Museum Card
Devolon has been a partner of the Museum Card since the idea level. It all started with a meeting in the summer of 2013. Both Devolon and the Finnish Museums Association had heard about the success of the Dutch Museum Card and were considering bringing in a similar system. Devolon had solid experiences in loyalty systems, such as restaurants and retail. The Museum Card system is based on the fact that museums can be compensated on the basis of card sales and museum visits.
First, we had to get some cards for sale. These had to be sold both in museums and online. Devolon designed a model in which a cardboard card with the Museum Card number is entered at the museum counter. This allows him to immediately start using his card. The card must be registered online during the following month, after which the final Museum Card will be sent to the customer.
Secondly, visits had to be registered. To achieve this, we had to develop a system that works in a variety of museum environments - large metropolitan art museums and regional museums in remote areas. In addition, the system should be easy to use, registration should be fast and reliable, and the user interface should be well-designed. The price was also important. With Devolon's recommendation, the Museum Association chose to use RFID chip plastic cards for identifying customers and Android tablets with RFID readers for museums.
Devolon's third task was to collect regular income from Museum Card. Museums receive a commission from both visits and card sales. Part of the proceeds will remain with the Museums Association. The Association of Finnish Museums calculates the basis of the share - in summer, when there are more visits, the reimbursement for visits is higher, and in winter, it is vice versa.
Challenges:
Develop cards for sale both in museums and online.
Card, system, and app/site design
Online Booking for Museums/Events
CRM Support
RFID chip and QR code identification
Dividing Museum Card revenue for all stakeholders.
Result:
Over the years, the basic functions of the Museum Card have been accompanied by new products and services. For example, they developed business cards and gift cards, which became very popular, etc. The Museum Card mobile application was published in the summer of 2020, which makes it possible to register visits, buy more visits by card and browse nearby exhibitions.
Today, Devolon is a strategic partner of the Museum Card. The Museum Card itself handles sales, marketing, and public relations with customers and museums. Despite being a small team, Devolon’s Museum Card team grows as challenges arise.
The number of museums has more than doubled, and the number of cardholders has become 400.000 users. As a result, revenues in the museum sector have grown.
The ideas that were floated in the Annankatu office of the Finnish Museum Association in the summer of 2013 have found their place in Finnish society.