INBOX
RFID TECHNOLOGY SPELLS CHANGE FOR PRODUCTION SECTOR
It might not light the stage or rig the line array, but RFID technology is poised to rollout across European festivals next summer, and there are clear implications for the production sector. From how staff and public gain access to the site, to meal tickets and even equipment hire, this new application of an existing technology is set to change the way festivals and live events operate. Last summer, RFID festival technology
specialists Intellitix activated one million RFID wristbands at many of the major festivals in North America, and having just opened a European office, they’re predicting that 2012 will bring widespread adoption on this side of the Atlantic. By establishing a secure network across
the event site, promoters can seal the festival, scanning ticket holders in and out while eliminating fraud and other types of ticket abuse. And once the access control framework is established, Intellitix CEO, Serge Grimaux says, it opens up many other possibilities such as cashless payments, social media integration and
staff management. “Cashless payment systems make F&B outlets
quicker and more profitable, and when ticket holders link their Facebook or Twitter profiles to their wristband, they can check in or ‘like’ points around a site,” he said. However, the benefits are not just related to the public, Grimaux added. “All staff passes can be run with RFID chips,
tying them to authorized personnel, while specific hours of access can also be set,” he continued. “And staff catering, long the bane of many a promoter’s existence, gets a makeover. By loading meal tickets onto the staff pass, there’s no danger of missing breakfast again when tickets go astray, and promoters know exactly how many covers catering providers have served.” Being able to tie commonly misplaced goods
such as walkie talkies or buggy keys to a user is one other application, and Intellitix has also developed an active RFID system, using battery powered chips that can monitor security staff in real time or locate lost children or items. “For the public, this technology will change
the experience of festival-going, but backstage the possibilities are really just in their infancy,” Grimaux said. “What’s certain is that we’ll see RFID-enabled passes more commonly used next year, and slightly less stressed promoters and production managers as a result.”
www.intellitix.com
26 • TPi JANUARY 2012
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