14 juni 2023
EB-LIVE: “Our bands & solutions are faster and above all, more fun."
Tactile has perfected access control and cashless solutions with a focus on transparency, reliability, technology, and sustainability. Already, 90% of Dutch universities use the Tactile system. Now, it’s time for the next step: the live industry.
Co-founder Tim Leunissen explains: “We make life easier for our clients, and above all, more enjoyable for visitors.”
Tactile was founded by brothers Tim and Bas Leunissen. To be allowed to attend their student association’s freshman introduction week for another year, they developed a system in which wristbands could be used for both payments and access.
Tim smiles as he looks back on that time:
“Payments were processed afterwards via direct debit. That often caused issues, because visitors regularly spent more than they had in their accounts. We quickly moved away from that.”
The success of the concept led the brothers to introduce an improved version of the system, including prepaid functionality, to other student associations. Their ultimate goal was to handle ticketing, access control, and payments for the Introduction Week of the University of Amsterdam. That ambition became reality, marking the official founding of Tactile.
Growth during COVID
Bas Leunissen describes the introduction week as “an excellent starting point.” “Bar revenue increased by an average of 20%, while service and speed improved significantly. Word spread quickly among other universities, and we gained more and more clients. Within a year of starting at the University of Amsterdam, we had grown sevenfold. Then COVID hit the brakes hard.”
Despite events coming to a halt, the Tactile team kept going. “When it became clear that student life would shut down due to COVID-19, we brought all our clients together digitally to explore what was still possible,” Tim explains. “We then developed an app for digital event experiences. It turned out to be a huge success even during the crisis, our company grew. Every university wanted that application.”
The complete experience
Now that the world has reopened, Tactile is once again successfully focusing on its core business model: ticketing, access, and cashless payments. According to Tim, the popularity lies in the fact that the wristband is much more than just a payment tool: “The idea is simple: you buy a ticket in the form of a wristband, top up your account, and everything begins. The wristband grants access, but it’s also part of the complete experience. You’re recognized through it, you can pay with it, and it enables interaction.” Examples include voting, measuring activations, and interactive experiences such as photo booths, where visitors instantly receive and can share their photos after scanning their wristband. “It can even be used to connect with other visitors in a Tinder-like way. The possibilities are endless.”
Expanding into new markets
Tactile has become a well-known name within the student event industry in the Netherlands and Belgium as a provider of access wristbands, cashless payment solutions, and event apps.
With an experienced in-house hardware and software team, nothing is outsourced. The founders and their team are responsible for every development and innovation, including systems that continue to function even during poor connectivity or outages.
The company has grown not only in revenue but also in team size, now employing ten people. The next logical step is expansion into new markets, and they’ve found that in the live events industry. “A highly competitive market,” Tim says, “but one where Tactile can truly add something new.”
“The student market is demanding, these are complex events with intricate programming. By working closely with organizers and combining ticketing, payments, and a visitor app, we meet all those needs.”
“Not long ago, we were visitors ourselves. We still think that way. Tactile solves the things we didn’t like back then.” One example: unused credit is refunded the day after the event.
“We see that visitors are more willing to load higher balances onto their wristbands because of this. As a result, they spend significantly more at the bar. At the same time, they don’t have to worry about running out of credit and can fully focus on enjoying the event.”
Fair, fast, and transparent
Budget is always an important factor. The Leunissen brothers emphasize that Tactile offers competitive pricing. “Every client starts with our cashless solution,” Tim explains. “We also offer free registration or ticketing options. Our philosophy is that a one-stop shop works best, especially for visitors, who can top up their balance while purchasing a ticket, without having to navigate multiple platforms.”
Tactile has recently showcased its solutions at trade shows such as Festivak, where its introduction to the live industry was well received. “Everyone we spoke to noticed that we approach things differently from established players,” Tim says. “The market is ready to move beyond tokens, but not yet ready to fully adopt slower card-only systems. Our message is simple: our wristbands are faster, and above all, more fun.” “We’re confident that within a few years, Tactile will be just as well known in the live industry as it is in the student market. We’re ready.”
Sustainability
Sustainability is also a key focus for Tactile, according to Bas Leunissen. “The simplest example is the difference between reusable wristbands and single-use tokens. We can also integrate deposit systems for eco-cups into payment flows. Additionally, our system can display the CO₂ footprint of products.” This allows visitors to make more conscious choices, for example, between bottled water and tap water. “In the student world, events have to become greener every year, and that’s a good thing. If you’re not part of the green transition, you simply don’t fit into this era anymore”.