How DGTL gained real-time control over festival attendance
- Country
Netherlands- Website
- dgtl.nl
- Location
- NDSM Werf, Amsterdam
DGTL Festival, held at the iconic NDSM Werf in Amsterdam, faced a notable challenge: the city council required real-time tracking of attendance. This wasn’t just about having a headcount by the end of the day; it meant knowing exactly how many people were present at any moment. On top of this, DGTL needed a secure and efficient way to manage entry for various categories of attendees, from regular ticket holders to artists, VIPs and staff. This set the stage for a complex logistical task that needed an innovative approach.
The challenges
DGTL Festival had two main challenges: meeting the city council’s real-time attendance tracking requirements, and handling the entry process smoothly for a diverse range of attendees. Different groups, such as general admission, VIPs, staff and guests, had to be managed seamlessly and securely.
The need for continuous, real-time updates added a layer of complexity, as any delay or error could affect the festival’s compliance with local regulations and the overall attendee experience.
Implemented solutions
Personalised wristbands as access tokens
To address these challenges, DGTL partnered with Superstruct and integrated the In2event platform into its operations. Each attendee received a personalised wristband embedded with a unique identifier. Linked with Superstruct’s turnstiles, the wristbands served as individual access tokens: scanned at the entry points, each one was verified for authenticity. Check-in, check-out, the turnstiles and In2event’s PDAs formed a closed loop that continuously synced who was in and who was out.
Registration for every attendee group
The In2event platform streamlined the registration and management of attendees, including those on exclusive tickets or with a donation ticket, so every group could be admitted through the same verified process.
A real-time attendance dashboard
A dedicated external dashboard gave organisers real-time insight into attendance numbers throughout the event, so they could monitor the crowd dynamically and make informed decisions quickly. The same data allowed immediate updates to the city council, meeting the mandated real-time tracking requirements.
Impact
- Stronger security
- Only valid wristbands could gain entry, which effectively prevented unauthorised access.
- Real-time crowd insight
- The dashboard let organisers manage crowd flow and make strategic decisions during the event, and keep the city council informed as required.
- A smoother entry
- Managing the different attendee groups through one process reduced wait times and entry issues for festival-goers.
Key takeaways
- A closed loop of wristbands, turnstiles and scanners keeps the count exact
- Live attendance numbers turn a regulatory demand into an operational tool
- Meeting the council’s requirements set a new benchmark for large-scale events
Conclusion
In partnership with Superstruct and on the In2event platform, DGTL Festival at NDSM Werf navigated the complexities of real-time attendance tracking and entry management. The collaboration not only improved the festival’s security and operational efficiency but also ensured compliance with city regulations. By setting a new standard for event management, DGTL showed how technology and strategic partnerships turn challenges into successful outcomes, paving the way for future events.