Ticketing web site nearly come to fruition
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The new BOCS Ticketing web site will be launched next month and will finalise two years of redevelopment work to the State-owned agency.
Amnet won the web site tender in June last year and, according to Perth Theatre Trust (which manages BOCS) acting director operations and contract management Ross Palmer, the web site will enhance the agency’s operations.
“The system [and the web site] hadn’t had a lot of work done to it because its future was uncertain,” Mr Palmer said.
“But we have now upgraded the hardware and we have the latest version of the BOCS software, Version 4.
“The Sydney Opera House uses it but I think they are using Version 3 whereas we have the latest upgrade.”
The total cost of the hardware and software upgrades was approximately $200,000.
Mr Palmer said the new web site was budgeted at $58,500, however, there have been some modifications that will cause a slight increase in the overall cost.
“The current web site is an allocation system, it is not real time,” he said.
“The new site will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and you can go in and get the information about a particular show, view the seating plans, and purchase tickets.
“The system will allocate you the best seats available. It will improve the system so that people can buy tickets 24 hours a day.”
The upgrade brings BOCS Ticketing up to speed with competing ticketing agencies, which could conceivably allow it to compete with the likes of Ticketmaster 7.
“Ticketing agencies have contracts with particular venues,” Mr Palmer said. “We have all the contracts for the Perth Theatre Trust venues, Burswood, Perth Glory at Perth Oval, and university theatres.
“It could compete. BOCS has a very good reputation and brand name.”
The web site, however, will not negatively impact on the recently revamped call centre, he said.
“The call centre was increased and it has new dedicated phone lines,” Mr Palmer said.
The previous Government had considered selling the ticketing agency, however, Mr Palmer said the Gallop Government decided to invest in the service after the local theatre industry voiced its strong support for the agency.