Hello all. We currently do not build constituencies at performance box office time to keep our lines moving yet we are missing out on a lot of potential constituencies. Our Marketing department is looking to give discounts to people who want to take the time to fill out a form at the window yet this will still slow the lines down. I was wondering if any of you have integrated an ID scanning hardware/software system that's compatible with Tessitura. If you're not sure what I'm referring to, they use these scanners in bars to scan a drivers license. The scan creates a mailing and historical database. If that database could talk to Tessitura that would be golden! I have no idea if this is even a possibility but thought that I would ask.
One company I've looked into:
IDetect
http://www.idetect.net/IDetect-Brochure.pdf
http://www.idetect.net/
Thanks!
Heather
Heather,
I'm not entirely sure what to make of this. Probably I need to get out more, but I've never had my drivers license photographed, not even by TSA when traveling (police mug shots being an entirely different matter thank you very much).
Still, looking at my VA license, my home address is directly on the front and I'm able to photograph the license with my iphone and read the result easily. I can't see why that wouldn't work in some sense (I've used my camera phone lots lately as a substitute for taking notes. For example, I'll photograph the cover of a book a friend is reading for use later when searching in the local library).
Would that simple photo be useful enough? To have a photo of the patron's ID for later look up and, if required, manual constituent entry into Tess? How would you best match the correct patrons with their corresponding transactions?
What else is going on with these scanners? Is the ID data being processed via OCR similar to a business card reader? I theory that flat file could be imported into Tess but there are challenges. Is there also a service associated with these devices? Some sort of database look up? I see some of the devices or services have a monthly fee associated with them.
How about this: what if the scanned ID popped the corresponding Tess account or, if needed, started a new constituent record?
Worth the trouble?
Warren
Shakespeare Theatre
Warren,
This is some what of a big brother scarey thought process, eh? I'm not sure we would want to photograph the patron ID, though it is a good idea. I too use my camera phone for notes and to remember things as well. It was my assumption that the IDetect software comes with the scanning hardware that allows you to have a database of the ID information that has been scanned. All of your questions are good ones that I don't have answers to unfortunately. I found their website to be a bit vague, though I'm sure IDetect might answer an inquiry. I know lots of organizations have gotten other systems (ie. Financial Edge by Blackbaud) talking to Tessitura and thought I'd ask here.
Thanks for your thoughts!