Easy Pre-Registration at the Finish Line

In this episode of Bits & Beeps, we look at an easy approach to collect pre-registrations for the next event. In our example, we collect data and issue a voucher to finishers after scanning their chip at a dedicated kiosk. This idea can of course be adapted and the flag for pre-registration used to import participants to the next event and simply send them a changelink to pay for the registration.

Additional Fields

• Create fields to capture the time the pre-registration was done, for example for statistical reasons, and whether a confirmation email was sent
• Another field will eventually hold the issued voucher code
• The voucher code is calculated in a user defined field that converts certain given fields and publicly unknown fields to an alphanumeric voucher code

Check-In Kiosk & Confirmation Email

• The kiosk only has a search step, reduced to the bib as sole identifier
• The After Save actions write the timestamp and the voucher code into the designated participant fields for further use, and trigger a confirmation email to be sent
• The confirmation email holds the voucher code and instructions for the actual registration
• Ideally, the kiosk will be fed with just the chip number that's read on a USB Tag Reader connected to the computer, using TagTool as a keyboard emulator. For that purpose, define the data line of the Keyboard Output as {{TransponderID}}{Enter}^{Backspace}, which clears the field if an unknown transponder is scanned

List & Presenter

• For a better visual appearance, a list is created and shared in Presenter to be put on a TV screen or LED wall
• The list displays an image, and whenever a chip was read on the kiosk, it will display a confirmation for this participant for 10 seconds

Voucher export & Registration Form Validation Rule

• Add a validation rule to the registration form to match the voucher code with the lastname, which is associated with the Voucher.Remark field
• Adjust the expiry date and the voucher value, then use the provided template to export all created vouchers
• Import directly under Finance > Vouchers and they become effective immediately

Event File

• Download the event file here

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