to get into one of our events. We used to manually log people in using an excel spreadsheet.
Hi Seonaid,
Thank you for your comment it is great to hear that you are using technology to your advantage. I am imagine it does save a lot of time.
Really interesting read, great points made that need to be considered!!!
Thank You for your comment Alex! Much appreciated