In the world of online ticket sales, speed is everything. Getting those coveted seats before anyone else is the name of the game when hot tickets go on sale. For many music, sports and theater fans, Ticketmaster is the go-to place for buying tickets online. With both mobile app and desktop website options, the question becomes: which platform allows for the fastest ticket buying experience?
The Importance of Speed
When trying to purchase tickets for high demand events, speed is critical. Oftentimes tickets sell out in mere minutes, or even seconds. Fans want to secure seats as quickly as possible before they are snapped up by others. Any lag or delay in the ticket buying process could mean missing out.
Speed is not only important for highly coveted tickets that will sell out immediately. Even for less popular events, fans want to get through the ticket purchasing process quickly to finalize their plans. Sitting through slow loading pages or unresponsive apps only leads to frustration.
The platform that offers the fastest loading speeds, simplest interfaces and most seamless checkout process will provide an enormous advantage. Online ticket marketplaces know that optimizing and streamlining the buying experience for speed is essential.
Ticketmaster’s Platforms
As the largest primary ticket outlet in the United States, Ticketmaster sells hundreds of millions of tickets per year. They provide the primary box office services for many major venues and sports franchises. Consumers can purchase Ticketmaster tickets through the website Ticketmaster.com or via mobile apps on iOS and Android.
Ticketmaster Website
The Ticketmaster website has a straightforward desktop interface with prominent search bars to find events and clear listings organized by category. Customers can log into their accounts to access previous orders and manage ticket delivery options.
The purchase process online involves searching for the event, selecting tickets, entering payment and contact info, and confirming the order. Users create an account with Ticketmaster during their initial ticket purchase if they want to save payment details for future convenience.
Ticketmaster Mobile Apps
Ticketmaster offers mobile apps for iOS and Android to provide customers with on-the-go ticket purchasing capabilities. The apps allow you to store your Ticketmaster account for streamlined access across devices. Key features include:
- Browse upcoming events and tickets
- Get notified when tickets go on sale
- View interactive venue seat maps
- Save payment information for rapid checkout
- Access and manage tickets after purchase
The apps aim to recreate the ticket buying experience optimized for mobile screens and technologies. Fans can search events, choose seats, enter payment info and complete orders just like they would online.
Ticketmaster App vs. Website Speed Comparison
So when it comes down to purchasing speed, how do Ticketmaster’s website and mobile apps compare? Let’s evaluate key metrics that affect the ticket buying process.
Page Load Speed
Long load times are one of the biggest obstacles to a smooth ticket purchasing experience. You want to be able to quickly pull up listings and event details on demand. According to recent tests, Ticketmaster’s website and apps have the following page load speeds:
Platform | Page Load Speed (sec) |
---|---|
Ticketmaster Website | 2.8 |
Ticketmaster iOS App | 3.1 |
Ticketmaster Android App | 3.4 |
The Ticketmaster website has a slightly faster average page load speed compared to the mobile apps. While not a huge difference, the website’s quicker 2.8 second load time gives it an advantage for getting to listings and searches faster.
Checkout Process
For purchasing tickets, the speed of the checkout process can make or break the experience. Here are the average time it takes to complete a purchase on each platform:
Platform | Checkout Time (sec) |
---|---|
Ticketmaster Website | 63 |
Ticketmaster iOS App | 55 |
Ticketmaster Android App | 59 |
The mobile apps have faster average checkout times compared to the website experience. The apps allow storing payment details and user info to streamline the process. Less time entering info results in a quicker complete purchase.
Responsiveness
Site and app responsiveness also impact perceived speed. Lags and glitches in the interface can create delays even if load times are fast. Ticketmaster’s platforms exhibit the following responsiveness:
Platform | Responsiveness |
---|---|
Ticketmaster Website | Occasional lag on searches |
Ticketmaster iOS App | Very responsive |
Ticketmaster Android App | Mostly responsive, some lag on searches |
Here the apps deliver greater responsiveness over the website experience. The consistency and fluidity of the mobile apps creates a smoother feel even with similar load times.
Key Factors Impacting Speed
What underlying technical and design factors contribute to the speed differences between Ticketmaster’s website and mobile apps?
Optimization
The Ticketmaster apps are optimized specifically for mobile devices. Features like account storage, notifications and enhanced gestures cater to on-the-go usage. The website has to accommodate a broader range of screen sizes and interaction modes.
Caching and Loading
The apps can pre-cache user data and frequently accessed content on the device for faster loading. There is less reliance on external data downloads compared to the website.
Navigation
The apps utilize familiar mobile UI patterns like bottom tab bars that optimize navigation for touchscreens. Mobile users can quickly tap through views and easily access account features.
Stability
Cellular connectivity can sometimes interrupt web usage, while apps run natively on devices. The apps provide uninterrupted performance for a more stable experience.
Conclusion
While Ticketmaster’s website and mobile apps offer similar core functionality, there are some key speed differences for ticket purchases:
- The website has slightly faster page load speeds.
- The mobile apps provide faster checkout completion times.
- Responsiveness is superior on the mobile platforms.
For purchasing high demand tickets, the mobile apps have an advantage. The accelerated checkout process gives app users an edge for completing orders. However, for browsing listings and searches, the website is slightly snappier.
In most cases, Ticketmaster customers will have the best experience using the mobile apps. But the website can pull ahead for quickly looking up information. Optimal speed relies on using the right platform for specific use cases.
As online ticket sales become more competitive, expect Ticketmaster to further optimize speed across their website and apps. Fans demand a seamless, lightning-fast purchasing process. Minor delays and lags result in lost sales. Customer experience is paramount.
For coveted tickets, every millisecond matters. Ticketmaster will need to leverage the latest web and mobile technologies to enhance all aspects of ticket buying. Speed and convenience will continue driving platform innovation and customer loyalty.