Streamlining Operations at the Art House Cinema through Data Integration

The Art House Cinema streamlined operations and improved cost-effectiveness through data integration. By collecting data from various platforms via APIs and feeding it into a single database, they gained valuable insights into their operations. A dashboard displaying crucial metrics helped them identify areas for improvement, leading to a 25% increase in productivity, over 10% reduction in operational personnel costs, and a happier customer base.

The Situation

Operating an independent cinema can be a challenging endeavor, particularly when it comes to improving operations and managing costs. This was the challenge faced by the Art House Cinema, who were struggling to identify how they could make improvements to their operations. With high operational costs and no clear way to cut them, they were stuck in a conundrum. The data that could potentially help them was scattered across multiple platforms and tools, making it inaccessible and difficult to interpret.

Impossible to Use the Data

There were two major problems: the data from the systems could not always be accessed, and the disjointed nature of the different systems in use. All of these systems operated locally and didn't communicate with each other. The data they produced was locked in proprietary formats that couldn't be easily exported into a universally usable format, such as an overview or even an Excel file. This lack of interoperability made it extremely difficult to aggregate the data and gain a holistic view of their operations.

The solution? Data integration through APIs. Working alongside their supplier, Pearstop created APIs to collect data from various platforms - including their POS system, ticketing system, personnel admin, and event planning tool. This data was then fed into a custom ETL software, which moved the data into a single database.

From Database to Management Overview

But having the data in one place was only half the battle. The cinema needed understandable and easy to use data. The solution was a dashboard that displayed crucial metrics such as the number of operational staff working, visitors, bar sales, types of tickets sold, and client demographics. The overviews were easy to use, easy to understand, and combined metrics in such a way that the insights presented themselves.

The insights gained from this data were incredibly valuable. The cinema was able to identify exactly where staffing rosters needed to be adjusted to optimize personnel availability. They also realized that the building lease cost, which was based on the number and type of visitors, could be renegotiated.

Big Improvements & Happy Customers

Based on these insights, the cinema implemented several changes. They merged ticket desk and bar tasks, offered free coffee and tea during quiet periods, freeing up the staff member that would otherwise stand around waiting for customers, and started the process of renegotiating their lease. The result? A staggering 25% increase in productivity (sales over operational personnel), over 10% reduction in operational personnel costs, and a happier customer base, who not only enjoyed the free hot drinks but, surprisingly, were also more likely to make additional purchases afterward.

“The best part… for my colleagues, it meant they were able to focus on the quality of programming. But for me, it was seeing the customer’s reactions”

This case study shows the power of data integration in streamlining operations and improving cost-effectiveness. By making their data accessible and understandable, the Art House Cinema was able to make informed decisions that significantly improved their operations and bottom line.

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