Digitizing products offered at ski resorts—including the popular Ski Passe-Partout pass— creating a
quick and simplified way to access snow sports enthusiast’s most coveted slopes.

PROJECT

Centralizing the complex array of products from the Quebec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ) and the Canadian Ski Council (CSC) within one cutting-edge

platform and technological infrastructure.

PARTNERSHIP

Both strategic and technological, our partnership with ASSQ and CSC includes several phases of planned digital transformation over a few consecutive years.

OBJECTIVE

Propel both associations into the future with powerful and versatile technological tools, making it possible for them to deliver a seamless and exemplary

customer experience.

RÉSULTATS GLOBAUX

.

400ms

average API response time

+

825 000

reservations

+

40M $

sales

.

72

participating stations in Quebec

.

224

participating stations in Canada

+

340 000

skiers and snowboarders

Digitizing an iconic product

Reinventing the renowned Ski-Passe Partout pass through RFID technology

To enhance the skiing experience while offering a fully digital purchasing journey, we completely digitized the signature Ski Passe-Partout product for a

simplified mountain access control. This initial phase of integrating and deploying RFID (present in some of the association’s stations) marks a first in Quebec.

It was then imperative we evolve the ASSQ digital store into an online selling point for RFID cards (Maneige product), allowing users to directly order their

card, receive it by mail and activate it on the platform. Equipped with an electronic chip linked to the rider’s online profile, each custom and activated card

then allowed its owner unrestricted access to the resorts’ slopes.

No more waiting, just freedom.

The proposed solution's advantage

Purchasing or reloading tickets bought with Ski-Passe-Partout online via the ASSQ website is automatically applied to the skier’s RFID card. They can bypass

ticket booths and directly access participating stations and lifts with the Maneige card, conveniently in their pocket.

Integrate the technology

Integrate the technology to accommodate the scale of products purchased through the ASSQ platform while ensuring its compatibility with the association's

existing database and system - the SnowStorm platform. To achieve this, a solid digital access point was established between the system and the Axess

technology (popular manufacturer of RFID gates). This point of contact allowed Axess gates, located at the base of slopes, to communicate directly with the

association’s platform and validate season passes and tickets without any delay or wait time.

Evolve the ASSQ digital store

It was then imperative we evolve the ASSQ digital store into an online selling point for RFID cards (Maneige product), allowing users to directly order their

card, receive it by mail and activate it on the platform. Equipped with an electronic chip linked to the rider’s online profile, each custom and activated card

then allowed its owner unrestricted access to the resorts’ slopes.

PERFORMANCE

According to Axess, the ASSQ platform boasts the fastest technological integration to date.

The proposed solution allows for RFID card validation through Axess gates in less than 400 milliseconds, far surpassing the popular Ikon Pass provider in

response time - an innovation by Leeroy.

Results

+

15 300

ASSQ RFID cards in circulation

+

100 000

lift rides completed with these cards

.

1st year

multiple participating stations

Expertise

Serverless infrastructure maximizing the use of a centralized API and Single-Page Applications (SPAs), optimizing hosting costs, and ready for a mobile

application in phase 2

Management software for ski resorts in portal mode (SPA) allowing management of visits, clients and discounts, among other features.

Digital ticketing system, as well as barcode and reservation management, with pandemic restrictions in mind.

·

1

Centralization of all products on a single technological platform

·

2

Improvement in order processing time

·

3

Skiers can now book and secure their tickets in just a few clicks

·

4

Enhanced user experience of the online customer account also allows skiers to access their complete visit and purchase history

·

5

Optimal and contactless user experience: thanks to digital ticketing

·

6

Contactless ticket validation at stations

Digitizing the ticketing system of both associations and ski resorts with a mobile and contactless
solution

Plateforms

To bring together these platforms and centralize the product offer, our digital team developed a comprehensive solution, including a new technological

infrastructure, a management portal for both associations to oversee the entirety of the proposed solution, a portal for ski resorts (for managing visits, clients

and discounts), a transaction platform, an online store and a digital ticketing system. Offering more efficiency not only for the resorts, but also riders and both

associations, this full-scale solution enabled an optimal and integrated experience before, during and after purchase.

Portals

Thanks to the provided portals, both associations and their ski resorts have more autonomy when it comes to managing their respective offers. The interface

enables direct processing of orders and refunds, as well as management of products, closing dates, reservations, users and stations. A key component to the

proposed system is that it also provides access to sales and usage data, directly in the interface.

Selling points

Furthermore, ski resorts can select products from the associations they wish to offer to their customers and obtain additional online sales points for

standalone daily passes, simply by adding them as a product on the portal.

New contactless payment solution

INCREASING MANAGEMENT EASE

Following the announcement of COVID-19 related measures, a second objective was added to the mandate: quickly integrate a new contactless payment

solution to comply with public health restrictions. At the core of the digital ecosystem now lies the enhanced convenience of purchasing tickets online and

reserving spots (date and time) at the chosen ski resort, streamlining mountain access management.

barcode validation system

The addition of a barcode validation system, accessible via mobile application and at the resorts, allowed tickets to be scanned by on-site staff without any

physical contact. This also eliminated the need for printing tickets, and the use of a traditional manual scanner.

Application

With an intuitive mobile-adapted application design as well as an impressive download capacity, the skier’s user experience has been transformed. Today, ski

pass orders and on-site reservation validations can be made and managed on an innovative and scalable centralized platform for all resorts in the province,

About ASSQ and CSC

ASSQ and CSC, both non-profit organization, act in the common interest of the resorts and promotes
winter sports by offering various products. Whether it's winter sports enthusiasts or families, both
associations cater to skiers and snowboarders of all ages nationwide.

Driving Digital Transformation Ski Resorts