doesn’t
cheap,
uplift in
sales
promises readable
to have a
loyalty system,
so come
using
the the
swipe
and
proximity
positive
impact
the membership
club’s overall categories
profitability. Building
cards, all the
privileges
of on
our
can now
be recognised
automatically.
on this
success over ” the past season, we felt confident to
As Martin’s
keen
explain:
“That
led to another
way match
in which
exploit
the to
smart
card’s
functionality
in assisting
Open Solutions
tailored
our software for our particular set of
day gate
management”.
requirements. Our bar and catering partner supplier wanted
Electronic ticketing and gate entry
to keep their business separate from our’s, so Open Solutions
In previous
seasons
stewards had separation
to visually check
facilitated the
required
levels gate
of commercial
whilst
and every membership
card.
allowing for each
full management
oversight.
” But with the new
system, season tickets will be held electronically on the
Online top membership
up via card
a member’s
smartphone,
paying
and will now be
‘swiped’ at the gate.
subscriptions online
Continued...
What’s next for Henley RFC’s members?
Martin’s particularly pleased with this new membership
For more information talk to our Sales Director
service, as he
reflects: “Topping up a bar card is a great
Martin’s very excited by the new possibilities, as he outlines:
Case Study | Henley RUFC
Les way
Lawrence
on 07966
example of the
we can now
exploit 120603
the latest in online “With Open Solutions, we’re able to almost future-proof the
technology to make things much easier for our members. club. This is our third season with the new systems and they
01732 367 227
[email protected]
www.opensolutionsinternational.com
Because our 1 Derek
members
can now use their cards to spend in have bedded in extremely well.”
Ashton Court, 77 Mottram Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 2LY
the clubhouse,
they need to in
bring
adds: “Our
partner
the we’ll
Clubhouse
café and
Further all developments
mind to the club is literally their
“In He
the meanwhile,
within
a few running
more weeks
soon
Henley membership card – there’s no need to remember to bar
very things
happy
with
the flexibility
sophistication
they
see is
where
stand
in terms
of the new and
EPoS
system’s
Martin’s always looking to the next step, and he’s already
bring cash.
And if they need to put more money into it, no can
bring
to club’s
their operation,
and the
Henley
are delighted
impact
on the
bar sales uplift,
impact RFC
on
problem.” got some plans: “Once we’re reassured the access
with
revenue
A further
PoS terminal
gross the
and increased
net margins,
and the generated.
fuller appreciation
of the
system’s bulletproof,
it is a logical
to integrate
He continues:
“This capability
also progression
means they
can pay is advantages
now used we’re
in the
new
outside
burger
and
beer
hut. We are
expecting to recoup with our paperless
the ticket
office into the
network.”
their annual
subscriptions
online,
or simply top up whenever also
looking
into
replacing
the
current
paper
lunch
tickets
and cashless approach to match tickets.”
they need He to explains:
add more
money
to
their
account
to
pay
for
that
with
a
digital
solution
utilising
membership
cards,
and
Open
“Not only would this ‘tighten’ the whole
Keeping Henley
RFC events
up with management
the future
table booking,
an
event
or
function,
or
the
next
round.
They
use
Solutions
diary
and
capability.
”
ticketing process, but potentially the costly pre-printed
their smartphone
to go to our web-based membership portal,
Martin
continues:
“Last
season
we successfully
introduced
Martin’s
excited
by the way
that
innovative
use of
tickets could be replaced by tickets printed on demand
go into their
account,
use
the
online
payment
feature
(Stripe)
a
revised
ticketing
system
based
on
the
existing
EPoS
technology
can
give
exponential
rewards,
but
his
main
directly from the EPoS till printer. Open Solutions have
to pay another amount into their Henley RFC account, and software.
Match
paper
tickets
are
now
barcoded
and
members
focus
is
on
the
advantages
technology
can
deliver
for
also shown us an exciting mobile handheld device that
that’s it.”
season
tickets are held on their cards and both are scanned
Henley RUFC, which as he’s indicated, is a community
can read both barcodes and smartcards – now that really
at match entry. This season Open Solutions has developed a
rugby club where the numbers really matter.
would be very useful and could be readily integrated! It’s
Streamlining the admin side of the club, and boosting new enhanced ticketing system, ‘Checkpoint’, which delivers
all about building and exploiting what we as a club have
he comments:
we can
say is that
step we
spend per head
a As
specific,
faster “What
operator
interface
and each
comprehensive
match,
got – and working smarter not harder!”
take with developing
new features
with Open
ticketing
and management
reporting.
A Solutions
further development
Making it easy to pay in and top up means more money will
move
to ‘on
match
and be
our to
other
partners,
and demand’
each time we
install day
new ticket printing,
is being spent at the club by more members, and on the replacing
the
and
pre-order
technology,
our need
goal is to to estimate
improve the
bottom
line and match tickets,
administrative side, things are equally switched on.
reducing
waste
and therefore
increase our
productivity
– as I’ve cost.
said, ” it’s about working
With all the regulatory and RFU pressure on clubs to
“We
have
also
seamlessly
integrated the Club’s new
smarter instead of harder.”
ensure that every relevant detail of their playing members Ambassador Club members into the system, who now enjoy
He comments: “It’s evolution not revolution, and as a club
is documented and auditable, the club’s new membership all
the advantages of Henley RFC membership and more!”
with
bold a ambitions
but limited
resources
it’s all is about
database software is proving ideal at capturing all the details
With
stable digital
platform,
the club
looking to further
getting the its
very
best presence
return on our
required.
rationalise
web
by investment.
integrating The
the Open
club shop, and
Solutions offering
recognise
this and
see value
working
with us
Better still, all relevant details of the club’s 450 and growing possibly
online
purchase
of in match
tickets,
lunches and
to make
a big difference,
a difference
our
members pitch.
and
numbers of Mini and Junior members are being passed on to even
booking
of the clubhouse
and
TigerTurf
visitors
value.”
all the team coaches for their own management of teams and
Martin
summarises, “Almost overnight our little club is as
matches, making this aspect far less onerous and laborious 21st century as anyone would want it to be, while retaining all
for everyone.
the
characteristics
our
members
love: appreciate
very friendly, sociable,
“Best
of all, it’s clear
that
our members
“Our membership platform will allow the club to better human
As RFC’s
the club
to find
of now,
both retaining
the way scale.
Henley
doing starts
so much
more ways
online
respond to the recent registration changes required by the RFU and
increasing
its membership,
feedback
from all the
but which
of course
is no more than the
the younger
– by
for players, and more specifically Mini and Junior registrations.” members that have started using all these new technology-
which I mean anyone under 40! - smartphone-toting
“As we are capturing transaction details match by match, driven capabilities has been terrific, and the bottom line’s
and app-friendly generations expect! This is vital if
the management team will be able to run comprehensive improving as well.”
Henley RUFC is to engage with them and attract more
reports and analysis. So, it’s now a pretty simple matter to
It is real, hard proof that Martin’s mantra of ‘Work smarter,
of them in the future.”
Martin
Membership
Secretary,
Henley
get a joined
up Bidlake-Corser
view of membership
activity
and see
all RUFC
sorts not harder!’ is really paying dividends for Henley RFC, both
of things: who’s joined recently, how much members are now and well into the future.
spending, what bar products are the most popular, or how
effective a promotion has been.”
www.rugbyclubmag.com
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