SKIDATA’s 40 Years in Business

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in business in 2025, SKIDATA attributes its great success to its commitment to creating welcoming experiences for every visitor. With its strong understanding of what customers want, the company has developed tailored access solutions that enhance operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.

“Our philosophy centers on making access simple, safe, enjoyable; ensuring guests feel welcome from start to finish,” said Andrew Shenberger, SKIDATA senior manager, digital solutions. “This dedication has solidified our position as a trusted partner in mountain destinations worldwide.”

The company initially entered the parking business in 1985 with its comprehensive parking solutions. Only a year later, SKIDATA’s market share for fully automated access management in ski resorts grew to more than 80%. Just six years later, the company provided mass access for people and expanded its portfolio to include stadiums, arenas and attraction parks.

The beginning

The course of the company’s success began in 1977 when Gunthar Walcher – originally active in the sale of Polaroid cameras – developed the idea for a new application of Polaroid images. By incorporating skiers’ photos onto ski tickets, he triggered a revolution in ski lift access. Both the first printed ski ticket and electronic cash register were launched – a milestone in the history of sports regions. Fast forward to today. With its main office located in Grödig, near Salzburg, Austria, the company provides services to clients in approximately 100 countries.

“Beyond mountain destinations, we also successfully operate in parking facilities, airports, shopping centers, stadiums, amusement parks and fairs,” said Shenberger. “This broad expertise, especially in parking, allows us to enhance guest experiences across various industries by combining global reach with local insights.”

With its vision for the snow operations industry centered on harnessing digitalization and automation to transform ski resort management, SKIDATA believes that by implementing data-driven solutions, resorts can optimize their operations, enhance efficiency and deliver personalized guest experiences.

“We aim to develop intelligent access management systems that seamlessly integrate with resort infrastructures, enabling profound decision-making and improved resource allocation,” said Shenberger. “By leading this technological evolution, we see the future of access management becoming more efficient, intuitive and tailored to the needs of both operators and visitors.”

Forward-thinking technologies

SKIDATA offers forward-thinking technologies specifically designed for ski resorts and winter operations with Connect, its integrated system that connects access control, eCommerce, dynamic pricing and partner integrations to optimize resort operations and enhance guest experiences.

“Our Smartphone Ski Pass enables guests to use their phones as tickets, streamlining access and reducing wait times,” said Shenberger. “The combination of advanced access control with flexible solutions reflects our dedication to enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency in mountain destinations worldwide.”

We are committed to delivering state-of-the-art solutions that extend beyond access gates, embracing increased digitalization and automation of resort services.

Andrew Shenberger, SKIDATA

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has also revolutionized guest access at ski resorts by providing a seamless, hands-free experience. Thanks to long-range detection and the widespread inclusion of pockets in ski jacket sleeves, guests can pass through access gates without removing their ski passes. This technology ensures fast and easy access, maximizing throughput and reducing wait times.

“For operators, automated RFID systems mean fewer staff are needed at entry points, enhancing ski resorts’ efficiency and overall visitor experience,” said Shenberger.

With the rise of mobile technology, SKIDATA introduced the Smartphone Ski Pass four years ago and was the first company worldwide to meet the growing demand for digital ticketing. This pioneering technology turns guests’ smartphones into ski passes, providing seamless, hands-free, contactless lift access.

“By embracing mobile ticketing, we enhance operational efficiency and cater to the evolving preferences of tech-savvy visitors. World-renowned resorts like Levi in Finland and Kitzbühel in Austria have successfully implemented this solution, showcasing our commitment to leading mobile innovation,” Shenberger said.

Essentially, SKIDATA technology elevates the guest experience by simplifying every aspect of their winter adventure. Its integrated approach allows visitors to plan their winter adventure online, purchase lift tickets, reserve parking and book services such as ski rentals, all in one place. “This comprehensive approach lets visitors spend more time enjoying the slopes and less time on logistics, making their ski experience more convenient and memorable,” said Shenberger.

Highly adaptable

SKIDATA’s solutions are highly adaptable to the unique needs of different resorts, catering to all sizes – from small local hills to prominent international destinations. Through its Connect approach, the company offers open application programming interfaces and seamless integration with existing systems and partner technologies.

“This flexibility allows resorts to customize their access and management systems to align perfectly with their operational requirements and enhance the guest experience,” he said.

SKIDATA also harnesses advanced data analytics to give ski resorts deep insights into guest behavior and operational efficiency. Its reporting and analytics tools collect data from various touchpoints – such as access controls and ticketing systems – to reveal patterns in guest arrivals, lift usage and facility utilization. This information empowers resorts to make informed decisions on staffing, resource allocation and improve service offerings, enhancing the overall guest experience.

Additionally, the company’s pricing solutions allow resorts to adjust ticket prices in real time based on demand and other factors, optimizing revenue and ensuring a balanced flow of visitors throughout the season.

“We also enhance revenue management and increase efficiency for ski resorts by offering comprehensive eCommerce platforms, diverse sales channels, self-service ticketing solutions and the Smartphone Ski Pass,” said Shenberger.

“Our integrated eCommerce allows resorts to sell tickets and services online, boosting advance sales and improving cash flow. Importantly, with SKIDATA as the solutions provider, the resort owns the customer relationship management system and all guest data, empowering them with valuable insights to optimize operations and marketing strategies.”

Latest developments and trends

The company’s latest development is sMove, a versatile access solution that transforms guest reception areas into welcoming spaces of security and comfort, ensuring visitors feel at home regardless of the season.

Designed to cater to all guests, including mountain bikers, families or individuals with disabilities, sMove features a modular and visually appealing design that meets the highest international safety standards. It offers quick seasonal adaptation and provides barrier-free access that is compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, all while emphasizing sustainability through durable materials and energy-efficient operation.

With respect to industry trends, Shenberger says they are observing a strong trend among ski resorts toward increased digitalization, automation and data-driven decision-making to optimize operations and elevate guest experiences.

“Challenges arising from changing winter conditions have prompted resorts to expand their offerings, transforming into all-season destinations that provide nature experiences and activities like mountain biking,” he said. “We are responding to these developments by creating versatile solutions such as our sMove access gate, designed for year-round use to accommodate a diverse range of guests and equipment.”

What’s next?

Shenberger says the team aims to enhance the customer journey by focusing on mountain destinations’ entire value creation chain.

“We’re committed to delivering state-of-the-art solutions that extend beyond access gates, embracing increased digitalization and automation of resort services. By anticipating industry trends and future needs, we will develop innovative solutions that empower ski resorts to optimize operations and provide exceptional guest experiences. Our goal is to lead the transformation of ski resorts through forward-thinking technology and proactive development. We see great opportunities to transform ski resorts into all-season destinations,” he said.