SKIDATA

SKIDATA was founded in Grödig near Salzburg. In 1977, Günther Walcher developed the first electronically printed tickets and cash registers, and thus replaced the handwritten ski passes previously used. {{Cite news |date=2012-10-14 |title=Kompetenz in Zutritt und Ticketing |work=Kleine Zeitung |pages=2 |language=de}} In 1979, the first cash register was implemented that used an electromagnetic stamp unit to print tickets. The System 320 was released in 1981, consisting of a register computer and an automated output device.{{Cite web |title=About SKIDATA |url=https://www.skidata.com/about |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Skidata}}{{Cite news |last=Sempelmann |first=Peter |date=2005-01-01 |title=Sesam, öffne dich |work=Trend |pages=179 |language=de}}

By the late 1980s, SKIDATA released the first access systems using hands-free RFID technology, known as the KeyCard. With this product, SKIDATA expanded its business beyond ski destinations to include parking management.{{Cite news |date=1996-10-05 |title=Grenzenloses Schneevergnuegen mit der neuen Keycard |work=Oberoesterreichische Nachrichten |language=de}}{{Cite news |last=Bock |first=Karin |date=1997-01-17 |title=Neues Skidata-Produkt stößt auf Vorbehalt. KeyManager-Programm soll All-Inclusive-Angebote erleichtern |work=Wirtschaftsblatt |language=de}} The introduction of machines in 1989 allowed drivers to enter parking facilities and pay by credit card at the entry point. Düsseldorf Airport was equipped in 1991, followed by Munich Airport in 1992.

A collaboration with Swiss company Swatch in 1995 resulted in watches with integrated access authorization. Two years later, French chip card manufacturer Gemplus acquired a majority stake in SKIDATA.{{Cite web |title=Gemplus erwirbt Mehrheitsanteile an SkiData |url=http://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_19970312_OTS0188/gemplus-erwirbt-mehrheitsanteile-an-skidata}} The Swiss Kudelski Group took over the company in 2001, expanding its market presence.{{Cite news |last=Triebe |first=Benjamin |date=2024-07-23 |title=Viele Skipässe werden bald von Schweden verkauft: Kudelski verkauft Skidata |url=https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/kudelski-verkauf-skidata-an-assa-abloy-sichert-das-ueberleben-ld.1840589 |access-date=2025-04-17 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de-CH |issn=0376-6829}}

In the following years, SKIDATA expanded its sports and event ticketing business. For the UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal, SKIDATA equipped the four European Championship stadiums of Benfica Lisbon, FC Porto, Leiria and Faro with access systems.

Operations in India began in 2007 through a local partnership, leading to the formation of SKIDATA (India) Pvt Ltd in 2009 as a joint venture with Hinditron.{{Cite news |date=2009-06-18 |title=Skidata forms JV with Mumbai's Hinditron |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/skidata-forms-jv-with-mumbai-s-hinditron-109061800028_1.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |newspaper=Business Standard India}} The company has since implemented car access systems at GMR Hyderabad International Airport, Bangalore International Airport, and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, as well as commercial properties and malls. SKIDATA (India) Pvt Ltd has also provided access systems for ten Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stadiums and the Formula One circuit at Buddh International Circuit.{{cite web |title=Revenue Control Solutions |url=http://www.hinditron.com/revenue-control-solutions/default.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620032947/http://www.hinditron.com/revenue-control-solutions/default.html |archive-date=2015-06-20 |access-date=2015-06-04 |website=Hinditron}}

