How HandyTix Works

HandyTix is web based ticketing system where the main program files and database are normally located on our servers (although you can host the system on your severs if you prefer). You just need to install a few files to allow secure log in and access to the main program.

The system uses its own web interface... it runs independently of browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox which helps to prevent accidental shut downs in use and potential incompatibility issues.

Basically all you need is:

• a PC with Windows operating system
• a high speed internet connection
• an active web site
• a means of printing tickets
• a Merchant Account and Payment Gateway (or a PayPal account) to accept payments

To sell tickets or access the administrative functions, you log in with your user name and password.

Any number of users can be given access to the system... to sell tickets or enter details of auditoriums/venues, programs, events prices etc. Access to specific functions or features of the program can be restricted on a user by user basis if required.

For online ticket sales (with the standard hosted service), we create a web page which has the exact look and feel as your current web site. All the ticket selection and credit card processing is carried on on this page via a secure connection. You don't need to set up a SSL Certificate for your own web site.

Selling Tickets
Tickets can be sold in several different ways:

1. By own or third party box office ticket sellers. The ticket seller must be logged into the system and can take payments by cash, cheque or credit cards, with credit card data being processed live. Box office personnel can choose to select specific seats off a seating chart or can use the "best available" seat selection method for quick seat selection and sale. Tickets would normally be printed immediately.

2. By any user/administrator logged into the system who can directly enter credit card details which are processed live. Such users can see all programs and events in the database but can be restricted to selling tickets to specific venues, programs or events if required. Users can take bookings by phone or mail order and tickets can be printed either immediately or at a later time.

3. By any "network" user logged into the system who can also directly enter credit card details to be processed live. With this type of ticket seller, the user is restricted from accessing other administrative functions. The network user can also be restricted from seeing or selling tickets to specific venues, programs or events if required.

4. Online ticket sales. Online customers can select either specific seats from an interactive seating chart or optionally choose the "best available" seat selection where seats are automatically assigned according to a pre-defined, and user customizable ranking system. Customers may be offered the choice of printing a bar coded PDF ticket either immediately or at a later time, of having their tickets posted to them or receiving an email with a unique voucher number which they exchange for actual tickets prior to the show.

4. Tickets can be physically allocated (consigned) to resellers or agents who must then either sell the tickets or return them by a specific date otherwise they will be charged to the account of the reseller. The system can record and reconcile any commissions paid to agents/resellers.

Seating Charts
Seating charts for reserved seating venues are drawn up by our support personnel based on seating plans you provide to us. They provide a realistic representation of your venue and can be divided in to sections such as Stalls, Circle Balcony. They can also be used to show tables and chairs for functions such as fund raising dinners, theatre restaurants etc.

Users of the system and online customers are able to reserve seats by clicking on the specific seat required from the web interface. System users can use the seating charts to check details of any ticket sold (price, name of purchaser, date sold, reseller's name), to see the status of any seat (sold, reserved, consigned etc), to locate seats purchased by customer name, and to see which seats have been sold by individual resellers.
Seating charts are not required for venues with general admission events only.

Payment Processing
Credit card payments for tickets purchased are processed by a 3rd party Payment Gateway which directly links to your financial institution's merchant account, so you are credited with the full ticket revenue immediately a sale is made and the credit card transaction approved. HandyTix is compatible with all the major Payment Gateways such as Authorize.net, First Data etc. as well as PayPal (Standard or Web Payments Pro). For a full list of Payment Gateways currently compatible with HandyTix, click here.
All users of the HandyTix system can enter credit card information when recording a ticket sale for live payment processing.

Ticket Printing & Design
Tickets can be printed with industry standard thermal ticket printers such as Boca or Practical Automation, or alternatively can be printed on A4 or Letter sized paper with 4 tickets per page using a standard laser or inkjet printer. Pre-perforated A4 or Letter paper can be obtained from specialist suppliers or alternatively a local printer should be able to supply you with customer perforated paper.

Online customers can be given the option of printing bar coded PDF tickets at home.

All tickets are completely customizable in design. You can add graphics, text, shapes and logos, which can be positioned as you wish on the ticket. You also have the ability to choose which data fields (price, tax, customer name, email address, ticket type etc) you want printed on the tickets.
All tickets can be printed with unique barcodes for scanning and verification at your venue entrance.

Customer Database
Customer names are recorded in the main database for all online transactions and can be input manually by system users when making a sale. You can send emails directly from the database to your customers informing them of upcoming events etc.