Over the past few years museums have begun increasing their use of digital tools to enhance their visitor experience and stay relevant in this rapidly evolving (sometimes chaotic) cultural world. According to a report by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), cultural institutions are turning to technology not just to fasten their operations but to keep visitors engaged in new and creative ways that can extend beyond the limits of their physical location.

Museums today have to be more than pretty places to view artifacts or paintings. The days of museums solely standing alone on the weight of their collections are long gone. They have to be dynamic, interactive spaces that conduct frequent adaptations to the changing expectations of their audiences.

Whether it's using mobile apps to offer personalized tours and maps, or managing data to tailor exhibits with the help of AI, institutions of all kinds are embracing digital solutions that enhance both visitor experiences and operational efficiency.

But, what are these museum technology solutions? Which roles and tasks do they accomplish? While the answer to that question keeps growing, here’s a closer look at five key technologies that are helping museums thrive and make a real impact, accompanied by their specific case studies.

1. Digital Membership Cards: Streamlining Benefits at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

For museums and cultural institutions, especially those related to the arts, maintaining visitor loyalty can be quite difficult. Thankfully, digital membership cards have solved this problem by making it easier for members to access benefits and perks through their smartphones. These membership cards can be easily stored in mobile wallets, giving visitors efficient access to discounts, event invitations and more special giveaways at one simple touch of the screen.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, one of the largest and most attended museums in the United States, recently implemented digital membership cards and rapidly found a seamless way to improve their visitor’s experience and reduce administrative burdens. This switch has allowed its staff and specialists to engage with other priorities more easily while saving the institution time and resources that were wasted on printing, mailing, and managing physical cards.

👉 Learn more about the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’ transition to digital membership cards

2. Mobile First Visitor Engagement: Boosting Interaction at the Frost Art Museum

Engaging visitors in today’s mobile driven world requires meeting them where they spend most of their time: yes, on their smartphones. Mobile engagement tools, such as museum apps, are allowing institutions to send personalized notifications, provide real time updates, and offer independent guided tours to enhance their visitor’s experience.

The Frost Art Museum, at Florida International University, partnered with Cuseum to implement a mobile-first engagement strategy. Their app allows visitors to explore exhibits through interactive tours, providing detailed information about artworks and offering real-time updates about events. Additionally, the app personalizes visitor experiences by tailoring notifications and suggestions based on individual preferences and interests.

This approach has not only enriched their visitor journey but has also extended the museum's educational outreach. By adopting mobile engagement tools, the Frost Art Museum has made its collections more accessible and engaging, fostering a deeper connection with its audience and encouraging repeat visits.

👉 Learn more about mobile engagement tools and how the Frost Art Museum uses Cuseum’s technology.

3. Augmented Reality: Bringing Exhibits to Life at Perez Art Museum Miami

Augmented Reality (AR) is an exciting yet often misunderstood technology. People can not really picture it at first, but once you experience it for the first time, you can see its compelling and almost infinite uses. Augmented reality offers museums a new way to bring exhibits to life. With AR, visitors can engage with interactive digital content that enhances their visitor’s understanding of artifacts (just to list one element), even bringing historical objects and stories into the modern age.

For example, At PAMM's (Perez Art Museum) "New Realities" gallery, AR was used to create a unique and interactive museum experience. By simply pointing your smartphone at any PAMM logo, you could access immersive AR artworks that brought the museum's collection to life. These interactive experiences were and continue to be designed at PAMM to engage visitors on a deeper level, offering a glimpse into the artist's creative process and the possibilities of mixed reality.

👉 Learn more about AR at the PAMM.

4. Digital Ticketing: Reducing Wait Times at the Smithsonian Institution

Museums and other cultural institutions are seen by visitors as a source of entertainment. With this maxim in mind, we can understand how convenience is a key factor when determining what type of “attraction” they will choose to visit. Digital ticketing systems offer visitors a fast and simple way to purchase and redeem tickets online, which greatly influences their choice.

By removing the need for physical tickets and enabling mobile check-ins, museums can significantly reduce wait times and improve the overall visitor experience, all while becoming an even more attractive place to visit.

When The Smithsonian Institution adopted digital ticketing, it allowed visitors to easily purchase tickets online and check in via their smartphones. This move not only reduced the burden on their staff but also improved its visitor’s satisfaction by making the entry process substantially more efficient.

👉 Find out more about the benefits of digital ticketing in the Smithsonian Institution.

5. Data Analytics: Driving Decisions at the Natural History Museum, London

Data, in all its forms, is becoming a critical tool for museums to understand their visitor’s behavior and preferences. By using real time data analytics, cultural institutions can make informed decisions about exhibits, marketing, and operations to create more meaningful visitor experiences.

The Natural History Museum in London uses data analytics to track visitor flow and optimize exhibit layouts. This data-driven approach has improved crowd management and allowed the museum to tailor its marketing efforts, ultimately leading to greater visitor satisfaction.

👉 Discover how data analytics is shaping museums like the Natural History Museum of London.

The Future of Museum Technology Solutions is Vast

As cultural institutions evolve to meet the demands of modern visitors, accustomed to a new set of digital expectations, technology is becoming an indispensable part of museum operations. The range of intervention is ample. From digital membership cards to data analytics, these tools are helping museums create better experiences, streamline operations, and stay relevant in a fast-changing world.

At Cuseum, we’re dedicated to providing technology solutions that empower museums to succeed in the digital age. Our tools have helped hundreds of cultural institutions engage with their visitors, optimize operations, and make effective data driven decisions.

Here’s how we help:

Mobile First Engagement: Deliver personalized content and real-time updates directly to visitors’ devices.
Augmented Reality: Offer interactive, immersive experiences that bring exhibits to life.
Data Analytics: Leverage real-time data to improve visitor engagement and streamline operations.

Ready to see how technology can transform your museum? Request a demo today and explore how Cuseum can help your institution thrive.

Museum Technology Solutions: 5 Tools Helping Cultural Institutions Thrive