Carnival Solan, the premier family entertainment center at Centre Prime Mall, faced significant operational challenges with its traditional token and paper-ticket system. This manual approach led to long queues, inaccurate reporting, and limited customer insights. Ethos ERP was tasked with developing and deploying a comprehensive management system, integrating an RFID-based solution for cashless game play and automated prize redemption. The result was a streamlined operation that drastically improved customer experience, enhanced data accuracy, and increased overall revenue.

1. Client Profile

Client: Carnival Solan Game Centre

Location: Centre Prime Mall, Solan, Himachal Pradesh

Industry: Family Entertainment & Gaming

Key Services: Arcade games, skill-based challenges, virtual reality experiences, and a prize redemption counter.

2. The Challenge

Carnival Solan's legacy system was a major bottleneck to its growth and profitability. The primary issues included:

Inefficient Customer Journey: Customers had to purchase physical tokens for each game and wait in long lines to exchange paper tickets for prizes. This was a cumbersome, time-consuming process.

Lack of Real-time Data: The management team had no real-time visibility into game usage, peak hours, or the performance of individual machines. This made it impossible to make data-driven decisions on machine placement, maintenance, or pricing.

Security and Financial Leakage: The use of physical tokens and tickets was susceptible to theft, fraud, and miscounts, leading to financial losses and discrepancies in inventory.

Complex Prize Management: Manually counting and managing paper tickets at the redemption counter was slow and prone to errors, leading to customer frustration and inaccurate inventory levels for prizes.

Poor Customer Insights: Without a digital trail of customer activity, Carnival Solan was unable to track customer spending habits, preferred games, or repeat visits, which hampered marketing efforts.

3. The Solution: Ethos ERP with RFID Integration

Ethos ERP proposed a full-stack solution to digitize and automate Carnival Solan’s operations. The core of the solution was the Ethos ERP system, customized for the entertainment industry, seamlessly integrated with an RFID reader and card-based payment system.

Key Components of the Solution:

Ethos ERP Core: A centralized management dashboard for managing all operational aspects, including:

Game Management: Real-time monitoring of all game machines, including usage, revenue per game, and maintenance status.

Prize Inventory Management: Automated tracking of prize stock levels, with alerts for low inventory and detailed redemption reports.

Point of Sale (POS): A unified system for selling and recharging RFID cards and managing staff shifts.

Financial & Reporting Module: Comprehensive reports on daily revenue, profitability, and customer transactions.

RFID Technology:

Customer Cards: Each customer receives a reusable RFID card loaded with credits.

RFID Readers: Each game machine is fitted with an RFID reader. To play a game, a customer simply taps their card, and the credits are deducted automatically.

Automated Redemption: At the prize counter, an RFID reader scans the customer's card, instantly calculating the total "e-tickets" earned. The system then deducts the tickets for the chosen prize and updates the customer's balance.

4. Implementation & Deployment

The project was executed in a phased approach over a six-month period to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to the game center's operations.

Phase 1: Discovery & Planning (Month 1): A detailed analysis of Carnival Solan's existing processes and requirements. This phase involved mapping out the customer journey and defining the core features of the custom Ethos ERP solution.

Phase 2: Development & Hardware Integration (Months 2-4): Customization of the Ethos ERP software and the development of the RFID card system. Hardware engineers worked to integrate the RFID readers into all game machines and the prize counter.

Phase 3: Testing & Training (Month 5): Extensive testing was conducted to ensure the system’s reliability and security. Carnival Solan staff received comprehensive training on using the new POS, game management, and prize redemption systems.

Phase 4: Go-Live & Post-Deployment Support (Month 6): The new system was officially launched. The Ethos ERP team provided on-site support to address any immediate issues and ensure a successful transition.

5. Results & Benefits

The deployment of the Ethos ERP with RFID technology had an immediate and transformative impact on Carnival Solan's business:

30% Increase in Daily Revenue: The seamless cashless experience encouraged customers to play more games and spend more time at the center.

80% Reduction in Queue Times: Eliminating physical tokens and manual ticket counting dramatically reduced customer waiting times at the cashier and prize redemption counter.

100% Accuracy in Financial Reporting: The automated system eliminated manual errors, providing management with accurate, real-time data and reducing financial leakage.

Enhanced Customer Experience: The intuitive "tap-to-play" system and fast prize redemption process led to a significant increase in customer satisfaction.

Actionable Business Intelligence: The Ethos ERP dashboard provided valuable insights into game popularity and peak usage times, allowing the management team to optimize machine layouts and promotions.

6. Conclusion

The collaboration between Carnival Solan and Ethos ERP successfully addressed critical operational inefficiencies by replacing a legacy system with a modern, integrated ERP and RFID solution. The project not only solved existing problems but also laid the groundwork for future growth by providing a scalable platform for data-driven decisions. The successful implementation at Carnival Solan serves as a benchmark for how technology can transform the family entertainment industry, creating a more efficient and enjoyable experience for both customers and operators.