All Posts

Game card readers, just like game cards and RFID wearables, aren’t the future of FECs they’re the present (not the new normal, the old normal). They deliver an unequivocal boost to customer experience, whilst simultaneously assisting businesses in minimizing costs, driving revenue. Period. Not convinced? Read on... 

Customer Experience

Compared to the coin and token system, one of the most noticeable improvements from the customer’s perspective, is the added convenience of being able to tap and play. Carrying around coins or tickets whilst in your venue is cumbersome for the consumer. The ability to quickly tap and play without having to worry about carrying all the coins and tickets vastly improves the customer experience. There is zero debate about it.

 

Efficiency for a Business

The game card readers also offer businesses the ability to seamlessly change the price of games and take into account different customers. This is useful when an FEC has a loyalty system that rewards different tiered members with increasing discounts on games. It can also be used in conjunction with marketing strategies and promotions. For example if you are running a special event, you can change the price for the duration of the event, which can easily be done with game card readers.

Additionally, coin and ticket systems are quite costly to an FEC due to their unreliable nature and regular breakdowns. Ticket jams and dust build-ups are a regular occurrence and negatively impact the customer experience, increase pressures on your employees to get the games up and running again, and reduce your revenue earning potential. Game card readers not only eliminate these unwanted issues, they work the reverse way in improving customer experience, simplifying employee roles and increasing your FEC’s potential to earn revenue

 

Tracking Spend

Another great benefit of a game card reader is its ability to link back to the software which keeps track of customer spending (giving you a granular level of transparency to business performance). This has deeper analytical purposes as you can look at spending patterns to see where you are succeeding and where you can improve. This can be used when identifying areas that need to be improved as well as setting and assessing goals for the FEC.

Tracking spending is a great benefit, especially when linked with tiered loyalty cards. A game card reader will allow FECs to develop loyalty programs with tiers based around level of spending. Both you and your customers are aware of your progress in real time and they can receive their added benefits immediately. 

 

smartTOUCH

Embed’s smartTOUCH is an award-winning solution for FECs looking for a game card reader. It simplifies the FEC with its easy configuration and the ability to quickly make any changes. smartTOUCH is the benchmark for the industry, not only for its technical capabilities but also its great design through the use of Color-Glo technology (adjustable colour to match the game and/or game room). The main feature of smartTOUCH is the link with Playwave, the card used in conjunction with the game card reader. Further features include a touchscreen, dual speaker audio, and dual ticket operation.

 

Conclusion

The FEC industry is rapidly advancing, it has never been more important to stay up to date with technology. Customer experience relies heavily on quick transactions and technologically advanced interactions. These conditions make a game card reader a must-have for any FEC looking to stay relevant and successful. Game card readers will not only keep you relevant to consumers, but they also have great benefits for FECs to give you the edge over the competition.

The Embed Team
The Embed Team
Sharing our knowledge to help you enable your business of fun.

Related Posts

What are Good Interview Questions to Ask When Hiring a General Manager?

If you are looking for how to hire a general manager for family entertainment center business, you must prepare a set of interview questions for your prospective candidates to assess if they are the right person for the job. This will also enable you to check if an applicant is a good fit for your company culture, your team, and your business. To help you ask the right questions that generate the answers and outcomes that you hope for, we talked to Embed's very own Kash Ahmad, Chief Management Consultant in Operations at NASA. Ahmad has over 25 years of extensive experience in the amusement and hospitality industry, including recruiting general managers for top family entertainment centers in the business. Choosing the right general manager for your FEC is crucial to ensure that your company culture has a steady footing: "A good leader can make all the difference. Different employees work differently depending on the manager. Taking the time to make the right selection for the manager you’re going to bring on board is essential. If you bring in the wrong person who doesn’t believe in your culture or plan, does not care about your employees, or doesn’t care about the business that much, it can really move your culture backward," emphasizes Ahmad.

Where Do We Hire a Good General Manager?

Talent can come from everywhere. However, finding a culturally good fit for your family entertainment center's general manager can be quite a challenge. Company culture and values carry great weight in choosing leaders such as GMs for your team. Settling for just anybody can discourage good employees, run guests out the door, and cripple the energy to go to work. This is one of the reasons why you have to take into consideration where you scout for this role. Before you can start, you have to be prepared with some of the key aspects of the job hunt, such as the general manager's role, responsibilities, and the required skills and characteristics. To help you search for the right place for your FEC's next leader, we talked to recruitment and hospitality veterans David Curtis, Senior Director of Talent at Dave & Buster’s, and Beth Standlee, CEO & Founder at TrainerTainment. Here's where you can pool prospects for your FEC's general manager:

What are the Important Skills & Qualities of a General Manager?

Looking for how to hire a general manager for your family entertainment center? There are specific skills, qualities, and characteristics that you need to be on the lookout for. Whether you have a mom-and-pop FEC or are already scaling into a chain, hiring a general manager is necessary and beneficial to keep your daily operations in check, your staff in their best professional shape for your guests, and your business in its most innovative and successful form yet. To help you on your talent acquisition journey for this vital role, we talked to David Curtis, Senior Director of Talent at Dave & Buster’s, Beth Standlee, CEO & Founder at TrainerTainment, and Embed's very own Kash Ahmad, Management Consultant in Operations at NASA. According to our industry experts, the following are the non-negotiables when it comes to hiring a general manager: