Digital Ticketing Solutions: A Complete Guide for Venue Owners and Operators

Imagine your family is heading to the local pool for a fun day out. You've got the kids in the car, sunscreen packed, and everyone's excited. Then, out of nowhere, it starts pouring.

You’ve been looking forward to this all week. Do you go to the pool anyway and hope it clears up? Stay home and try again next month? Or do you pull out your phone and check your local Family Entertainment Centers (FEC) for indoor activities like bowling, laser tag, or trampolining? 

Most families pick the last option, because digital tickets, or e-tickets, make it quick and easy to change plans without missing out on the fun.

Digital ticketing is transforming the guest experience by creating more efficiency and cost savings. It’s also enabling real-time data so venue operators can make smarter business decisions. 

In this article, we’ll cover what digital ticketing solutions are, why venues and attractions are choosing online ticketing systems, and how to make the most of this technology to help your business succeed. 

What is a digital ticketing solution for attractions? 

A digital ticketing solution for attractions lets you manage your entire ticket lifecycle online, eliminating the need for paper tickets. Instead of calling ahead or standing in line to purchase a ticket, guests can buy and receive digital tickets, usually via email or a mobile app, and then check in using self-serve kiosks, scannable QR codes, or barcodes. Modern venue management platforms like ROLLER include these digital ticketing capabilities alongside other features, offering an all-in-one software solution for venues.

How do digital tickets work? 

Here’s a real-life example of digital ticketing in action: 

Step 1: Guests book online. For example, a group planning an outing accesses your website through their phone. They select a date and a time to reserve a lane for Saturday afternoon at your bowling alley, select their shoe rental sizes, and complete their purchase in minutes. 

Step 2: They receive digital tickets. After checkout, they receive an email with a mobile ticket and their booking details. No paper to print, no tickets to lose. 

Step 3: Fast check-in at your venue. When they arrive, your staff scans their QR at the front desk (or they scan themselves at a kiosk), and they’re checked in within seconds. The system automatically confirms reservations, freeing your team from manual entry.

Step 4: Everything syncs automatically. Their purchase, arrival time, and any add-ons they bought flow into your venue management system in real time. You can see exactly how many guests are in the building, which time slots are filling up, and what add-ons are selling best. 

Whether you manage a bowling alley, FEC, trampoline park, mini golf course, or other venue, digital ticketing eliminates manual work, speeds up entry, and gives you valuable business data that paper tickets just can’t provide. 

Why venues are making the shift to digital ticketing

The shift to digital ticketing isn't just about keeping up with technology, it's about meeting your guests where they are and running a more efficient, profitable business.

Mobile-first is the new normal

Did you know that mobile devices now account for 83.3% of all online bookings at attractions? That means the majority of your guests are browsing, comparing, and buying tickets from their phones, not their desktops.

If your ticketing system isn't mobile-optimized, you're adding friction to the buying process and potentially losing sales. A digital ticketing solution ensures your checkout experience is smooth and fast, no matter what device someone's using.

Guests expect convenience and speed

Think about how you book travel or buy movie tickets these days. Chances are, you book through online ticketing systems on your computer or phone. Your guests expect the same thing when they're planning a visit to your venue.

They want to book tickets on a Tuesday night if that's when they're planning their week. They want to skip the line when they arrive. They want to manage their bookings without having to pick up the phone and call you.

Digital ticketing delivers all of this, making the entire experience smoother from the moment they start browsing to the moment they walk through your doors.

After-hours sales are huge

Here's a stat from ROLLER's 2025 Attractions Industry Benchmark Report that might surprise you: More than 43% of online bookings happen after 5 PM. If your ticketing system only works during business hours, you're missing out on nearly half of your potential sales.

If you sell tickets online, your checkout never closes. Guests can book at midnight if they feel like it, which means you're capturing revenue even when your team has gone home for the day.

Cost savings and sustainability

Paper tickets come with costs you might not think about: printing supplies, storage space, staff time managing inventory, and all that waste. Online ticketing systems eliminate that cost.

