Member Portal and Ticketing for the Hamburg Digital Cluster Based on Pimcore

The challenge

The Digitalcluster Hamburg is a growing network that offers its members exclusive events and content. However, the previous system was outdated in terms of technology and design, difficult to maintain, and increasingly confusing due to numerous individual enhancements. A simple update would have required more effort than a complete relaunch.

The requirements for the revised member platform can be summarized in four key areas:

• An increasing amount of high-quality editorial content (interviews, videocasts, documents, and podcasts) will be made available to members based on their topics and interests.
• The ticketing system, with its complex pricing and incentive structure, should be presented in a simple and convenient booking process for guests and members.
• For the Digital Cluster team, content maintenance and management should be made more convenient and administrative tasks simplified.
• New members should be recruited more easily and existing members better supported – with the aim of strengthening loyalty.
  

The solution

To meet the complex requirements of the Hamburg Digital Cluster, Blackbit developed a customized platform based on Pimcore that goes far beyond a traditional ticket system.

At the heart of the solution is Pimcore Customer Data Management (CDM), which consolidates and cleanses customer data from various sources (club managers, member platform, newsletters), enabling the creation of user segments:

• Event management including ticketing, registration, payment processing
• Customer platform for real-time personalization and analysis
• Content management system (CMS) for maintaining personalized and non-personalized content related to the media library and event calendar
• Media library and access control to exclusive content (documents, videos, podcasts)
• Editor-friendly backend for easy control of events, participant logic, and content
• Management and visibility of member data (member directory)
• Connection to SEWOBE's club manager for synchronization of member data, including verification processes for data changesInterface tool for integration with club software, ERP, and other applications
• "My Area" for members, including access to tickets, data maintenance, and history
• Integration with Mailchimp for professional email communication.
• QR code-based admission for quick on-site checks without paper lists
• Payment processing via Stripe, fully integrated into the system
  
  
  

Targeted approach to different user segments

The user segments are linked to prices and incentives for ticketing, so that members and guests can book events at the conditions that apply to them.

• Flexible event control based on user segments
  For each event, you can individually specify which users are allowed to participate—for example, only members or a combination of members and guests. In addition, ticket quotas can be defined so that, for example, more platinum members than guests can attend an event. This granular control ensures that members are given preference for events in high demand—in line with a fair and exclusive user experience.

A central media library with a filter option for topics and media formats makes high-quality editorial content more easily accessible:

• Content delivery taking user segments into account
  In the media library, download center, or even in the member directory, the editorial team can specifically determine which content is displayed to which user segments: With just a few clicks, editors can define whether content should be visible only to platinum members, to all members, or even to guests. Targeted content delivery preserves the exclusivity of valuable content while creating a clear incentive for membership.
• Taxonomy as the basis for personalized content
  A structured classification system allows all digital content (e.g., events, downloads, and media library content) to be systematically organized and easily navigated and found by users. Taxonomy creates the basis for a personalized user experience.
  
  

Sophisticated ticket booking system

With the relaunch, users no longer have to log in before booking tickets to view ticket availability and prices or add tickets to their shopping cart. The individual conditions for participating in an event are now also applied to the booking if users log in during the booking process. The event details page displays all relevant information in context and gives users an overview of the booking status at all times: Both the current status of the user and the status of the event are taken into account, dynamically adjusted, and the corresponding options for action are offered:

• Users have already purchased a ticket: They will receive a reference to their personal ticket history with a direct link to their ticket, or they have the option of booking another ticket for a companion.
• Events that are not yet available for booking are marked with a clear indication of the ticket sales start date, allowing them to be advertised early on.
• Once the sales phase is complete, users will be informed that the booking phase has ended.
  

At the same time, the editorial backend was optimized so that editors retain full control over visibility, ticket quotas, and user segments. The seamless integration of external systems such as Mailchimp (for transactional and marketing emails), Stripe (for payment processing), and SEWOBE's club manager (for member management) creates a holistic solution that is both functionally and strategically future-proof.

The result: a platform that supports the growth of the association