To expand its business in the US, SKIDATA acquired a 25% stake in the software developer RTP (Resort Technology Partners LLC) in 2009.{{Cite news |last=Mayr |first=Michael J. |date=2009-01-08 |title=Skidata kauft Axess den US-Partner weg Salzburg: Neuer Gipfel im jahrelangen Kampf der Zutrittssystem-Lokalrivalen |work=Wirtschaftsblatt |pages=7 |language=de}} In 2010, SKIDATA fully equipped the parking facilities at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.{{cite web |date=2010-07-15 |title=Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Parking Control System |url=http://www.airport-int.com/article/dallasfort-worth-international-airport-selects-skidata.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511132338/http://www.airport-int.com/article/dallasfort-worth-international-airport-selects-skidata.html |archive-date=2012-05-11 |access-date=2012-07-31 |website=Airport International}} Four years later, the company established subsidiaries in Brazil, India, Malaysia, and Turkey.{{Cite web |date=2015-01-30 |title=Grödiger SKIDATA expandiert in sieben Ländern |url=http://www.salzburg24.at/skidata-aus-groedig-expandiert-in-sieben-laendern/4219677 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Salzburg24}}{{Cite web |date=2014-09-24 |title=SKIDATA celebrates subsidiary opening in Turkey |url=http://www.parking-net.com/parking-news/skidata-ag/subsidiary-opening-turkey |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Parking Network}}

In April 2015, the company installed its 7,000th Parking.Logic system in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-09 |title=SKIDATA posts record: 7,000th parking system installed |url=http://www.copybook.com/airport/skidata-car-park/articles/skidata-posts-record-7-000th-parking-system-installed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417042511/http://www.copybook.com:80/airport/skidata-car-park/articles/skidata-posts-record-7-000th-parking-system-installed |archive-date=2015-04-17 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Copybook}} That same year, an office opened in Tunisia.{{Cite news |last=Salzmann |first=Sabine |date=2015-02-04 |title=Skidata erobert Märkte |work=Kronen Zeitung |pages=29 |language=de}} In addition, SKIDATA acquired 60% of Sentry Control Systems, a family-owned parking systems company in Van Nuys, California.{{Cite news |date=2015-01-31 |title=Skidata tritt in den USA stärker auf |work=Salzburger Nachrichten |pages=8 |language=de}}

The access system for Familyparks was updated in March 2016.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-25 |title=Saisonstart im Familypark |url=http://www.freizeitpark-welt.de/freizeitparks/familypark_neusiedlersee/familypark_neusiedlersee_start.php?id=2&nid=2466 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Freizeitpark Welt |language=de}} During the Intertraffic exhibition in Amsterdam the following month, the city of Amsterdam signed a contract with SKIDATA to equip 25 parking areas, covering a total of 25,000 parking spaces."Intertraffic Amsterdam". Daily News. 2016-04-06. A partnership with the Minnesota Vikings led to the creation of a Vikings App, which includes digital ticketing, route finding, food and beverage ordering, merchandise ordering, push notifications, and videos.{{cite web |date=2016-04-04 |title=Vikings, VenueNext Announce Partnership to Enhance Fan Experience at U.S. Bank Stadium |url=http://www.vikings.com/news/new-stadium/article-1/Vikings-VenueNext-Announce-Partnership-to-Enhance-Fan-Experience-at-US-Bank-Stadium/2bd4a7b8-ae12-43b9-afbb-fbdd432150ac |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406193250/http://www.vikings.com/news/new-stadium/article-1/Vikings-VenueNext-Announce-Partnership-to-Enhance-Fan-Experience-at-US-Bank-Stadium/2bd4a7b8-ae12-43b9-afbb-fbdd432150ac |archive-date=2016-04-06 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Vikings}} In May 2016, SKIDATA installed a new parking management system at Salzburg Airport. The system manages 3,200 parking spaces at the airport.{{Cite news |last=Veigl |first=Stefan |date=2016-05-19 |title=Prestigeprojekt vor der Haustür |work=Salzburger Nachrichten |pages=8 |language=de}}

At the end of 2016, the existing car park systems in Miami Beach, Florida were replaced. As part of this contract, SKIDATA upgraded or installed new systems across 10 multi-level parking garages and 6,000 parking spaces.{{Cite news |date=2016-11-04 |title=San Francisco, Vegas, Miami: Skidata in den USA top |work=Kronen Zeitung |pages=18 |language=de}}

