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In 2008, Aspen Snowmass, a winter resort in Colorado, turned on a high-frequency (HF) RFID system: All tickets were tagged with HF RFID tags, and RFID technology was used at the entrance gates to the ski slides. This solution brings many benefits to the resort.So they launched the Resort Charge program to expand in hotels and stores within the resortRFIDuse.
Over the past six years, the resort (operated by Aspen Ski) has installed 165 RF IDeas pcProx readers in hotels, shops, ski schools and NASTAR ski races. When the 2014-15 ski season began on November 1, 4,048 skiers started using tickets as an on-site payment method, said Rob Blanchard, IT manager for Aspen Ski.
Aspen Snowmass has 4 separate ski areas. It has also built a large number of shops and hotels on the ski slopes and the neighbouring village of Snowmass.
Since 2008, skiers at Aspen Snowmass have been using tickets with built-in HFHF 13.56 MHz RFID tags, which are ISO 15693 compliant. Skiers can read tickets at the 48 ski entry gates. Each gate has 4 antennas installed to read tags from a distance of a foot or more. In this way, the skier can be identified.
Next, the ski company is also considering using tickets for payment. Blanchard points out that skiers’ cash or credit cards can easily be dropped in the slopes of the ski resort, and it is also time-consuming to get out of their pockets and pay for them.
The resort had considered using an existing supplier’s reader to read the tags at the hotel checkout.However, these use the serial portReaderPrices go up to $400 a piece. Therefore, Aspen Snowmass uses pcProx readers from iTech Automation. These readers are priced at $150 each. That would result in a cost savings of $54,000, Blanchard said.
The pcProx reader uses a USB port, which is its second advantage. Workers simply plug the reader into the POS terminal, configure it, and use it, Blanchard said.
RF Ideas founder Greg Gliniecki said the reader reads the tag information and automatically transfers the information to the Aspen Snowmass POS software via USB.
After tourists purchase tickets, the staff will use the pcProx reader to write information to the tickets. Visitors can also choose whether to participate in the Resort Charge program. If you agree to participate, the staff will also write the credit card number on the ticket label at the same time.
When a tourist spends at the hotel, he does not need to take out the ticket from his pocket, but only needs to approach the reader, and the tag ID information can be read. Visitors only need to follow the prompts for confirmation to complete the transaction.
The hotel system is working so well, Blanchard said, that the company is starting to consider using it in equipment rental areas and retail stores. In 2011, the company used pcProx readers in stores. The payment method in the store is exactly the same as that in the hotel.
When spending in the equipment rental area, visitors will need to place the Resort Charge ticket near the reader to determine the size of the equipment to be rented. Visitors can then use the ticket to pick up the gear and make payment.
Using the system has saved 10 to 15 minutes of time per transaction, Blanchard said. His family also uses Resort Charge. Every time he skis, he takes out $12 in cash to buy food and drinks for each child. “So he needs to withdraw money at the ATM and break it open at the store. Now, with a card in his hand, everything is safe,” he said.
Last year, the company started using an RFID system to confirm the number of people attending ski lessons. Coaches are paid for the number of students they train, so confirming the number of students in the class is critical. Students carry RFID tickets through the gate with a built-in reader, and the count is done automatically. Next, Aspen managers can use this information to pay coaches.
(The exclusive manuscript of rfid world network, please indicate the source author for reprinting!)
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