Over the years, teams and organizations spend lots of time and money creating bespoke solutions. For a time, some work. But almost all of them falter eventually.
Sometimes, these systems are created by administration several times removed from the day-to-day of managing events. These products rarely a core tool, and often came up as some sort of side project. Maybe there was excitement and budget at the onset, but as those dwindle over time, so does the usefulness of the products themselves.
We tend to meet people a couple months after the thing that used to work no longer does. People are in search of a solution. But since these organizations did spend the money to build these tools once-upon-a-time, it can be hard convincing people to move to something new.
With that in mind, we put together a list of tactics we’ve seen work in the real world to move off an internal system onto one like TicketSignup.
Keep track of issues
The best way we’ve seen to make the case for switching is tracking issues you face with your current tool. This could be times it malfunctioned, or even scenarios where there was something you wanted to do but couldn’t. Having specific examples of issues has a lot more impact than more generalized criticism.
When you track an issue make sure you’re detailed. You should also be sure to note what the impact was to show why it matters when those issues happen. For example, we had one customer who’s internal built system crashed mid-event. The result was it took nearly two hours to check some people in. Not only was it a hassle for staff, it negatively impacted the guest experience, too. Those types of details could be what gets leadership on your side, or, at the least, be more willing to listen when you bring it up.
Picking a tool like TicketSignup is useful in those cases because there is dedicated staff to resolve issues if they come up, since we offer event-day support. With an internal build it’s possible no one is around to help if things go sideways, as it’s most likely a side responsibility and not someone’s core job focus.
Have a clear understanding of what’s missing
Sometimes new things are attractive simply because they’re new. And if you’re not sure to point out exactly what’s missing in your current tool, your pitch could come off that way. A simple desire for something different. It’s important you can cite specifically what’s missing from your current option. Similar to the above, your case gets stronger when you can show the impact of those missing features and how not having them has affected you.
Using another real-world example, one customer’s internal system was only available via a computer. That’s not always a problem, but a lot of their events were on farmland, with unreliable wifi access. They wanted a mobile app option – like the Tickets App. With it they would have the option to link to a cellular network, and not rely on wifi solely. They could also use it across a number of different devices, giving them the option to have more check-in points, speeding up the process for everyone. Being able to articulate clearly what’s missing and why you need it makes a world of difference when making your pitch.
Come with solutions in hand
The last thing we’ve found to be really helpful is when you don’t just bring problems to the table, you bring solutions, too. Taking the time to find the right solution for the issues you’ve faced shows initiative and solidifies that you’re serious about making a change.
Along with having the features you need, it’s also useful to find tools that are economical, as we’ve found one of the most common objections is the amount of money already spent on the existing tool. For example, all of TicketSignup’s products are free to use. We charge a flat rate processing fee for tickets – which you can choose to pass on to the customer. There are also other money-saving tools like free email marketing.
Bringing a solution to the table that doesn’t cost anything out-of-pocket (and potentially saves money) is usually a really attractive proposition. We’ve often seen people pitch it to use on a trial run for a smaller event. Since there’s no cost, and all the tools like the website builder are very intuitive, people are generally receptive. Once the trial is done you can show the positive impact and help get full approval.
Taking the next step
Getting leadership on board to change a tool isn’t always easy. But, the more you can show it’s a real need and not just a “nice to have” the better your chances are of getting them on board.
And if you’re ready to make the switch to something new, we hope you consider TicketSignup. Start creating your own free event here.