Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Lifestyle Senior Writer
WINDS of change are sweeping across the showbiz landscape, particularly in events management and planning.
In today’s era of technological revolution, convenience is paramount for those planning to attend high-profile outings featuring a galaxy of stars. Accessing event information, updates, and receiving instant notifications about changes or cancellations of transactions should be a seamless experience.
The emergence of various online ticketing platforms has made this possible, transforming how we engage with events and enhancing the overall experience for attendees.
Despite these advancements, some party-goers, holiday-makers, and revellers have yet to fully embrace these platforms, which have significantly simplified the ticket-buying process. In Zimbabwe, popular online ticketing platforms such as Magetsi, Flippin Tickets, Zim Tickets, ClicknPay, and TicketsBox Zimbabwe are leading the way.
In South Africa, the leading online ticketing platforms for e-commerce, general shopping, and entertainment as of February 25 include webtickets.co.za, ticketpros.co.za, ticketmaster.co.za, ticketmaster.com, and bigconcerts.co.za.
Locally, a variety of festivals are held throughout the year, yet ticket-related chaos often ensues, highlighting the need for improved systems.
Prominent events on the Zimbabwean showbiz calendar include the Castle Tankard Horse Race, Victoria Halls Carnival, Kadoma Music Festival, Sunshine City Festival, and Jacaranda Music Festival among others.
Unfortunately, these gatherings have also seen their share of disorder.
Other festivals have faced similar issues, with thugs becoming a significant concern.
This situation could be ameliorated by adopting new online ticketing platforms.
Zimbabwe, a country known for its vibrant and fun-loving people, should be fully engaged in this evolving landscape.
It is disheartening to observe that some promoters are still relying on outdated methods for ticket sales when technological advancements have transformed the industry globally.
Continuing to use traditional ticketing methods not only reflects poorly but also signifies a reluctance to embrace progress.
The latest entrant in this realm is TicketsBox, which launched just last month.
TicketsBox has rapidly gained popularity among fans, particularly as interest in both indoor and outdoor events continues to rise.
It is crucial for event organisers and attendees alike to adapt to these innovations, ensuring that no one misses out on the excitement that the entertainment industry offers.
Online ticketing systems have significantly streamlined event management, travel, and related services.
Rutendo Jazi, the sales manager for TicketsBox, emphasised that online ticketing is essential for modern event planning.
“We officially launched our platform at the end of March, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. This initiative is designed to simplify interactions between attendees and event organisers.” Jazi noted that reducing reliance on manual processes and paperwork is a growing trend worldwide. He highlighted the importance of online ticketing platforms for fun-loving individuals, stating, “Customers and event planners should not face inconveniences when seeking entertainment.
“Guests should be able to purchase tickets from anywhere, and these platforms provide essential access to event information and updates.” Nyasha Maripakwenda, the marketing manager for TicketsBox, underscored the importance of these platforms for effective data management.
“For event planners, online ticketing enables tracking attendance and managing customer data and ticket sales analytics, even when they are away.” She added, “This method ensures transparency and simplifies the accounting process for overall ticket sales.”
Ruvimbo Chakanetsa, also from TicketsBox, shared additional insights.
“As my colleague mentioned, online payments greatly simplify financial reconciliation for organisations.
“They also reduce the workload on support staff by addressing common queries online, eliminating the need for confrontations with customers.” Nevertheless, Chakanetsa acknowledged the challenges in convincing some people to adopt these new practices, as many are accustomed to traditional methods.
Award-winning music promoter Kudzaishe Matondo, known as Dee Nosh, expressed his comfort with old ticketing methods.
“I have not yet seen the advantages of online ticketing platforms. My audience prefers physical advance tickets, and I do not use online ticketing for my shows,” he stated.
A local Zimdancehall promoter echoed Dee Nosh’s sentiments, stating, “As a Zimdancehall promoter, we prefer physical tickets because we have mastered that approach. Our fans typically do not spend time online purchasing tickets; it would be an insult to expect them to do so.”
Another events planner, Nigel Chinovhiringa, who is behind the Sunshine City Festival on May 24 and 25, shared his thoughts on online ticket sales.
“The advantages of online ticket sales are plenty, but I will just focus on a few, like convenience for customers as they can buy tickets anytime and from anywhere.
“The other advantage is secure transactions and reduced queues for physical tickets, which helps us reduce the risks of melees at the entrance,” he stated.
He also hailed Zimbabweans for embracing this new phenomenon, even though skeptics are yet to accept this new technology.
“Zimbabweans are slowly but surely grasping the concept of buying online, especially since we now have a lot of mobile money platforms,” he stressed.
A visit to a local firm run by Visnet Ruzvezve, a financial analyst, and Vincent Ruzvezve, an economist who have embraced e-commerce in most of their transactions, showed that online ticketing is the in-thing.
“The online ticket system has a lot of advantages for event planners, as it allows planners to reach a global audience, increasing ticket sales and visibility.
“ The system is also convenient as it simplifies the ticketing process with easy access to ticket sales, reducing the need for manual handling. It further provides data on ticket sales, attendee demographics, and preferences, enabling better planning and marketing strategies, and cost-effectiveness among other advantages, by reducing costs associated with printing and distributing physical tickets, as well as staffing needs for on-site sales,” noted Visnet.
His business partner, Vincent, weighed in, stating, “E-ticketing offers several advantages to attendees. “It is also convenient for customers as they can purchase tickets from anywhere at any time, reducing the hassle of in-person purchases. It further provides instant confirmation: Immediate confirmation of ticket purchases can enhance the attendee experience. Also, it provides easy access: Mobile tickets allow attendees to enter events without the need for physical tickets, and flexible payment options.”
Some argue that online ticket sales are more suited for promoters hosting high-profile events, such as international acts or gospel shows, where audiences are accustomed to modern demands.
Despite the advantages of online marketing integration, which allows for easy sharing on social media, many locals remain hesitant to embrace this change.
Event planners must work diligently to win over skeptics, as online ticketing systems have been praised for enhancing efficiency, improving customer experience, and allowing organisations to concentrate on their core activities.
This is a crucial area where local events managers continue to lag behind.
After all has been said and done, online ticketing systems have been hailed for enhancing efficiency, improving customer experience, and allowing organisations to focus more on their core activities. This is the area where local events managers are still lagging behind. Locally, online ticketing or e-ticketing has been influenced by several factors such as the growth of e-commerce, internet penetration, and mobile money services like Ecocash, Telecash, One Money, and Innbucks, which laid the foundation for online ticketing to flourish.
The Covid-19 pandemic further accelerated the shift towards digital solutions to minimise physical contact. Zimbabwe has seen a gradual embrace of online ticketing platforms, particularly for major events such as concerts, festivals, and conferences.
Ultimately, the transition to modern ticketing practices is not just about keeping up with technology; it’s essential for the growth of the entertainment industry in Zimbabwe.
