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AGHA Fee - Name Badge ScanningAGHA Fee
Businesses exhibiting at the AGHA fairs will be required to pay a ‘per fair fee’ if they wish to scan name badges at the AGHA fairs.
This is a fee being charged by the AGHA to FairScan at each fair that enables exhibitors to scan name badges.
This fee isn’t charged by the organisers of the Reed or Expertise Gift & Lifestyle fairs. AGHA fairs are the only fairs that charge this fee.
We did our best to try and explain to the AGHA that the ability for their exhibitors to scan name badges at their fairs is an essential requirement that should be free for all exhibitors.
Unfortunately they don’t agree with this and therefore the fee that they charge FairScan, will be equally divided amongst exhibitors who wish to scan name badges.
FairScan will not be profiting on this charge as we strongly, strongly believe that the ability for Exhibitors to scan name badges should be free.
We do thank the AGHA to allow us to scan name badges, and we plan to continue discussions with them on this matter moving forward.
What has changed?
Previously, name badges contained the contact details of the visitor within the QR/2D barcode on the name badge.
Visitors could have their badge scanned by an exhibitor and the exhibitor would then instantly see their contact details.
It was great for the visitor, great for the exhibitor and was best for the fair.
Unfortunately the powers that be thought this was a ‘privacy issue’!
Even though the visitor wanted to pass their contact details to the exhibitor, it was decided to do that the exhibitor must now scan their name badge, connect to the Internet, authenticate who they are, request the contact details and then have that downloaded back down to their handheld.
A simple task where everyone is of benefit now becomes a complicated process that takes time.
The AGHA has provided FairScan with the ability to connect to their online database via an API. So exhibitors can still scan a name badge and retrieve their details, but the process will take a little longer and Internet access is now required.
Also important to note that Reed and the AGHA no longer have the same name badge. Previously visitors could register once, and enter both fairs using the same badge. They now have to register twice in two different systems and receive two different name badges.
Example of an old badge
Cost per fair
The cost to scan name badges at the AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair will be $150 per exhibitor.
The AGHA now chargers FairScan $1,500ex to have access to their online database.
Unfortunately FairScan can’t absorb that cost and therefore have decided to charge an optional small fee per exhibitor that wants to scan name badges.
This is an optional fee. If you don’t pay, then you can still use FairScan, but can’t scan name badges and will need to manually enter new customer details to the handheld and then scan their order.
FairScan has spent a lot of time and money in developing our software to be able to scan the new badges. The process has been very difficult.
All customers on FairScan Annual Support will receive the software update free of charge, but must pay the AGHA fee to be able to scan name badges at AGHA fairs.
Moving Forward
We hope that the AGHA will reconsider charging FairScan a per fair fee to be able to scan name badges.
If that happens then FairScan will not charge any fee to exhibitors to allow them to scan name badges. It will go back to being free.
FairScan believes that the ability to scan name badges is an essential requirement for all exhibitors and should be free and open for everyone.
What’s Next
FairScan will issue a ‘quote’ for all AGHA exhibitors prior to the fair.
To scan name badges you must confirm the quote.
You don’t need to pay the invoice prior to the fair, just confirm that you accept the quote and wish to scan name badges at the AGHA fair.
FairScan will then provide you with the required access to be able to scan name badge.
Remember that Internet access is now required (click here for more details)