Review this as a case study on how to utilize a custom, web-based solution, as apposed to working off templates and pre-packaged software as a low-cost solution.
A premier symphony orchestra wanted to build an easy-to-use, Internet-based ticketing application which could handle big seating charts, enhance web presence, and orchestrate the back-end business of a complex performing arts organization.
Encumbered by a paper-laden, legacy-based ticketing system, the orchestra looked for a way to make the complicated process of ticketing sing. The plan was to evolve it from a static HTML site to a highly interactive experience. They integrated the new site with their legacy ticketing system through web services, but, at the end of the day, they needed an even more highly integrated solution.
"The web is our only touch point that's growing," said an information technology director at the orchestra company. "Our goal is to process half our transactions online."
They relied on the tight integration between Flash and ColdFusion to build a ticketing system from the ground up – sharing much of the same code with the website.
They named the new ticketing system to help market and promote the new site more effectively.
Over two years, they mapped every facet of the Orchestra's business process – from season subscriptions to group sales. In nine months, they delivered technology that drives the business, and can drive it further. "We rapidly built the application framework using built-in ColdFusion features such as CFX, custom tags, CFQuery, CFHTTP and CFMail,". The intuitiveness of the ColdFusion markup language allowed HTML designers to design the website while integrating the programmers' ColdFusion code. Junior programmers and HTML designers handled much of the workload; only one senior engineer was needed on the website.
Now, audiences can buy, exchange, or renew tickets online, engage in program notes, and hear archived concerts.
Sales workflows are completely paperless on the new application. Users pick a concert, pick a day, and pick a seat. The application processes payment, and prints the tickets. Administrators can "seat" a house, plan events, set pricing, and report results.
Besides handling 90 custom workflows, the application is capable of ticketing any house – perhaps someday the cluster of performing arts organizations, or universities filling multiple venues.
So the benefits are:
- Easy transfer of skills for Java programmers to ActionScript
- Rapid development cycle and time to market
- Paperless seating of multiple houses, excellent customer service
- Eliminated overtime and temp hires, three times faster ticket processing
Please feel free to contact us with your custom solution, and we'll help to break it down, and explain the benefits.
