Manual versus Self-Serve registration: Is the upgrade worth it?

For some organisers, the idea of Self-Serve registration conjures images of costly technology and complicated setup (and with 78.5% of event organisers seeing higher costs compared to previous years, it’s understandable to question). It feels safer to stick with a sign-in sheet and a couple of volunteers.

But manual processes come with hidden costs – from paying agency staff to missing out on valuable attendee data. Self-Serve registration might sound like a leap, but it’s actually built to make life easier (and cheaper) for smaller event teams.

Here’s how the two approaches stack up.

Labour and queues

Manual registration is hands-on by nature. One person checks names off a list, another digs through badges, and someone else handles the awkward “you’re not on the list” conversations. As more people arrive, queues grow – fast.

JET’s Self-Serve registration changes that. Attendees scan and print their own badge at a terminal so your team can focus on welcoming guests rather than manning a desk. That lightens the load and smooths the experience all around, saving money and creating happier attendees.

Data quality and GDPR

Paper forms have a bad habit of creating messy data. Illegible handwriting, missed fields and inconsistent formats can leave you with a muddled attendee list that’s a nightmare to get any sense out of post-event.

With JET’s digital forms, addresses autocomplete, email domains get double-checked, and the whole dataset is securely stored, searchable and can be exported in moments. It’s easier for attendees and gives you cleaner, GDPR-compliant data to use after the event for marketing purposes.

Hidden savings

Switching to digital registration doesn’t just reduce costs or save on labour. It unlocks value.

Live attendance data shows who arrived and when, helping you tailor post-event follow-ups with targeted emails or segment your audience for future events. Badge scanning helps track peak traffic times and popular areas of the venue.

And when someone needs to reprint their badge on the day? No problem – edits and reprints happen in moments, avoiding the waste of hundreds of unused pre-printed badges. Self-Serve gives you the flexibility that manual systems simply can’t match.

Self-Serve is a strategic advantage

Switching to Self-Serve registration isn’t just keeping up with technology. For organisers who want a professional check-in experience, better data and a bit more breathing room in the budget, it makes sense on every level.

Want to see what the setup actually looks like? Check out our step-by-step guide for a behind-the-scenes walkthrough. And if pricing transparency is a concern, our post on hidden costs explains how to budget with confidence.

Thinking about making the switch?

Get in touch with the JET team to talk through your event set-up, see if Self-Serve is a fit and start planning a smoother registration experience today.