International Trade Fair Centres: Easy access to events

The Austrian company Axess has been supplying trade fair centres internationally since 2002. The company’s systems are currently installed at over 30 trade fair centres around the world.

Axess, which is based in Anif, near Salzburg, places the focus on smart technologies and comprehensive solutions for ticketing and access management. Originally largely a supplier of hardware, in recent years the company has developed into a vendor of both hardware and software solutions. Take invitation management, for example. The company’s exhibitor platform offers exhibitors a simple, straightforward way to manage their IDs and invitations. Voucher codes for invitations to visitors can be downloaded easily from the web platform, and printed invitations can be ordered. “Alternatively, the exhibitor can import customer data and send out customised email invitations,” explains Vincent Hofer, the business development manager with responsibility for the trade fair and convention market. “The status of all vouchers and invitations can be checked live at any time.” The exhibitor is thus always kept in the picture – and knows, for example, how successful a campaign is or whether a visitor has registered or already arrived at the venue.

The Axess visitor platform is a web-based solution for selling tickets online, registering trade fair visitors and verifying their identity. The platform consists of a ticket shop for purchasing tickets online using either a computer or smart phone. Visitors can also register on site. Visitors can redeem their vouchers and buy admission tickets with ease in the platform’s ticket shop. It is also very easy to register visitors and carry out visitor surveys. “That can be done either online or at the trade fair centre,” explains Vincent Hofer. “The focus is on simplicity and making things easy for visitors so that data of the best possible quality can be obtained.

Access is controlled by means of stationary or mobile gates. The Axess hardware offers additional options thanks to the modular structure of its access management systems. The modular system is flexible enough to be adapted to meet the requirements of different events – with customised technical solutions or sub-solutions, for instance, Wi-Fi connections or battery packs, check-in and check-out functionality and badge printing at the gate. Mobile access control is also available with handheld devices. Park management is fully integrated in the access solution and can be operated centrally. The central management functionality in the Axess system means that park and event tickets can be combined, thus making them easier for both visitors and exhibitors to deal with.

The whole system is managed centrally through the web-based user interface Clics. Access management systems, points of sale, reporting and the CRM module can all be managed from within Clics. The user management system can be customised for any event in a few simple steps to meet specific requirements. Axess’s customers include Toulouse Expo, Messe Düsseldorf and Ekaterinburg Expo (www.teamaxess.com).