Why Updating Your Attraction Software At The Start Of Off-Season Just Makes Sense

But now, as the pace slows, it’s easy to let those frustrations fade. That’s human nature. It’s also how operators find themselves in the same boat year after year—running into the same problems during their busiest months with no time to fix them.

So here’s the real question: do you want next season to feel like this one, or is it time to set yourself up for smoother, more successful operations?

Pain Points That Don’t Go Away on Their Own

We often hear a similar story. Here are some of the biggest pain points operators like you have shared:

1. Juggling multiple systems that don’t talk to each other

“On average, the cost of switching applications is little over two seconds and the average user toggled between different apps and websites nearly 1,200 times each day. That means that people spent just under four hours a week reorienting themselves after toggling to a new application. Over the course of a year, that adds up to five working weeks, or 9% of their annual time at work.” Source: Harvard Business Review

You’re constantly switching between platforms—one for ticketing, another for retail, another for food and beverage. Staff waste hours reconciling data instead of focusing on guests, and errors pile up.

2. A lack of real-time visibility

“While nearly all of my fellow executives approach data with a mindset similar to mine, only a fraction of them are actually implementing data into their everyday operations. Just over a quarter (27%) are able to make real-time course corrections in practice. Data is objective, providing invaluable, direct intel into business performance. However, only 34% of leaders are making decisions with data versus resorting to gut-level decision-making. Source: Forbes

Without accurate, up-to-the-minute insights, decisions are delayed. You’re always reacting instead of planning ahead.

3. Guest frustrations that hurt your reputation

“It's more important than ever to focus on customer service and customer experience because if you get things wrong and someone has a poor experience, the word will get out. In fact, bad reviews on Google's results pages can lead to you losing 70% of potential customers. Just a couple of poor customer experiences can sink your brand for good.” Source: Inc.com

Slow check-ins, long lines, and poor mobile experiences create bad first impressions. Negative reviews linger long after the busy season ends.

4. Limited scalability

“For many organizations, embracing the cloud means leaving behind familiar, long-standing legacy systems that have served them well over the years. But, if you’re still holding on to a legacy solution, you might be surprised to learn that the very system on which you’ve relied could be holding your business back.” Source: Forbes

Your software might have worked when your operation was smaller, but it’s now a bottleneck that makes handling large groups or upselling feel impossible.

5. Inconsistent reporting and insights

Business leaders are starting to notice the impact of bad data on their bottom lines. According to a survey by research firm Gartner, "organizations believe poor data quality to be responsible for an average of $15 million per year in losses." Gartner also found that nearly 60% of those surveyed didn't know how much bad data costs their businesses because they don't measure it in the first place.

Source: Forbes / Gartner

You’re flying blind. Whether it’s attendance trends or revenue forecasts, your team spends more time hunting down numbers than making decisions. And when busy season hits, there’s no bandwidth to dig deeper.

Why Waiting Feels Safer (and Why It’s Not)

Let’s be honest: sticking with your current system feels comfortable. It’s familiar. You’ve found ways to work around its quirks, and there’s less risk of “rocking the boat.” But deep down, you know the real cost of waiting:

• Your team will continue to lose hours every week patching gaps instead of focusing on what matters.
• Guests will keep having mediocre experiences that could have been avoided.
• Opportunities for growth will stay out of reach because your tools aren’t designed for where you’re headed.

Here’s the truth: waiting doesn’t make the decision easier. It just pushes it into a time when the stakes are higher and your options are fewer.

Why Now Is the Smartest Time to Act

The off-season gives you a rare opportunity. It’s the calm between storms, and it’s when the groundwork for a smoother, more successful operation can be laid. Here’s why acting now just makes sense:

1. A better onboarding experience

Onboarding a new system takes focus and collaboration. With fewer guests and a lighter workload, your team can dedicate the time needed to make the transition smooth and thorough.

2. Time to test and tweak

Learning curves are inevitable with any new system. Starting now means you have time to work through the kinks and ensure everything is running perfectly before the next busy season arrives.

3. Heading into spring fully prepared

Imagine starting your busiest months with a system that just works. No scrambling. No last-minute fixes. Just confidence in tools that make your life easier, not harder.

This isn’t about rushing into a decision—it’s about taking advantage of timing that’s entirely in your favor.

Addressing the Fear of Change

Let’s talk about what’s really holding you back: fear. Fear that the new system won’t deliver. Fear that onboarding will be overwhelming. Fear that the decision will reflect poorly if it doesn’t work out.

These are valid concerns. Here’s how we’ve designed RocketRez to eliminate those worries:

1. Proven onboarding process

From day one, our team works with yours to map out the transition. We handle the heavy lifting, from data migration to team training, so you don’t have to. After onboarding, Shon Stanbrough, the IT Manager at Reunion Tower said, “When we signed up with RocketRez, we thought we’d get a vendor, but in reality we’ve found a helpful partnership where we can ask questions and regularly hear back from them within a couple of hours, not waiting days or weeks”.

2. Flexible, operator-focused design

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RocketRez isn’t a one-size-fits-all platform. It’s built for the unique needs of tours and attractions, meaning it adapts to your workflows, not the other way around. As Elizabeth Johnson of Chicago Line Cruises said, “It’s cut down on a lot of time for us! We have saved hours and hours of time by switching to RocketRez.”

3. Success stories from operators like you

You’re not the first to make this leap. Others have faced the same fears and come out stronger. They’ve told us things like: “Change is always hard, but it is necessary for all of us to move forward. I'd give RocketRez a try, it's one of the easiest transitions we have made.”

Ready for Next Season? Start Preparing Now.

The next busy season might feel far away, but the reality is, it’ll be here before you know it. The decisions you make now will shape how it unfolds. Will you go in with the same struggles, or will you be ready with tools that empower your team and delight your guests?

Starting your onboarding before the new year means you’ll have time to adjust, refine, and prepare—all without the pressure of peak operations. It’s the thoughtful, proactive move that sets you up for success.

Take the First Step

If you’re ready to explore what’s possible with RocketRez, let’s start the conversation. Schedule a demo to see how we can help you make next season your best yet—on your timeline.