PDC Smart Band® RFID Wristbands

PDC Smart Band® RFID Wristbands
Control Patron Access, Combat Counterfeiting,
and Quicken Admissions at Coachella
PDC Smart® RFID Wristbands
Patrons at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA
experienced the debut of one of today’s greatest performing electronic
bands. Featuring futuristic, cutting-edge, new-wave technology, the
Smart Band® RFID Wristband
multi-tasked as the main
device for patron access and
control, security, counterfeit
prevention, and even social
networking!
Showcased
inside
preshipped, colorful Coachella
welcome packages, Smart Band® wristbands were worn by nearly
200,000 fans that flooded the fairgrounds at the world famous event
that spanned two action-packed weekends in April. Along with the
multi-colored woven wristbands,
parking passes were provided
for easy access and tracking of
transportation throughout the
festival grounds.
The RFID products are developed
by Precision Dynamics Corporation
(PDC), a global leader in innovative
ID solutions, which specializes
in Leisure & Entertainment and
Healthcare markets. In addition to Coachella, PDC partners with many
major music festivals and leading global venues including Tour de
France, Great Wolf Resorts, Water World, and Hersheypark to deliver
superior guest experiences through advanced RFID technology.
Counterfeit Prevention
Smart Band® revolves around a tiny coiled RFID chip sealed inside
the wristbands, which are available in a spectrum of colors, shapes,
and materials. A unique identification number is recorded on the chip
to verify the authenticity of each band, which is non-transferable
to prevent unauthorized access to the stored data. Smart Band®
maximizes security, outsmarting scalpers and curbing counterfeiters
to provide peace of
mind for promoters,
performers, and all
persons involved in
the purchasing and
selling of tickets.
Secure, Speedy, and Streamlined Access
Coachella guests were
greatly impressed with
the high-speed and
hassle-free admissions
process. Fans safely and
efficiently entered the
grounds via vivid RFID
portals positioned at key
points around the site.
With a simple wave of the
wristband over the portal’s RFID reader, each bracelet was automatically
scanned, signaling a light to indicate validation. And talk about speed...
the technology totes a TPR (through put ratio) of 2,000 people per portal
per hour. That’s techy speak for really really fast!
By drastically reducing admission lines outside, Coachella enabled
guests to focus on the performers (bling-bling) and concessions
(cha-ching) inside, benefiting both fan and festival. The technology
also helped decrease staffing costs by reducing the number of gate
checkers needed.
Susan Luc Photography
Fans appreciated the time-saving benefits of Smart Band®. “There was
no wasting time in line waiting to get stamped or banded like at other
shows,” said Larry Halem, a hip-hop fan from Los Angeles on his way
to see Dr. Dre. “The show management obviously planned smart using
this technology.” His friend, Ashraf Abdelkerim, gave thumbs up on the
band’s design and comfort. “The bracelet’s lanyard-like cloth is soft and
more comfortable than plastic bands. The pattern is also really unique.
I’ll keep it as a souvenir to show friends.”
With Smart Band’s® ability to automate manual procedures, transactions
become simple and seamless. Faster access, shorter lines, and streamlined
operations all add up to more satisfied and loyal customers.
Rolling out a new era in social media, RFID-powered Smart Band®
empowered Coachella guests to pre-register online for merchandise
specials, drawings for prizes and
VIP passes, and enhanced customer
support—functioning like a free
upgrade from coach to first-class for
fans that value perks.
But, by far, the feature that brought
the biggest buzz was the ability for guests to use their Smart Band® to
link live to Facebook and instantly share their experiences with friends,
expressing how much fun they’re missing.
A quick registration via the festival’s website, in which fans entered their
names and unique ID numbers on the underside of the band, enabled
them to sync their band to their Facebook page via online touch points
while at the event. With a quick scan of the band, guests automatically
updated their Facebook status. As a result, the technology enabled
Coachella to simultaneously broadcast its fans and promote its festival
to the digital world.
Carter Brezale of PR Public Relations in Orlando, FL blogged, “In what
strikes me as the most creative usage of social media this year, concertgoers were excited to learn that their entry-wristbands were connected
to their Facebook profiles. Even without the benefit of a smart phone or
laptop, those in attendance could check in on Facebook and broadcast to
their friends online.”
Robin Barber, Vice President of Leisure & Entertainment for PDC, said the
technology is “focused on enhancing the
guest experience while strengthening
social media and branding programs for
festivals and other venues. It’s a perfect
way for forward thinking festivals, like
Coachella, to maximize social media’s
expansive channels to unite its guests
with a vast global network of online
fans.”
How vast? According to Coachella, more
than 30,000 guests registered for the “Live Click” feature, gaining an
online audience of more than 30 million—a first for the festival world on
this scale. Talk about free advertising! The technology helped convert
Coachella’s audience into international event ambassadors! No wonder
why other venues are already following suit by using Smart Band® to
strengthen their social media and branding benefits.
Susan Luc Photography
Parking Access & Control
PDC’s Smart® RFID technology not only helped Coachella manage
patrons and support staff, it also controlled access and tracked
vehicles as they entered and traveled the grounds. Decals
designed in different shapes and colors were used to identify
and distinguish vehicles used by general and VIP admission
guests, campers, support staff, and vendors.
The parking passes contained the same RFID technology as the
Smart Band® wristbands. When vehicles entered the various
parking areas, attendants located at the entrance used handheld RFID readers to scan and validate each parking pass. In addition to authorizing parking access, the application allowed Coachella management to
keep secure visibility and control of support staff and vendors who required wider access to the grounds.
Jam Packed with Features & Benefits
During the greatly successful Coachella festival, Smart Band® displayed its world-class abilities as a multipurpose performer, controlling crowds,
authorizing access, combating counterfeiting, and connecting Coachella and its fans to the ever-expanding social networking world. Other advanced
Smart Band® benefits include:
• Cashless point of sale for quick and
convenient purchases
• Cashless arcade and vending
• Loading of funds to Smart Band® via Smart® Kiosk
for a cashless and credit card-free environment
• Group spend tracking, and more!
• Keyless waterpark, hotel, and locker access
“In today’s highly competitive festival and hospitality industries, customer loyalty is built around convenience, security, and overall guest experience,”
said Barber. “Wow your customers and they’ll be back. Whether it’s for a festival music-goer, a resort guest, or a stadium sports fan, PDC RFID Solutions are
redefining and evolving the guest experience, while bringing long-term benefits to the businesses that employ it.”
Capitalize on the Benefits of PDC RFID Solutions. Call Customer Care today: 866.403.6526
27770 N. Entertainment Drive, Suite 200
Valencia, CA 91355
www.smartband.com
RF-146-0712