Event management on a budget: Is Self-Serve event registration technology the solution organisers have been waiting for?

Registration is often the first impression attendees have of your event. Long queues, frazzled team, scribbled names and misplaced badges send a message of chaos and unprofessionalism. Nothing kills the buzz of arriving at an event quite like this.

But for many event organisers – especially those running in-house conferences, regional exhibitions or community events – a slick, tech-powered registration setup often feels out of reach. Why? Because budgets rarely stretch to the premium registration services reserved for large trade shows or conferences. The go-to fallback is often clipboards, spreadsheets and crossed fingers.

JET’s Self-Serve registration was built to change that.

It’s designed to give you all the essentials of a professional check-in experience without needing a full registration team or a big trade show budget. Think of it as “registration in a box”: attendees scan their ticket, print their own badge and head straight into the event. No chaos. No bottlenecks. No faff.

In this blog, we’ll break down exactly how JET’s Self-Serve kit works, why it was created and how it solves some of the biggest headaches smaller event organisers face.

What Self-Serve registration is (and isn’t )

Self-Serve is ideal for events with up to around 1,000 attendees, things like member conferences, product launches or internal corporate events.

Instead of a staffed desk, you get a compact kit with everything you need:

• Two Zebra badge printers.
• Two iPads (10th Gen).
• Stands, badge boxes, and a router.
• Preprinted badge stock.

On arrival, attendees scan the barcode on their digital ticket (or confirmation email). Their badge prints instantly – and they’re in. You can even use the same iPads to scan people into session rooms or record entry.

Self-Serve isn’t a slimmed-down version of a high-end enterprise tool. It’s been designed specifically for smaller events with functionality that includes:

• Syncing across devices.
• Custom-branded screens (consistent branding can increase revenue by 23%).
• Flexible data import or JET’s built-in registration forms.
• Walk-in handling and name lookups.
• Exportable attendance data after the event.

It’s not about cutting corners but rather giving smaller events access to smart, reliable event tech that actually works on the ground.

Why JET built a Self-Serve option

Not every event needs a full registration team, but that doesn’t mean organisers should have to compromise on professionalism, data or experience.

At JET, we’ve long supported large-scale trade shows with fully managed registration, complete with onsite technicians and dedicated project managers. But over time, we saw a growing need among organisers for something simpler. Many of them also run smaller conferences, regional meetings or internal events where the budget just doesn’t stretch to an enterprise solution.

So we developed a scaled-down version of our system. One that still delivered professional badge printing and live attendance data without the price tag or personnel of a full-service setup.

At around £3,000 for an average-sized event, the Self-Serve kit is a more affordable option largely because you’re not paying for a project manager or onsite staff. Telephone support is still included, and if you’d like an onboarding session, that can be added too.

But make no mistake, this isn’t a cut-price downgrade. You’re still using JET’s robust badge printing and data platform – you just take the reins when it comes to setup and operation.

Problems Self-Serve solves

We didn’t just design Self-Serve to be cheaper. We designed it to tackle the real, everyday challenges that come with running smaller events:

1. Staffing costs
Manual registration requires people to staff the desk, find badges and tick names off lists. For small events, hiring agency staff can quickly eat into the budget. But with Self-Serve, attendees check themselves in. That means your existing team can focus on the welcome experience instead of admin at the desk.

2. Queues and bottlenecks
Queues form when staff have to look up names, locate badges or troubleshoot ticket issues. Self-Serve registration keeps things moving: scanning and printing take seconds. The system is modular, so you can add more iPads or printers to handle peak times.

3. Manual paperwork and spreadsheets
Paper sign-in sheets and spreadsheets might seem easy, but they usually mean incomplete data, messy handwriting and GDPR headaches. JET’s system captures everything digitally, validates email addresses and allows for real-time edits. After the event, you’ve got clean, usable attendance data ready to go.

4. Last-minute changes and walk-ins
Plans change. People switch companies, forget tickets or show up unexpectedly. Instead of crossing things out and scribbling over names, the Self-Serve platform lets you search, edit and reprint badges instantly. Registration never really closes – you can continue to import data and send confirmation emails during the event.

5. Hidden fees
Some providers offer tempting headline prices, then add on fees for every extra, from equipment to support calls. JET’s pricing is always clear and transparent, so you’re never left guessing. Support is included by phone, and if you need on-site help, it’s always priced upfront.

How Self-Serve works

Self-Serve is designed to be as straightforward as possible. No tech team required. Here’s how the process unfolds:

1. Plan your kit – Start by estimating your attendee numbers and when they’re likely to arrive. The standard kit is ideal for up to 250 attendees, but you can easily add more devices to handle larger or faster arrivals.

2. Set up registration – You can either build a custom registration form with JET or upload your existing attendee list. The platform then sends out confirmation emails with barcodes or digital tickets.

3. Unbox and assemble – Your Self-Serve kit arrives with everything you need, plus a step-by-step user guide. Just plug in the printers and router (if you’re using it), mount the iPads, log into Jet Onsite and customise the welcome screen with your logo and message.

4. Go live – On the day, attendees simply scan their barcode at the terminal. The badge prints instantly and they’re on their way. If someone arrives without a ticket, staff can look them up by name, add walk-ins or reprint badges in seconds.

5. Scan entry and access data – Use the iPads (or optional phones) to scan badges at doors and track who’s come through. All attendance data is stored in real-time and ready to export after the event.