Background
The National Rifle Association (NRA), founded in 1859, is a registered charity with a Royal Charter, and National Governing Body of full-bore rifle and pistol shooting in the UK. The NRA approached Point100 to create a bespoke software application for their event booking system.
The Challenge
The client had been using manual paper based system and Excel spreadsheets to take bookings for events and competitions. The whole process was time consuming and inefficient, and it was difficult to take payments from the users and manage their accounts.
The key aspect of this online booking system design for the NRA was their customers, who are their subscribers, members, individuals or the clubs that attend events at the NRA. At Point100, we were very clear that one of the things which took priority in our software development was an exceptional user experience. When we started building the core architecture of these applications, we were very clear that we have to lay very strong foundations so that the application can be scaled up and could be used later for multiple functions within the NRA.
This was achieved by creating a combination of three layers in the application. The databaseAn organised collection of data which is stored and accessed digitally. A database allows users to import, export, create and modify large quantities of information. The difference between a database and a spreadsheet is the way in which data is stored - databases can draw on data from multiple sources to assist data retrieval, sorting and filtering depending on the required information. A spreadsheet is an electronic graph sheet that houses data in cells, and typically has more formatting features than a database. To find out about bespoke databases, click here. layer at the bottom, the data interchange layer in the middle, and the application layer on the top. As with all the bespoke softwareTailored software made specifically to address the needs of a particular user. Bespoke software is designed with the user's needs in mind, as opposed to off the shelf software, which is designed to fit a general set of needs. The benefit of bespoke software is that you can integrate solutions that your competitors may not have, and create workflows that are adapted for your precise needs. Find out more about bespoke software here. created by Point100, the system is completely owned by the client and it is custom built for them, so there's endless flexibility to enhance it, configure it, and integrate it with multiple systems.
Usually 80 percent of what the client has is working perfectly, it's 20 percent of what they are using that causes them issues. That 20 percent causes them 80 percent of their pain points. We come in and understand very clearly what is causing that 20 percent of problems, and what the solution should be.
Lionel Roodyn - Head of Tech, Point100
Solution
- Built an online booking system using an open sourceSource code which is made freely available, and is therefore able to be modified and redistributed. Open source software, or OSS, allows programmers access to the source code with a licence to modify it to suit their requirements best. This means that they can add other elements to it, change existing elements, or rectify issues where elements aren't working how they should. Find out more about who owns software here. framework
- Modern design and user experience consistent with business mission statement
- Seamless integration with membership management solution
- Integrated eCommerceCommercial transactions conducted over the internet through an online payment portal. Ecommerce (or e-commerce) can include any transaction online, such as purchasing products or purchasing services. This could be a physical or digital item, such as music downloads or household items. Ecommerce transactions can be completed through online retail, i.e. an internet shop, a digital marketplace, or an auction. By allowing customers to make their purchases online, businesses can greatly improve their potential audience size and offer a convenient means of payment. Find out more about ecommerce on our bespoke business software page. features for online payments and discounts etc.
This case study is a particularly good example of digital transformation. But of course, Point100, having been going for over 30 years, we have completed hundreds of projects successfully, with digital transformation as part of it. It's almost like an umbrella expression for almost everything that we do inside.
Graham Golding, Head of Sales - Point100
Result
- Faster and efficient online booking system design
- Increased the number of participants and visitors
- Helped the organisation in better planning of the events
- Client retention and dwell time went up by 20 percent respectively.
It works on phones and tablets and PCs so it's a lot more user-friendly than what we had, even to the extent that it can take payments a lot quicker online, so there's a lot of pluses to it.
Becky Sweet, Competitions Manager - NRA
