SKIDATA’s New AI Tech is Busting Ticket Fraud in Austria

The days of manual ticket checks at the bottom of the gondola are numbered. SKIDATA, a long-time leader in mountain access, is currently testing a game-changing AI Photo Check system across premier Austrian destinations like Kitzbühel. The Skidata AI ticket scanning approach aims to make the "human error" of manual verification a thing of the past by using artificial intelligence to compare ticket photos in real-time.

Traditional lift access often relies on operators visually checking thousands of photos daily to prevent ticket sharing. This process is exhausting and often inaccurate, especially when we’re all bundled up in helmets and goggles. SKIDATA’s AI doesn't use standard facial recognition, which often fails in winter gear. Instead, Skidata AI ticket scanning technology uses a similarity check between ticket photos to flag suspicious passes in fractions of a second.

Resorts using this tech have seen manual checks drop from over 10,000 per day to just 10 or 15 targeted inspections. This means staff can focus on guest service rather than acting as ticket police. Moreover, Skidata AI ticket scanning helps streamline the entire guest experience by reducing bottlenecks at the lift gates.

This AI integration is just one piece of the puzzle. At TGR, we’ve seen how gear evolution like the Atomic Backland 109 changes how we ride. Similarly, SKIDATA is changing how we arrive at the mountain. Their Connect system integrates everything from parking and equipment rentals to the lift gates themselves. In addition, Skidata AI ticket scanning is paving the way for frictionless entry and better security.

Resorts like Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis are already utilizing "sMove" gates that provide barrier-free access for everyone from hardcore skiers to summer mountain bikers. By combining AI scanning with smartphone-based BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology, you can keep your phone in your pocket and your eyes on the next line.

We’ve all been stuck behind someone fumbling with a physical card while the powder is getting tracked out. This shift toward AI and digital passes isn't just about catching "Ladies Day" fraud. When the gates think for themselves, you spend less time in the "purgatory" of the base area and more time in the white room.