How Connect&GO can make operations easier with RFID
by James Careless
Since launching a decade ago, Connect&GO’s RFID-based (radio frequency identification) technology has made end-to-end, streamlined, cashless operations possible at a wide range of visitor attractions and venues. “We started in the events space with RFID wristbands and modules for access control, cashless and experiential activations with over 800 implementations worldwide, including the Super Bowl, SXSW Festival and even the Olympics,” says Tara Morandi, Connect&GO’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “But that was only the beginning. Our technology has evolved to become a true all-in-one platform that offers the attractions industry a robust solution for managing eCommerce, point- of-sale, access control, cashless and more.” Having specialized in marketing and ticketing since 2007, Morandi knows her industry and her competitors.
The all-in-one platform Morandi is referring to is the company’s flagship product, their Konnect attractions management platform used by waterparks, family entertainment centers, zoos & aquariums, and attractions around the world. The growing list of clients that have adopted their RFID solutions include Roaring Springs Waterpark and Wahooz Family Fun Zone in Meridian, Idaho; Splashway Waterpark & Campground in Sheridan, Texas; Playland in Rye, New York, Wild Water Adventure Park in Clovis, California, and several clients in Quebec, including Zoo De Granby and Super Aqua Club. “This year Connect&GO is on track to surpass $250 million in transactions, which is up from $100 million in 2022, and 10 million tickets sold through our platform by the end of 2023,” says Morandi.
The Konnect platform uniquely centralizes all guest data and transactions into proprietary Virtual Wallets which are stored on RFID media. These credit card-backed wallets are created for guests when they buy their tickets or season passes, and are assigned to their RFID wearables, cards and/or mobile devices to enable seamless access and cashless purchasing throughout an attraction.
Konnect Mobile and the benefits of integrated cashless systems
By accelerating gate admissions and onsite sales, Connect&GO has delivered benefits to park operators. Now the company is taking this ease of operation to the next level, through its upgraded Konnect Mobile point-of-sale (POS). These wireless mobile units allow operators to sell admissions, activate wristbands and fulfill web orders from any location in their park.
“Our Konnect Mobile unit isn’t necessarily new in our space, but it is much more intuitive and the ease of use has improved,” says Megan Fulbright, Connect&GO’s Senior Business Development Director, whose background includes 22 years in operations with Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (Arlington, TX). “It has been enhanced to manage ticket sales, ecommerce transaction redemptions, wristband allotments, single ride sales and/or cashless.”
Connect&GO’s growth in the attractions market signals a shift in thinking on the part of operators. “For far too long, the attractions industry has been stuck with separate legacy systems to manage a wide range of their operational needs,” says Morandi. “Now we’re coming to a point where operators are starting to realize there is no reason why they should need to have 12 separate systems that don’t communicate with one another. It leads to a fragmented guest experience and keeps data siloed and difficult to access, preventing them from growing their business.”
Using an integrated platform such as Konnect simplifies tasks such as adjusting prices and procedures, unlike less-flexible legacy systems. A case in point: “Recently when we were onboarding a new client, she told us that one of the reasons they were switching vendors was because she was tired of having to drive back across town anytime she needed to make a pricing change, because she needed to reboot the servers after hours for the change,” Morandi says. “With our fully-hosted system, she was excited that she could make a pricing change from anywhere and it would go live right away!”
The Konnect all-in-one platform married to RFID bracelets, cards, and mobile devices also helps guests to stay organized, which contributes to a better experience. “It’s confusing to have to juggle different tickets, vouchers and codes for everything, especially if you have kids to manage,” says Morandi. “As a mom of two girls myself, the less I have to keep track of when we’re out, the better. With an integrated system and cashless technology, guests can load funds directly onto wristbands for each member of their family, and simply tap to access or pay throughout the facility. They can also access their tickets, benefits, arcade games tokens and cashless funds to purchase items at restaurants, retail shops and beyond. Reducing other friction points like long lines with our self-serve kiosks, Konnect mobile POS and integrated locker rentals, helps make guests enjoy their visit even more.”
Embracing cashless
That many in the attractions sector are now embracing integrated cashless/sales management systems represents a shift in overall business management.
“I’ve been in this industry for over 15 years and technology has always been a hard thing to embrace for operators,” Morandi says. “With bigger problems like staffing shortages, training, weather, and safety to worry about, it hasn’t always been a top priority. But now operators are starting to understand that technology can actually help alleviate some of those problems. Short-staffed? Utilize self-service kiosks and mobile point of sale units to get guests out of line and through the front gates faster. Allow guests to pre-purchase food and beverage items, parking and luxury cabanas all from the comfort of home using an intuitive ecommerce experience. After all, the more you can reduce the need for a staff touchpoint, the more guests (and Moms like me) will appreciate it.”
“I am finding that everyone from the general manager all the way down to the front gate operator is seeing the major benefits of updated technology,” says Fulbright. “I myself came from a legacy system where I needed to pull information from multiple sources to get to the information I needed. Once I have been able to show several of my colleagues in the industry how simple it is to garner information needed from a single source like Konnect, I have won their attention.”
The fact that Konnect is flexible and easy to work with is also changing operator attitudes. “Operations changes from day to day based on so many factors: staffing, weather, guest attendance, and guests’ attitudes,” Fulbright observes. “Our
Konnect platform allows operators to adapt to the tide. As well, many of them have witnessed my comfort with it, which serves as an encouragement to most. And after all, today’s frontline staff and other young professionals are very comfortable with the technology, as long as it is intuitive and easy to learn.”
The fact that the Konnect cashless system supports a better guest experience is also helping to change minds. Satisfied guests are more likely to come back, and spend money every time they do. “As a mom, I love the ease of the cashless system,” says Fulbright. “I can send my teenager to the parks and see what he is spending and how he is spending it. I can add or take away at the drop of a hat. I imagine that is how other guests see this. Kiosks, integrated locker systems and the cashless opportunities put fun at your fingertips or your wrist while reducing friction. I have seen it with my own eyes!”
Making the transition
Benefits aside, “switching technology or even updating technology is a headache. No one wants to make a huge leap,” Fulbright admits. “It is scary and overwhelming. But the benefits are worth it, especially because our system is easy to train on, cloud-based and good for the bottom line. It gives you real-time data and grows with you – once the system is in place it can live there and evolve as your park does!”
Operators can transition incrementally. “Testing out cashless before committing to the whole system is a great place to start,” says Fulbright.
What’s coming next? “We are constantly working to evolve our solution based on client feedback and what the market needs for attractions,” says Morandi. “Our Chorus Pro integration will be ready this fall and we are also developing our AttendX platform, an AI solution we are launching with our partner MoovAI that provides traffic prediction and dynamic pricing models based on estimated attendance and weather patterns.”
For more information, Connect&GO invites you to book a demo at IAAPA Expo Europe or Orlando via their website, www.connectngo.com •
