How to Streamline Event Check-In
Anyone who has hosted an event knows the the painstaking process of event check-in all too well. A slow check-in process results in an ever-growing check-in line and unhappy guests.
On the other hand, a smooth and and painless check-in process sets the tone for your event.
In order to ensure you start your event on a high note, we’ve put together a quick guide on how you can streamline event check-in at your next event.
1. Use an Online Ticketing Provider
A great event check-in experience starts with your ticketing or registration provider. If your guests have a hard time purchasing their tickets, you can assume with a fair amount of certainty that check-in will not go smoothly.
On the bright side, some amazing options are available for online ticketing and event registration . Of course, we would strongly recommend focusing your attention on an online provider. Online event ticketing will not only make it easier for your guests to purchase their tickets and for you and your team to track sales performance, but it will allow you to make more effective use of technology during event check-in. More on that later in this post!
A few more benefits of using an online ticketing provider:
- Increase the ease of purchasing tickets.
- Collect custom data points on your attendees.
- Send automatic confirmation emails to ticket buyers with their eTicket included.
- Gain sales insights and analytics in real time.
2. Send a Pre-Event Email
At this point, you’ve selected the perfect online ticketing provider, have sold out your event, and are getting ready for the big day or night. Prior to your event, we recommend sending a quick email to your guests with any important information about the event. This email can include a reminder for the date, time, and location of the event, and it can also include information on check-in to prepare your guests for their arrival. Certain things to include here are:
- Where they can find their ticket (confirmation email received when ticket was purchased)
- Parking / transportation information
- Where guests should enter your venue
Providing this quick reminder email will give your guests an idea of what to expect when they arrive at the event and will help ensure a quick and streamlined event check-in process.
3. Select an Easy Location for Check-In
As you determine the layout of your event and do your final walkthrough, make sure you select a logical place for event check-in. Your check-in location should be near the entrance of the venue and should allow for smooth foot traffic and as little congestion as possible.
To make things easier, be sure to include plenty of signage that will guide incoming guests to your check-in area.
Finally, use your staff and volunteers to warmly greet and guide traffic through and out of the check-in area.
4. Use Ticket Scanning
One of the easiest ways to streamline your event check-in will be to use ticket scanning technology, something that will only be necessary if you make use of an online ticketing provider. Ticket scanning technology will allow your staff and volunteers to download an app, use their smartphone’s camera, and instantly scan and check in guests that arrive.
Most event ticketing platforms come equipped with a ticket scanning app and will include a QR or barcode in any ticket purchased. This means that your guests can show either their eTicket or printed ticket if they’d like.
All devices will sync, meaning that if one staff member checks in a guest, all other staff members will instantly show that guest as “checked in.”
Worried that a guest may not be able to find their ticket and will hold up the check-in process? Don’t be! With most ticket scanning platforms, your staff can look up any attendees by name and directly check them in manually using the app.
5. Designate Multiple Well-Trained Staff Members or Volunteers for Event Check-In
While having a reliable event ticketing platform will certainly help move things along, a well-trained staff is simply irreplaceable.
Your check-in staff will focus on two major areas: ticket scanning and greeting / traffic control. Make sure your staff is confident, positive, and prepared to warmly greet your guests. Once guests have gone through your event check-in process, your remaining staff can guide traffic away from the check-in area and into your event.
A few things to nail down before the event include:
- Make sure your staff members understand the layout of your venue and the intended flow of the check-in process.
- Make sure all staff members have downloaded any app needed for ticket scanning.
Conclusion
You don’t have to dread event check-in! In offering these tips, we hope that you’re going to enjoy your most efficient and enjoyable event check-in process yet!
Originally published at https://www.accelevents.com on September 27, 2018.