Plus, going paperless sends a message to environmentally conscious guests who appreciate when businesses take sustainability seriously.

Read more: 2025 Pulse Report: How Sustainability Is Shaping Guest Expectations

Core features of digital ticketing solutions

Not all ticketing systems are created equal. The best digital ticket solutions go way beyond just processing payments. Here are the key features you should look for:

Secure QR code and barcode scanning

Every digital ticket includes a unique ticket ID, QR code, or barcode that can only be used once. This prevents fraud, duplicate entries, and lost tickets.

When guests arrive, staff can scan their code in seconds using a smartphone, tablet, or dedicated scanner. The system instantly validates the ticket and logs the entry, so you always know who's in your venue and when they arrived.

Mobile-first booking experience

Your booking page needs to work seamlessly on mobile devices. That means fast load times, easy navigation, and a checkout process that doesn't require zooming or sideways scrolling.

A mobile-optimized system makes it simple for guests to book on the go, whether they're planning a visit from the couch or making a last-minute decision while they're already in the area.

Real-time sales and attendance reporting

With digital ticketing, you can see exactly how many tickets you've sold, when they were purchased, and which ticket types are most popular. All of this data updates in real time, giving you the insights you need to make smarter business decisions.

Want to know if your weekend slots are selling out? Check your dashboard. Wondering if your latest promotion is working? The data is already there for you to review.

Integration with POS and CRM systems

Even the most powerful digital ticketing solutions don't operate in isolation. They connect with your other tools, like your Point-Of-Sale (POS) system, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, and marketing platforms.

This integration means you can: 

• Automatically capture and sync guest information across every system.
• Track each guest’s complete journey, from their first visit to their tenth.
• Personalize marketing campaigns using real visit history.
• Enter data once and have it update everywhere automatically.

Upselling and add-on capabilities

Here's where digital ticketing really shines from a revenue perspective. When guests book online, you can automatically show them relevant extras they can add to their order.

For example:

• A trampoline park could offer grip socks and snack bundles
• A mini golf course could promote glow-in-the-dark balls, souvenir cups, or an extra round at a discounted rate.
• A go-kart track could promote racing gloves and photo packages

These upsells are presented at the perfect moment in the buying process, when guests are already excited about their visit. And because it's all integrated into checkout, adding an extra is as simple as clicking a button.

In fact, online ticket orders tend to be 3x higher in value than in-venue purchases. That's the power of strategic upselling built right into your ticketing flow.

Read more: How to Maximize Revenue with Smart Upselling

Timed ticketing and capacity management

If your venue runs sessions at specific times or needs to manage capacity, timed ticketing is essential. This feature lets guests book specific time slots, which helps you:

• Control crowd flow and prevent overcrowding
• Ensure every session is properly staffed
• Give guests a better experience by avoiding long waits

Automated confirmations and reminders

A good digital ticketing system takes care of communication for you. After a guest books, they automatically receive:

• A confirmation email with their tickets and booking details
• Reminders leading up to their visit
• Links to complete digital waivers or other required forms ahead of time

This automation saves your team hours of manual follow-up while also reducing no-shows and last-minute questions.

Self-service booking management

Plans change. And when they do, guests appreciate being able to manage their own bookings without having to call or email your team.

Look for systems that allow guests to:

• Reschedule their visit
• Add more people to their booking
• Update their information
• Request refunds or transfers (based on your policies)

Self-serve options reduce your staff’s workload while giving guests more flexibility and control.

What digital ticketing actually does for your venue (and its guests)

Let's talk about what all of this actually means for your business and your visitors.

Faster check-ins and shorter wait times

Nobody likes waiting in line. With digital ticketing, check-in takes seconds instead of minutes. Guests arrive with their tickets already on their phones, staff scan the code, and they're in.

This is especially valuable at high-volume venues. For example, Arthurs Seat Eagle uses digital ticketing to check in 2,000+ daily guests. 

