Cameron Hoy, the head of ticketing at Ticketek, says the TEG-owned firm’s imminent launch of NFC-enabled contactless tickets on iPhone and Apple Watch is a “game-changer for the industry” in Australia.
The integration with Apple Wallet, to be debuted next month at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, will allow fans to enter a venue with tap-and-go technology, which uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
Customers will also receive a push notification when they arrive at the venue, allowing them to quickly access their tickets for streamlined entry.
Hoy, who is also Ticketek’s chief operating officer, said: “The introduction of tap-and-go tickets on iPhone and Apple Watch is a ground-breaking move away from traditional ticketing barcodes and scanning technologies, designed to enhance both customer usability and event operations.
“This is the most personalised, frictionless and secure ticketing experience Ticketek has ever delivered.”
The technology will be introduced at the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on June 1 when the Queensland Reds host the Jaguares in Super Rugby, followed by rugby league’s State of Origin Game One on June 5.
The move comes at a time when the TEG-owned firm claims that more than 70 per cent of tickets in Australia are now delivered electronically, with 41 per cent of those directly on mobile phones. The firm said it predicts that the addition of contactless ticketing will “further accelerate the shift to paperless digital ticketing.”
Rod Pilbeam, the chief operating officer for AEG Ogden, which operates Suncorp Stadium, said: “We are proud to be the first venue in Australia to offer this innovative technology for our customers through our ticketing partner Ticketek.
“The contactless benefits extend beyond the turnstile, with fans also able to use Apple Pay to purchase food, drinks and merchandise throughout the stadium.”
Apple Wallet contactless ticketing is underpinned by Ticketek Identity, a digital ticketing programme with touch points across purchase, sharing and venue entry.
The ticketing company claims that the programme includes infrastructure to support data intelligence tools and biometric capabilities to enable fully identifiable, secure and frictionless customer experiences.
Contactless tickets on iPhone and Apple Watch will be rolled out to further venues across Australia in the coming months, and is part of Ticketek’s wider integration with Apple Pay that will soon be available across all its digital sales channels.
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