Achieving Check-in Zen... It's in your Future

One of the biggest factors that drive people to mobile bidding is avoiding a lengthy and complicated checkout process. After hearing (and seeing) countless horror stories, we decided to provided advice on how to be a "Checkout Rockstar” .  

While shifting to mobile bidding dramatically improves the checkout process, it is important to think critically about how to handle check-in.  Check-in, which is also referred to as "registration,” is the process of collecting information from your guests (name, email, phone, payment info, address, etc.), and getting them setup to bid and enjoy your event.

Based on the setup of your event, your guests, and your registration process, there are a variety of ways to effectively register guests and get them ready for mobile bidding.  Regardless, some common best practices apply; and when these are put in place, you can achieve what we call "Zen Check-in” status.

Best practice to reach check-in zen:

Proper Planning-  You need to establish your process for registration:

• What information are you going to collect?
• How will registration flow?
• What does the registration area look like? (hopefully NOT at the top of an escalator...)
• What do you need to hand guests when they arrive?
• Are you allowing people to self-register to bid? (we hope so...)

Impact of Policies-  Your policies can have a significant impact on registration:

• Are you requiring bidders to put a credit card on file in order to bid?
• Are you capturing credit cards at the door, or instructing guests to enter card info beforehand through the app?
• Do you plan to ask for address information? (keep in mind the added time involved)
• Are you opening up the auction early, a.k.a. "early bidding?”   (we hope so!)
• How long will people have to place bids in your auction?

Trained & Equipped Staff- The capability of your staff at registration can determine success:

• How many check-in stations will you have?
• Do you have the proper equipment for your registration team? (laptops, iPads, credit card swipers, etc.)
• Are the registration staff skilled at using a computer? (no finger typers, please...)
• Is the registration staff personable? (this is your guest's first interaction with the event)

Effective Software-  Does your registration software help or hurt your overall process?

• Your software should be easy to learn and use by volunteers or staff
• The software should facilitate your process, not get in the way of it.

All of these components are important, but the ones that we believe have the biggest impact are your processes, your policies, and your staff.  While software can eliminate a lot of challenges, even the best software can't fix a poorly designed registration process, lack of a trained and equipped staff, or improper policies.

There is a wealth of information to discuss and learn about check-in and best practices that can get you to a "Zen” status.  For an in-depth analysis and detailed instrutions, please download our eBook on "Achieving a Zen Check-in” below!