Increased revenue opportunities

We've already mentioned that online orders bring in more revenue than in-person purchases. But digital ticketing opens up other revenue opportunities too:

• Bookings: When guests book in advance, you have guaranteed revenue before they even arrive.
• Upsells and add-ons: Built-in upsells during checkout boost average order value.
• Memberships and passes: Digital systems make it easy to promote and manage recurring revenue programs.

Members visit venues 261.5% more often than non-members. A digital ticketing platform helps you convert one-time visitors into loyal members who keep coming back.

Better guest data for smarter marketing

Every digital ticket solution purchase gives you valuable information including email addresses, visit history, ticket preferences, and more. This data allows you to:

• Send personalized promotions to past visitors
• Create targeted campaigns for different guest segments
• Identify your most loyal customers and reward them
• Track which marketing channels are driving the most bookings

With traditional paper tickets, this kind of insight is nearly impossible without a huge amount of manual work. But with digital ticketing, you have everything you need to build relationships with your guests and bring them back for future visits.

Smoother operations

Digital ticketing reduces manual work across your entire operation. Your team spends less time:

• Processing transactions at the front desk
• Reconciling cash at the end of the day
• Answering phone calls about availability and booking questions
• Manually tracking attendance and sales

Instead, they can focus on what really matters: creating amazing experiences for your guests.

Reduced fraud and ticket issues

Paper tickets can be damaged, lost, or even counterfeited. Selling event tickets digitally eliminates these headaches entirely.

Every ticket is unique and traceable. If a guest loses their email, you can easily resend it. If someone tries to use a ticket twice, the system catches it immediately. You've got complete control and visibility over every admission.

Enhanced guest satisfaction

When everything works smoothly, guests are happier. They can book on their own schedule, skip long lines, easily manage their reservations, and know their tickets are secure.

This convenience translates into better reviews, more referrals, and higher return rates.

Digital ticketing vs traditional ticketing

Let's break down the key differences between traditional paper-based ticketing and modern digital solutions:

The difference is clear: digital ticketing offers more convenience for guests, more efficiency for staff, and more revenue opportunities for your business.

What to consider when evaluating digital ticketing solutions

Guest and staff experience: Your digital ticketing solution needs to work seamlessly for everyone who uses it. Test the booking flow on mobile. Does it load quickly? Is checkout intuitive? On the operations side, your staff should be able to navigate the admin dashboard without extensive training. A complicated system will frustrate your team and drive potential guests away before they complete their booking.

Integration capabilities: Your digital ticketing solution should connect smoothly with the other tools you're already using, whether that's accounting software, email marketing platforms, or CRM systems. Look for platforms that offer pre-built integrations or an open API for custom connections. When your systems talk to each other, you eliminate duplicate data entry and get a complete view of your business.

Scalability: As your venue grows, your ticketing system should grow with you. Whether you're planning to add new locations, expand your offerings, or increase capacity, choose a platform that can handle more volume and complexity without requiring a complete overhaul. The last thing you want is to outgrow your system just when your business is taking off.

Support and training: Switching to a new system is a significant change for your team. Look for providers that offer comprehensive onboarding, responsive customer support when you need help, educational resources like guides and videos, and ideally, a community of other venue operators you can learn from. The right partner will help you succeed long after the initial setup.

H2: Why all-in-one platforms make a difference

The most effective digital ticketing solutions are part of a complete venue management system that brings together everything you need in one place. When everything works together in a unified platform, your operations become significantly more efficient. Your data flows seamlessly between systems, giving you a complete picture of your business. Your team doesn't waste time switching between different tools or manually transferring information. And your guests get a consistent experience whether they're booking online, checking in at a kiosk, or buying add-ons at your venue.

Platforms like ROLLER are built specifically for attractions and leisure venues, with all these capabilities integrated from the ground up. This means you're not piecing together multiple solutions and hoping they work well together. You're getting a system designed to handle the unique needs of venues like yours.

The benefits are clear: faster check-ins, 24/7 booking availability, higher order values, better guest data, and more efficient operations. 

Want to see it in action? Book a demo to discover how ROLLER can help you increase bookings, streamline operations, and delight guests.