Patron® Ticket Reservation Module - End-to-End solutions for distributing value-bearing documents over the web.

Selling tickets over the Internet is probably the most significant 'added-value' service which organizations can offer their ticket purchasing customers, actual and potential, since the introduction of credit card payments.

With IMS Voyager Tour Reservation Software and our IMS Patron Ticketing system you can add secure Print@MyPC® capabilities to any type value-bearing document.

In addition to tickets, the technology can be used for gift certificates, coupons, travel, product warranties, government licenses, insurance cards, financial vouchers and more - basically any document that previously required delivery by hand or mail services. No software download or browser plug-in is necessary. Document recipients need only a PC, printer and Internet connection.

It offers both a new medium for marketing, a new sales channel, and the possibility for enhanced relationships with customers, in which the customer is much more in control and the service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, also:

• To reach new audiences, especially the under 45s
• To increase the depth of available information to potential purchasers with the option of closing the sale immediately
• To extend sales outlets and opening hours
• To provide an added value service to existing customers
• To reduce sales costs and reduce pressure on the Box Office itself
• To increase income compared with other methods through transaction charges
• To look good by being an early adopter and up to date

Either selling more tickets or selling tickets to new audiences are the key advantages for venues exploiting the opportunities on the Internet for ticket sales. The number of people using the Internet is increasing, both as a source of information and for purchases.

The character of customers using the Internet is an important target market for arts and entertainment venues, especially because of the somewhat younger, more affluent profile. The data which follows comes from a variety of publicly published research sources or projections in July 2002.

Over 35% of the population is claimed to be connected at home and over 20 million users. Which? says more than 1 in 10 consumers are now shopping on-line, and the emphasis has shifted from buying computer items to flights and holidays (12%) and books and CDs (13%).

The profile of the users remains relatively younger than the population as a whole with an average age of 36 years old and a changing gender balance. From users being predominantly male, women users are now up to 40%. While users aged over 55 are predominantly male - 81% - for teenagers, 61% of users under 17 are female.

There is higher penetration of Internet usage amongst social grades AB,C1s (80%), and among those aged under 45, though it is now claimed that 25% of Internet users are over 45 years old. NOP says the 'audience of tomorrow' are both heavy users and expanding, with a high percentage of children having made an on-line purchase.

Surveys of transactions on the Internet show CDs at 22% and books at 21%. Monitoring of advertising shows that consumers respond and recall most to ads for entertainment. In one survey, 79% of people had looked at ads for events, etc with an astonishing 29% "clicking through" to the sites with the details.

Customers want to see more information and more pictures on Web Sites to help them and persuade them to buy. 42% would be more likely to purchase with more pictures. Many customers have an expectation that goods will be cheaper on the Internet, because it is "self-service" and the retailers are saving on staff. Yet customers accept there will be "postage and packing" costs - $5.50 US often the minimum charge - which may undermine their apparent bargain.

The Internet is growing rapidly and consumers are starting to establish their patterns and behavior. Some tour operators and venues selling over the Internet are seeing sales of hundreds of tickets without even advertising their sites and links, simply because of people finding them by searching. All the predictions are that it will join the telephone as the major selling mechanism, replacing face to face sales contact.