RFID wristband tags help parks reduce queuing

Recently, a new park in Louisiana called Moncus Park (Moncus Park) was opened to the public, and people can purchase food and beverages by lightly relying on RFID Wristband tags. Once used as a commercial development, Moncastle Park is now a non-profit park that began construction in March 2018. It is intended to be a tourist attraction and a green space that will host events such as concerts, weddings and sporting events as income.

On 50 acres, the new park has been developed with a splash pad, playground, amphitheater, bike path, wetland pond, tree house, parking lot and 500 new trees. Going forward, the park is expected to feature community planning, environmental education, health education, and local markets.

Since the food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are provided by local food vendors, the entrance fee is $10 per person, but the entertainment is free, so people need a way to buy food and beverages easily. The application of RFID wristband tags is aimed at reducing queuing and crowding at sales counters and more importantly tracking sales, people flow statistics and trends.

RFID wristband tags were deployed at the 2019 Louisiana International Music Festival, and subsequent events were made virtual during the pandemic. They were able to use data from RFID wristband tags to reduce waiting in lines and gain insights into customer behavior.

Upon arrival, visitors are given an RFID wristband with a unique ID number linked to their account in the park's software. When a family attends an event, each family member will have their own RFID wristband and can also have their own e-wallet for food and drink purchases.

At present, the RFID system used by the park mainly uses passive HF RFID wristband tags. In addition to a few top-up kiosks around the site, the park has installed about 40 RFID reading devices. Visitors first purchase tickets on the website, then use their debit or credit card account numbers to deposit a predetermined amount of money into a dedicated digital wallet to be spent on-site.

To make a transaction, an individual places an order, then, when instructed to pay, taps the wristband against a nearby RFID Reader to obtain a unique ID number and automatically deducts the corresponding amount of the sale from the digital wallet. The data is then transferred to the event organizer's servers, where users can view details such as what was purchased, when and from whom, as well as buyer demographics such as their gender and age. Each food supplier has two RFID readers for payment.

Reducing queues not only makes sales faster and more convenient, but is also important in preventing the spread of disease. Once the amount on the wristband account is depleted, users can go to a top-up station or a dedicated service window to top up their account. After the campaign ends, users will receive these refunds within 7 days if they have balances in their accounts. Alternatively, they can return to the park another day and still use the wristband, but they will need to pay a new admission fee.

The solution aims to make buying easier and faster than standard payment systems, reducing queues.