Mobile ticketing has become increasingly popular in recent years. With mobile ticketing, customers can purchase, manage, and use tickets directly from their smartphones. This offers a convenient and hassle-free way to get tickets for concerts, movies, transportation, and more. But how exactly does mobile ticket delivery work?
What is mobile ticketing?
Mobile ticketing refers to the process of purchasing, managing, and using digital tickets from a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. The ticket is delivered directly to and stored on the customer’s mobile device rather than printed out on paper. Customers can access their tickets at any time by opening up the relevant app on their device.
Mobile ticketing utilizes special ticket apps or mobile websites to facilitate the ticket delivery and verification process. The ticket information including the barcode or QR code is securely stored in the app. Most mobile ticketing services are provided by the venue, event organizer, or transportation provider directly rather than third-party ticket sellers.
How does the mobile ticket delivery process work?
The mobile ticketing process involves several key steps:
- Purchase – Customers purchase tickets through a mobile app or mobile web browser. Payment is processed securely through the app.
- Delivery – The ticket is delivered directly to the customer’s smartphone via the app used to make the purchase. Customers receive confirmation of the successful ticket delivery.
- Storage – Tickets are stored and accessible in the app used to purchase them. Customers can view, manage, and use the tickets by opening up the app.
- Verification – When entering the venue, customers open up the app and display the active ticket to be scanned or validated. The barcode is checked for legitimacy.
- Updates – If tickets are transferred or resold, the app is updated to reflect the ticket’s new owner. Apps also provide updates on any changes to the event.
This process allows the entire ticketing lifecycle to be completed electronically on a mobile device. Tickets never need to be printed out or physically handed off.
What are the benefits of mobile ticketing?
Mobile ticketing offers various benefits for customers, venues, and event organizers:
- Convenience – Tickets are easily accessible from customers’ smartphones at all times.
- Efficiency – The entry process is streamlined by eliminating physical ticket verification.
- Security – Tickets have secure digital signatures to prevent fraud and duplication.
- Environment – Going paperless reduces waste and carbon footprint.
- Costs – Operational costs are lower since physical distribution is eliminated.
- Data – Mobile ticketing generates valuable customer data including engagement and purchases.
What technology is involved?
There are several key technologies that enable mobile ticketing to work:
- Mobile wallets – Apps that store tickets purchased through the app like Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
- Barcodes – A visual code scanned to verify the ticket like a QR code.
- NFC – Near-field communication allows ticket scanning when the phone is tapped.
- SMS/MMS – Tickets can be delivered and displayed via text messaging.
- Location services – GPS helps verify customers are at the event location when tickets are scanned.
In addition, mobile ticketing apps utilize standard mobile technologies like encryption for security and push notifications for communication and updates.
What are the key players?
Some of the major companies providing mobile ticketing platforms and solutions include:
Company | Details |
---|---|
Eventbrite | Leading self-service event management and ticketing platform. |
TickPick | Ticket marketplace with primary mobile focus. |
SeatGeek | Major ticket marketplace with prominent mobile apps. |
Ticketmaster | Industry leader in event ticketing including mobile delivery. |
AXS | Digital ticketing platform owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group. |
Many public transportation providers, sports franchises, concert promoters, theaters, and other venues also have their own proprietary mobile ticketing services.
What types of tickets can you get on mobile?
Some of the main types of tickets available through mobile delivery include:
- Concert and music festival tickets
- Theater and performing arts tickets
- Movie tickets
- Sporting events tickets
- Airline tickets
- Train and bus tickets
- Wristbands for events and venues
- Park admissions tickets
- Lottery tickets
Virtually any ticket that does not strictly require a paper format can be delivered electronically to a mobile device. Venues are increasingly offering mobile ticketing as an option even if paper tickets are also still available.
How do you access your mobile tickets?
Customers can access their purchased mobile tickets in a few different ways:
- Via the app used to purchase the tickets – Open the app and navigate to the “My Tickets” section.
- Apple Wallet / Google Pay – If transferred to a mobile wallet app, tickets appear there.
- Text message – Some tickets are delivered and displayed via SMS.
- Email confirmation – The ticket PDF can sometimes be accessed via email as a backup.
If using the primary app, customers typically login using the same account details they purchased the ticket with. The app displays active ticket info and barcode ready for use.
How are mobile tickets verified and scanned?
Mobile tickets are verified in one of several ways:
- Barcode/QR code – Customer opens app and venue scans code like regular barcode.
- NFC – Customer taps phone on enabled scanner for contactless verification.
- Bluetooth – Short range wireless communication between devices.
- Visual inspection – Staff visually confirm ticket details on customer’s phone.
Once the mobile ticket is confirmed as legitimate, the customer is allowed to enter the venue or redeem the ticket service. Some apps also utilize location services to prevent fraudulent use of tickets.
Are mobile tickets transferable?
The transferability of mobile tickets varies depending on the issuer and technology used:
- Non-transferable – Tickets locked to the purchaser’s account.
- Resellable/sharable – New recipient must be identified when transferring a ticket through the app.
- Transferable – Tickets can be freely transferred to other users.
To enable transfers, customers typically must link the recipient to their ticket purchase in the app. Transferability improves flexibility but reduces security and traceability.
Can mobile tickets be reused or resold?
Most mobile ticketing apps have safeguards in place to prevent unauthorized reuse or resale of already redeemed tickets:
- Single-use barcodes – Barcodes can only be scanned once and are then invalidated
- Location tracking – Apps use GPS to ensure tickets are only usable at the event venue
- Activation windows – Tickets can only be accessed within the valid activation timeframe
Despite this, some fraud still occurs through technical workarounds. Issues of reuse and resale are essentially the same as with paper tickets. Mobile ticketing limits physical distribution of already used tickets but does not fully solve these problems.
What are the disadvantages or concerns with mobile tickets?
There are a few potential disadvantages to consider with mobile ticketing:
- Technology issues – Faulty internet connections, dead batteries, app glitches etc. can prevent ticket access.
- Security risks – Hacking or theft of login details could allow ticket stealing.
- Restrictions – Lack of transferability reduces flexibility for customers.
- Usability – Scanning issues and lack of standardization across venues.
While improving steadily, mobile ticketing does still face challenges related to technical execution and standardization across different venues. Overall customer adoption continues to increase however as benefits outweigh disadvantages for most use cases.
Conclusion
The rising popularity of mobile ticketing provides a convenient digital alternative to traditional paper-based ticketing. Customers can easily access tickets anytime on their smartphones while venues and organizers benefit from quicker verification, valuable customer data, and reduced operational costs. With steady improvements in technology and widespread adoption amongst major venues and events, mobile ticketing will likely continue growing as the default choice for a seamless ticket delivery and management experience.