How to choose the best ticketing software for zoos

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How to choose the best ticketing software for zoos

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Discover how zoos use ticketing software to manage crowds, sell passes, and reduce queues. A buyer’s guide for smooth zoo operations.

Why zoos need more than a basic ticketing system

Running a zoo involves much more than simply selling admission tickets. Alongside daily entry, teams have to coordinate timed slots, animal talks, feeding demonstrations, behind-the-scenes experiences, school trips, and large group visits. Membership schemes add another layer of complexity, with renewals, discounts, and loyalty perks that need to be managed efficiently. Each of these elements requires careful scheduling and accurate capacity control to avoid overlaps or overcrowding that can disrupt both the visitor experience and animal welfare.

Without modern tools, staff often find themselves buried in admin, managing spreadsheets, or fixing double-bookings instead of focusing on guests. Queues build at entry points, payments get misaligned, and staff time is wasted on repetitive manual tasks. A dedicated ticketing system ties these moving parts together by automating capacity management, simplifying group bookings, and providing clear reporting. The result is smoother operations, less stress for staff, and a more enjoyable day for visitors.

Why zoos need more than a basic ticketing system

Running a zoo is about much more than selling entry tickets. Operators must manage daily visitor flow, timed entry slots, memberships, education sessions, and animal encounters - often the biggest revenue driver. Without the right tools, queues form, capacity is mismanaged, and staff face more admin. Yet many still rely on generic booking tools or spreadsheets, which create errors, long waits, and extra stress for staff. A purpose-built ticketing system designed for zoos helps by: ✅ Letting visitors book online 24/7 ✅ Automating capacity for timed entry and experiences ✅ Managing memberships, donations, and gift aid ✅ Syncing with ePOS for cafes and gift shops ✅ Reducing queues with QR check-in and waivers ✅ Enabling quick mobile payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay It’s about creating smoother days for visitors and freeing staff to focus on animals and conservation.

Booking software features that matter most for zoos

When evaluating ticketing systems, it helps to ask:

1. Can it manage timed entry and capacity limits?

Zoos face unique challenges in balancing visitor demand with animal welfare and site capacity. A strong ticketing system should allow operators to set daily admission caps and timed entry slots, ensuring that visitor numbers remain manageable. This prevents overcrowding, reduces stress for animals, and gives guests a more enjoyable experience. With accurate capacity management, staff can plan ahead for peak days and spread visitors more evenly throughout the day.

2. Does it integrate with on-site POS?

Cafés, kiosks, and gift shops are an important source of revenue for zoos. When the ticketing system integrates with point-of-sale, all transactions—whether from admissions, retail, or food outlets—flow into the same reporting system. This eliminates manual reconciliation, reduces accounting errors, and helps managers understand the full picture of visitor spend across the zoo.

3. How are memberships managed?

Memberships are a cornerstone of zoo funding, driving repeat visits and community engagement. A robust system should make it easy to purchase and renew memberships online, apply loyalty perks such as discounted tickets or priority entry, and provide clear reporting on member activity. For UK zoos, Gift Aid integration is also crucial to maximise charitable income. Automating these processes saves admin time and strengthens relationships with visitors.

4. Does it support education and group bookings?

Education is central to most zoos, with schools and community groups booking tailored experiences. A purpose-built system should support group packages, manage deposits and invoices, and handle different pricing structures with ease. This reduces the back-and-forth with organisers and ensures the zoo can plan staff, space, and resources effectively for group visits.

5. How does check-in work?

Visitor arrival is one of the busiest points of the day, particularly during weekends and holidays. Tools like QR code scanning, mobile tickets, and digital waivers speed up check-in and reduce queues at entry gates. This not only improves the guest experience but also reduces pressure on staff, allowing them to spend more time welcoming and supporting visitors rather than processing paperwork.

6. Can it help boost conservation event sales?

Booking systems should make events and fundraising discoverable and seamless to book.

Embedded booking directly on your website

Book Now buttons on social media and Google

Automated reminders to promote return visits

Marketing support for ads, SEO, and campaigns

Upselling extras like animal experiences or VIP tours

7. How much does it cost?

Prices vary depending on venue size, visitor numbers, and the features you need. Some providers charge a percentage per ticket, while others use a flat subscription. What’s important is to look beyond the headline rate. Many systems advertise a low starting price but then add fees for essentials like digital waivers, SMS reminders, POS integrations, or even support. To avoid surprise costs, focus on providers that publish transparent pricing and include core features as standard.

Benefits beyond bookings

A strong zoo ticketing system goes beyond admissions – it helps streamline operations and support conservation goals:

Reports highlight peak days and popular activities. Detailed data shows when visitor numbers are highest, which sessions or experiences are most in demand, and how seasonal events impact attendance. This helps managers plan staffing, allocate resources, and prepare facilities with confidence.

Automation cuts admin, freeing staff to focus on visitors. Tasks such as confirming group bookings, processing memberships, or reconciling café and shop sales can be automated, reducing paperwork and allowing staff to spend more time welcoming guests and running experiences.

Marketing tools drive memberships and repeat visits. Smart audience targeting, automated tracking, review-based social posts, and feedback surveys help attract the right visitors, encourage returns, and build long-term loyalty.

Examples of zoos using modern ticketing systems

Zoos and wildlife parks across the UK and US already use solutions like Beyonk. For example, Camperdown Wildlife Centre uses it to manage daily admissions, while Wild Ireland relies on it for seasonal events and conservation-focused experiences. The Lake District Wildlife Park has also adopted Beyonk to streamline memberships and visitor bookings. What unites them is the shift from manual processes to streamlined, visitor-focused booking systems.

What do zoo operators say?

Zoo operators reviewing Beyonk on Capterra consistently point to ease of use and reliable support as key strengths. Many highlight how the system reduces admin around memberships, group bookings, and daily admissions, making it easier for staff to stay focused on visitors and animal care. Others note that the platform is intuitive enough for new staff to learn quickly, which is particularly valuable during peak holiday periods when temporary staff are brought in. Overall, Beyonk holds an impressive 4.9 out of 5 stars rating, with operators praising both the software and the support team behind it.

Example feedback includes:

“Very easy to use and the support team are fantastic.”

“The system makes managing memberships and group bookings so much easier.”

“Customer service is excellent - they always go the extra mile.”

Zoo buyers checklist

🔲 Can it manage timed entry, memberships, and donations? 🔲 Does it integrate with POS for shops and cafes? 🔲 Is it mobile-friendly for families booking online? 🔲 Does it reduce queues with QR check-in? 🔲 Will I get responsive support when needed? 🔲 Can it help grow event and fundraising sales? If the answer is yes to all, you’re on the right track.

Final thoughts

For zoos, the role of ticketing software goes far beyond simplifying entry at the gate. A strong system should support the full visitor journey, from advance online booking to seamless on-site check-in, while also managing memberships, school groups, and special events. By automating routine admin, such as renewals or group booking confirmations, staff gain more time to focus on guest engagement and animal care.

The right platform also helps zoos maximise revenue through mobile-friendly checkouts, timed entry that prevents overcrowding, and upselling options for experiences such as animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, or seasonal events. When combined with clear reporting and marketing tools, ticketing software becomes more than just a sales tool: it enables zoos to grow attendance, build loyal memberships, and generate extra support for conservation programmes. 👉 Explore Beyonk’s Zoo Ticketing Software today.