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Success Story
PouchNATION delivers seamless entry at 40+ global events with high-speed Zebra scanning
With events attracting tens of thousands of people or more, PouchNATION is continuously faced with the challenge of making entry to venues seamless in a short time frame.
Zebra Success Story: PouchNATION
Overview: Hospitality Challenge
PouchNATION looked to provide a more seamless entry experience to cut down entry ticket-scanning time, reduce entry delays, and move massive crowds safely.
Benefits / Outcomes
- 83% reduction in ticket scanning time
- >40 global events in 2025 with seamless entry management
- 10,000+ scans and transactions over one day without a recharge
Customer
PouchNATION
Singapore
Industry
Hospitality
Solutions
About PouchNATION
For fans waiting to see their favourite artist on stage, the enthusiasm can start out sky high six months ahead, when buying tickets. However, it can easily turn into frustration when expectations don't meet reality on show day. When everything runs smoothly, no one notices. But when the system falters and creates issues at entry or navigation, it has its consequences.
For PouchNATION, an all-in-one guest management solution for events and venues, it’s always a high-stakes race against time. “Even a one or two second delay can ruin everyone’s experience — from fans to staff to artists,” shares Chandrakant Singh, Chief Revenue Officer at PouchNATION. “When we take on an event, we take that responsibility seriously and are committed to upholding our end of the bargain to our clients. Zebra makes it that much easier to do so,” he adds.
The Challenge
With events attracting tens of thousands of people or more, PouchNATION is continuously faced with the challenge of making entry to venues seamless in a short time frame. “People come to the venue maybe one hour or sometimes even 30 minutes before the concert starts, that’s not a lot of time,” shares Singh.
This situation was particularly prominent two years ago, when PouchNATION had 45 minutes to move a large crowd into a concert venue with less than eight entry points. Although the company meticulously planned and carefully mapped the most efficient way to do it, their previous technology couldn’t keep up with the required pace. With the old scanners, processing each ticket took about six seconds—too slow when dealing with thousands of people.
To provide a more seamless entry experience, PouchNATION searched for a new solution, and, after evaluating several options, found in Zebra the technology enabler to help achieve its goals. “It wasn’t just a matter of finding a supplier who would offer us great service and a top-notch product. Zebra became an ally that could work with us in a mutually beneficial way to build something amazing together, beyond a vendor or supplier relationship,” explains Singh.
Ticket scanning dropped from six seconds to about one second. We managed to move a crowd that would usually take over two hours in under 30 minutes.
The Solution
Zebra worked with PouchNATION to find the perfect solution suited for its needs – testing multiple devices to find one that integrated with the PouchNATION system best. “All the necessary processes were taken care of. In fact, the entire buying experience was absolutely hassle-free. Zebra teams were absolutely great in it,” Singh recalls. “We were also on a tight timeline, and the general delivery window wasn’t going to work for us. So Zebra took this into account and worked backwards to make sure that we got the device with plenty of time to spare.”
After settling on the Zebra TC2 Series Mobile Computer, it was time for a test show to iron out any issues and fine-tune every detail to ensure it would run properly in real-world conditions. Employees could simply pick up the device and scan tickets correctly on the first try. The change was instantly noticeable — lines moved faster, stress levels dropped, and staff could actually focus on greeting and helping attendees. “We’re building curated event experiences, and that starts with convenient entry,” shares Singh.
Since that test trial, there has been no looking back. In just the past year, the PouchNATION team has transported the mobile computers to over 40 events across Asia and South America. “The devices fly around the world for us. So, wherever we're doing the shows, there are hundreds of TC2s that are going there,” shares Singh.
The Zebra Difference: Outcome and Benefits
Using the Zebra TC2 Series, employees are now able to scan tickets to venues six times faster. “Ticket scanning dropped from six seconds to about one second. We managed to move a crowd that would usually take over two hours in under 30 minutes,” says Singh. This was a remarkable 83% increase in efficiency.
An added benefit is the scanner’s ability to read tickets in less-than-ideal circumstances. Not all tickets are in pristine condition when they reach an entry point; many are folded, worn, crumpled in a pocket accidentally or sometimes even damp. Despite all this, the mobile computer reads each ticket quickly and accurately, since it combines an advanced imaging engine, IntelliFocus™ technology and a rear camera. As a result, it offers multiple scanning methods for reading one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes at close and long range, keeping the lines moving smoothly without any delays.
“Even issues like poor lighting inside a venue don’t impact how fast we can scan the tickets. Especially when the concert starts, and the overhead lights are turned off, and our frontline staff are checking and scanning in the dark,” adds Singh. This is thanks to the device’s integrated illumination feature, which guarantees reliable scanning even in low-light conditions.
The durability of the Zebra devices has also enabled PouchNATION to create seamless entries and transactions in demanding conditions, such as at Thailand’s three-day-long Songkran festival last year.
Unlike most other festivals, water fights are an integral part of its traditions, leaving both staff and devices drenched. “In between all the water being thrown about, we managed to validate over 10,000 people every day and manage hundreds of thousands of transactions. None of the devices failed, and nothing short-circuited or burned,” explains Singh. “And we didn’t need to charge them throughout the day,” he adds, a crucial aspect considering that it wasn’t possible to set up charging stations in the middle of all the action.
This success is only the beginning of what’s been planned. PouchNATION remains committed to its mission of reimagining how fans experience events—creating an end-to-end journey that cares about every detail. With that in mind, the next chapter is focused on building a tangible collaboration that will synergise PouchNATION’s event expertise with the quality and reliability of Zebra tools.
Together, PouchNATION and Zebra are developing an advanced multi-kiosk system to make entry points more efficient. With strategically located kiosks, all tasks, including scanning tickets, collecting wristbands, picking up snacks, and personalised goodie bags, will happen at one kiosk simultaneously, reducing bottlenecks and creating a much smoother, faster, and enjoyable arrival experience. “So, when you arrive at the venue, everything is ready for you at your very first touchpoint. You can collect your wristband, snacks, and custom hamper bag with pre-selected merchandise through a quick, convenient stop before finding your seat. Everything is exactly as you pictured, and no one leaves unhappy or disappointed,” Singh explains.
At the end of the day, pulling off a successful concert goes beyond what happens under the spotlight. The magic happens offstage—when eager attendees flow through the gates seamlessly, the crowd moves as one, and the show begins long before the first note hits.
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