Device Sign-In

Device sign-in enables shared scanning tablets to authenticate at event venues without requiring personal user accounts. Instead of individual credentials, devices use an organisation tag and passcode that can be shared among staff.

At its simplest, device sign-in answers one question: How can multiple staff members use the same tablet for ticket scanning without sharing personal accounts?

Who uses this: Organisation administrators set up devices, then venue staff use them for scanning.

Key capabilities:

Authenticate shared tablets without personal accounts
Scan tickets for all events in your organisation
Maintain security through passcode rotation and instant deactivation
Preserve audit trails showing which device performed each scan

Think of it this way:

Personal accounts are for individual staff members who need specific permissions and accountability

Device sign-in is for shared tablets at doors where multiple people scan tickets

The organisation tag identifies which organisation the device belongs to

The passcode acts as the key that unlocks scanning access

How It Works

At a glance: An administrator creates a device in the web dashboard, then venue staff enter the organisation tag and passcode on the tablet to start scanning.

1. Administrator creates the device

In the web dashboard, an administrator adds a new device with a name and passcode. This generates the credentials needed for sign-in.

On the mobile app, staff select "Device" and enter the organisation tag and passcode. The tablet is now authenticated.

3. Scanning begins

The device can now scan tickets for any event in the organisation. All scans are logged against the device name for reporting.

4. Security maintenance

Administrators rotate passcodes when staff leave, or deactivate devices if lost or stolen.

Use device sign-in for:

Door scanning tablets at venue entrances
Shared devices passed between staff shifts
Temporary scanning stations for large events
Situations where scanning access for all organisation events is acceptable

Use personal accounts instead for:

Personal mobile phones
When you need full event management capabilities
When you need to access customer personal details or financial data

Why the distinction? Personal accounts have granular permissions and individual accountability. Devices have broad scanning access but limited capabilities, which keeps shared tablets secure.

Setting Up a Device

Organisation administrators create devices in the web dashboard:

Sign in to Seaty.co.uk
Navigate to organisation settings
Go to "Devices" section
Click "Add Device"
Enter device name (e.g., "Main Door Scanner")
Set secure passcode
Save device

What you'll receive:

Organisation tag - Your organisation's unique identifier
Device passcode - Secure code for this device

Note: Devices automatically access all events in your organisation. You cannot restrict a device to specific events. Why? This simplifies venue operations where staff need to scan for multiple events.

Tap "Device" on the app home screen (the last authentication option).

Step 2: Enter Credentials

Organisation Tag:

Your organisation's unique identifier
Examples: "royal-theatre", "school-music"
Case-insensitive (ROYAL and royal work the same)
No spaces or special characters

Passcode:

Secure code assigned to this device
Case-sensitive and must match exactly
Masked for security

Step 3: Submit

Tap "Submit" to authenticate. If credentials are valid, you're immediately signed in.

Notice: "You are currently signed in as a device"
All events in your organisation (not just assigned events)
Access to scanning screens for all organisation events
No access to customer personal data or payment information

Why all events? Devices have organisation-level access for operational flexibility. Use physical security and passcode rotation to control access.

Device Capabilities

What devices can do:

Scan QR codes on tickets
Validate ticket authenticity
Mark tickets as scanned/checked-in
View basic event information
See scan lists and attendance counts
Access all events in the organisation

What devices cannot do:

Purchase tickets or make payments
View customer personal details
Access full event management features
Create or modify events
See financial reports or sales data
Access files or media downloads

Why these restrictions? Shared tablets may be used by temporary staff or volunteers. Limited capabilities protect customer privacy and prevent unauthorised actions.

Security Features

Rotating Passcodes

Administrators can change device passcodes anytime:

When a device is lost or stolen
When staff members leave
For periodic security rotation

Why rotate? Regular passcode changes prevent unauthorised access after staff turnover or device loss.

Instant Deactivation

Administrators can deactivate devices immediately:

Prevents all future sign-ins instantly
Maintains scan history for reporting
Allows reactivation later if needed

Why deactivate instead of delete? Deactivation is faster and preserves audit trails for reporting.

Physical Security

Since devices access all organisation events, secure the physical device itself:

Keep tablets in locked cabinets when not in use
Don't leave devices unattended at doors
Use device lock screens between scanning sessions
Rotate passcodes when staff with access leave

Why is this important? Physical security and passcode management are your primary access controls for shared devices.

Best Practices

Physical Security:

Keep devices in secure locations when not in use
Don't leave tablets unattended at doors
Use device lock screens between shifts

Credential Management:

Don't write passcodes on the device itself
Store credentials securely (not in unsecured notes)
Change passcodes when staff with access leave

Multiple Devices:

Create separate devices for different venues or entrances
Use descriptive names: "North Entrance", "VIP Door", "Box Office"
Remember each device accesses all organisation events

Access Control Strategy:

Use personal accounts (not devices) when granular permissions needed
Limit the number of devices to minimum necessary
Regular passcode rotation (monthly or quarterly)
Audit scan activity to detect unauthorised usage

Example Use Cases

Theatre Box Office

Device name: "Box Office Scanner"
Accesses all current and future productions
Shared by multiple box office staff
Passcode rotated monthly

Festival with Multiple Entrances

Create separate devices for operational clarity:

"North Gate Scanner"
"South Gate Scanner"
"VIP Entrance Scanner"

Note: All devices see all festival events. Use descriptive names for staff clarity, not access control.

School Concert

Device name: "Main Entrance Tablet"
Accesses all school events in organisation
Shared between parent volunteers
Deactivate after concert season ends

Note: For single-event organisations, deactivate devices after the event to prevent misuse.

Devices vs Personal Accounts

Feature	Device Sign-In	Personal Account
Event access	All organisation events	Based on permissions
Authentication	Organisation tag + passcode	Email/Apple/Google
Management capabilities	Scanning only	Full admin if permitted
Audit trail	Device name	Personal identity
Customer data	No access	Based on permissions
Use case	Shared tablets	Individual staff

Platform Availability

Mobile app: Device sign-in available
Web dashboard: Device management only (create/edit/deactivate devices)

Why mobile-only sign-in? Scanning happens at venue doors on tablets, not on desktop computers.

Common Questions

Access and Permissions

Can I restrict a device to specific events? No. Devices access all events in your organisation. Use personal accounts if you need event-specific permissions.

Can a device access customer personal details? No. Devices can only scan tickets and view basic event information. This protects customer privacy on shared tablets.

What's the difference between a device and a personal account? Devices are for shared tablets at doors. Personal accounts are for individual staff who need specific permissions or management access.

Security

What should I do if a device is lost or stolen? Immediately deactivate the device in your organisation settings. This prevents any future sign-ins. You can optionally rotate the passcode for other devices as a precaution.

How often should I rotate passcodes? Rotate passcodes when staff with access leave, or on a regular schedule (monthly or quarterly) for high-security venues.

Can I reactivate a deactivated device? Yes. Deactivation is reversible. The device retains its scan history and can be reactivated at any time.

Troubleshooting

Why does it say "Failed to find device"? Check for typos in the organisation tag or passcode. Verify with your administrator that the device has been created and is active.

Why are no events showing after sign-in? Your organisation may have no current events, or all events are in the past. Contact your administrator to verify events exist.

Why am I seeing the wrong organisation's events? You've entered the wrong organisation tag. Sign out and re-enter the correct credentials.

Authentication Overview - All available sign-in methods
Email Sign-In - Personal account authentication
Scanning Tickets - How to scan tickets after signing in

Need help? Contact support@seaty.co.uk