Does your system use QR code for the checking-in attendees?
Yes — Tickera uses QR codes (and barcodes) for check-in. Every ticket generated by Tickera carries a unique scannable code. On event day, your staff scans those codes with the Checkinera mobile apps (Android, iOS) or the Checkinera web app, and each scan instantly validates the ticket against your site’s attendee database. Valid? Wave them in. Already used? You see the timestamp of the first check-in. Invalid? You see why.
The full attendee journey, end-to-end
Here’s what actually happens from purchase to check-in:
- Customer buys a ticket on your website. Cart, checkout, payment — all standard.
- Tickera generates a unique ticket code for each ticket bought. One code per ticket, never duplicated.
- That code is rendered into a QR code and a barcode on the ticket PDF (and optionally embedded in the order email).
- The customer receives an automatic email with a download link for the ticket PDF.
- They click the link, the PDF is generated and downloaded. They can print it, save it to their phone wallet, or just keep the email open.
- On event day, they show the QR code at the gate. Printed, on their phone screen, in their inbox — doesn’t matter.
- Your staff scans it with Checkinera. Valid scan = green light, check-in logged with timestamp and staff identity. Already-used or fake = the app shows a clear warning.
The whole loop is automated. No staff training beyond “point the phone camera at the QR code.”
Two scanning options
Checkinera mobile (Android + iOS)
The Checkinera mobile apps use your phone’s camera to scan QR codes and barcodes. Install on as many staff phones as you need; they all connect to the same event database simultaneously. Real-time sync means if Phone A checks in a ticket at 19:42, Phone B won’t accept the same ticket at 19:43 — it’ll show “already checked in.”
Works offline too: scans cache locally if connectivity drops, sync when the network comes back.
Checkinera web (browser-based)
The Checkinera web app turns any modern browser (laptop, tablet, Chromebook) into a check-in station. Two main use cases:
- Camera scanning — same idea as the mobile app, but on a laptop’s webcam or a tablet’s camera. Useful for fixed gate stations.
- External barcode scanner — plug a standard USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner (the kind used in retail) into a laptop, and Checkinera Web treats each scan as if it were typed input. Useful for high-volume gates where dedicated hardware is faster than a phone camera.
Customizing what appears on the ticket
Both the QR code and the barcode are ticket template elements — drag them into the layout of the PDF in the ticket template builder, position them where you want, save. Every ticket from then on uses that template. You can also put both on the same ticket if you want flexibility (most events do).
For the design side, our blog post Create a neatly-looking ticket template walks through good practices.
Fraud and duplicate-ticket scenarios
Each ticket code is unique, and each check-in is logged. So:
- Someone forwards their PDF to a friend. Whoever scans first gets in. Whoever scans second sees “already checked in at HH:MM.”
- Someone screenshots and prints multiple copies. Same outcome — only the first scan succeeds.
- Someone tries a fake code they generated. The app says “invalid ticket” because the code isn’t in your database.
You configure how strict the response should be (silent log, audible buzz, large red warning, etc.) in the Checkinera app settings.
What hardware to use
For most events, a few staff phones running the Checkinera mobile app is the cheapest and most reliable choice. For very high-volume gates (10,000+ tickets in under an hour), dedicated handheld scanners may pay off. Our blog comparison Barcode scanners and the Checkinera app — which one and why covers the trade-offs.
Embedding the QR directly in the confirmation email
You can take a step further and put the QR code right into the body of the order-confirmation email. The attendee doesn’t have to download a PDF — they show the email at the gate, your staff scans, done. Especially useful for last-minute purchasers and for keeping the experience phone-friendly. See content management for the table of purchased tickets.
Related questions
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