In 2020, SKIDATA released 'Mobile Flow', a system in which the smartphone acts as a ski pass.{{Cite news |date=2020-11-06 |title=Ein Stück Wald in der Anoraktasche |work=Medianet |pages=81 |language=de}} In 2024 the system was implemented in the Levi ski resort in Finland.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-12 |title=Levi Ski Resort Introduces Smartphone Ski Pass For Seamless Winter Sports Access |url=https://www.snowindustrynews.com/articles/levi-ski-resort-introduces-smartphone-ski-pass-for-seamless-winter-sports-access |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Snow Industry News |language=en}} In 2023, sMove was introduced, an access system for skiers, mountain bikers, families, and people with disabilities.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-02 |title=Zutrittslösung sMove von SKIDATA |work=SBT Magazin |language=de}}{{Cite news |last=Janisch |first=Johanna |date=2024-10-07 |title=sMOVE – Rasch und unkompliziert in die Berge |work=Seilbahnen International |language=de}}

In February 2024, the Kudelski Group announced the sale of SKIDATA.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=Kudelski erleidet 2023 mehr Verlust und will Skidata verkaufen |url=https://www.handelszeitung.ch/newsticker/kudelski-erleidet-2023-mehr-verlust-und-will-skidata-verkaufen-686104-1 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Handelszeitung |language=de-CH}} In July 2024, a takeover by Assa Abloy was announced, which was finalized in September 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Kudelski Group closes sale of SKIDATA to ASSA ABLOY |url=https://www.finanzen.at/nachrichten/aktien/kudelski-group-closes-sale-of-skidata-to-assa-abloy-1033768893 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Finanzen.at |language=de}}

SKIDATA GmbH is based in Grödig, Austria, and is part of Assa Abloy. In 2023, SKIDATA generated revenue of over €300 million{{Cite news |last=Minichberger |first=Michael |date=2024-07-23 |title=Für Skidata beginnt eine neue Ära |work=Salzburger Nachrichten |language=de}} and employed 1400 people. SKIDATA has subsidiaries in 26 countries.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-23 |title=Schwedisches Unternehmen übernimmt Skidata |work=Dolomiten |pages=13 |language=de}}

The business divisions are divided into Parking & Mobility and Sports & Entertainment. The products and technologies include car park systems, access systems, and data carriers and the associated software. The KeyCard{{Cite news |date=2017-12-20 |title=Kein Warten an der Kassa-eine Karte für 73 Skiregionen |work=Tiroler Tageszeitung |pages=23 |language=de}} and KeyTicket data carriers are used both as car park tickets and ski passes.{{Cite news |last=Schörghofer |first=Birgitta |date=2021-07-07 |title=Skidata hat Platz für kreative Köpfe |work=Salzburger Nachrichten |pages=13 |language=de}}

SKIDATA systems are used in more than 100 countries; for example, on the Zugspitze Railway in Bavaria, the Konjiam ski resort in South Korea, the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England, Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, and the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney, Australia.

The products and the technology underlying them are being further developed. In 2021, SKIDATA introduced the NFC-Ticket. NFC (Near Field Communication) tickets enable the contactless transfer of data over short distances, typically a few centimeters. In skiing, they are used to facilitate access to ski resorts by serving as digital ski passes on smartphones. Instead of using a physical card, skiers can keep their smartphone in their pocket, and the gate will open automatically.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-14 |title=Das Smartphone kann auch Ski-Pass sein |url=https://www.srf.ch/audio/ratgeber/das-smartphone-kann-auch-ski-pass-sein?id=d718b377-8d96-4e1d-a862-c7fe96d307df |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de}}

SKIDATA also offers "Mobility Suite", a subscription-based parking management system. It provides cloud-based access control, payment processing, and real-time monitoring.{{Cite web |last=Symonds |first=Dan |date=2021-11-15 |title=APT Skidata upgrades entire parking system at Heathrow Airport |url=https://www.passengerterminaltoday.com/news/parking/apt-skidata-upgrades-entire-parking-system-at-heathrow-airport.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Passenger Terminal Today |language=en-GB}}

{{Commonscat|SKIDATA}}

• [https://www.skidata.com/home Official Website]

Category:Technology companies of Austria

Category:Electronics companies established in 1977

Category:Austrian brands

Category:Business services companies established in 1977

Category:Austrian companies established in 1977

Category:companies based in Salzburg (federal state)

Category:Salzburg-Umgebung District