Our Favorite Features in Tessitura v. 16
We just completed our first client upgrade to Tessitura Version 16. The transition took months of planning, project management, and testing — and every hour was worth it. Our team has been genuinely giddy about the search and filter capabilities alone, now integrated throughout the constituent profile, segmentations (formerly extractions), reference tables (formerly system tables), and more. Here's what you can expect and why it matters for your organization.
We wanted to share our favorite new features and what you can expect from Tessitura Version 16. From web-based user interfaces to analytics and digital wallet integration, there's a lot to look forward to that will make your organization run more efficiently, allowing you to focus more on your audience.
A Change in Terminology
What Tessitura veterans need to know first — extractions are now segmentations, and system tables are now reference tables.
First, if you’re a veteran Tessitura user, you'll encounter a shift in terminology. Extractions, for instance, are now referred to as segmentations, and system tables are transforming into reference tables. These changes reflect Tessitura's commitment to clarity and precision in its interfaces.
Web-Based UI
How Tessitura v.16's new interface changes the way your team navigates the system day to day.
First, Tessitura is transitioning to a web-based user interface, marking a significant shift in how it looks. You'll notice that many areas of Tessitura now resemble List Manager in version 15, which means there are more searching and filtering capabilities throughout the system, with more enhancements on the horizon. This redesign is poised to streamline your day-to-day operations and enhance your user experience.
Highlights on New and Improved Features in Tessitura Version 16
Tessitura Version 16 comes with exciting features and improvements, particularly in the areas of marketing, ticketing, and customer service. Let's explore some of the highlights:
Analytics
The three biggest upgrades to Tessitura's Analytics module — and what they mean for audience development and ticket sales forecasting.
One of the most exciting aspects of Version 16 is the revamp of the Analytics module. Here's what you can look forward to:
1. Interactions Cube: This feature tracks patron activities that aren't directly tied to monetary transactions. It allows you to monitor actions like opened emails, CSIs, attendance at cultivation events, and more. By analyzing these interactions in aggregate, you can determine whether they lead to ticket purchases, new subscribers, or donations.
Recommendation: To fully leverage the Interactions Cube, it's essential to create and enter source codes accurately. Now is the time to review and refine processes related to source codes, such as naming conventions, source code entry procedures, and the generation of extractions (or segmentations in Version 16).
2. Artificial Intelligence Integration: Tessitura is infusing artificial intelligence into Analytics, introducing exploration paths. These paths provide suggested charts and insights based on the data you're analyzing, empowering you to make data-driven decisions with ease.
3. Predictive Forecasting: Version 16 introduces predictive forecasting and modeling for ticket sales, giving you a powerful tool to anticipate and plan for future ticketing trends.
Digital Wallet Integration
How Tessitura v.16 makes mobile ticketing easier for patrons — and why now is the time to move away from Print-at-Home.
Tessitura Version 16 brings with it digital wallet integration. This means that patrons can conveniently add their digital tickets to their Apple or Google wallets. Out-of-the-box mobile ticket sharing, which allows customers to share mobile tickets with their guests while enabling you to collect valuable contact information is on the road map. This functionality is now available through third-party partners.
Recommendation: If you haven't already started, now is an ideal time to transition from Print-at-Home (PAH) to mobile ticketing to offer your patrons a more convenient and secure ticketing experience.
Memberships
How Tessitura v.16 streamlines membership tracking and makes it easier to sell memberships as a subscription model online.
Memberships in version 16 are now streamlined and allow you to easily track benefits that are being used. For example, discounted or free tickets can be applied to a membership and you can also track it. This makes it easier to create a membership as a subscription model, so people can get their membership tickets online.
These enhancements empower you to work smarter, engage patrons effectively, and provide a seamless ticketing experience. So, embrace the change and get ready to make the most of this transformative version!
As the arts world continues to evolve amidst an uncertain landscape with rapidly changing consumer behavior and tastes, Tessitura Version 16 ensures that you and your team are better equipped to bring joy to your audience members through the arts.
Preparing for a Tessitura v.16 upgrade takes months of planning, project management, and testing. NEW Marketing Solutions can manage the process so your team stays focused on selling tickets and building your audience.
Schedule a conversation to talk through your upgrade timeline.
FAQs
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The three areas with the most meaningful changes for performing arts organizations are Analytics, the user interface, and digital ticketing. The Analytics module now includes an Interactions Cube for tracking non-transactional patron behavior, AI-assisted exploration paths, and predictive forecasting for ticket sales. The interface has moved to a web-based UI with significantly improved search and filter capabilities throughout. And digital wallet integration now allows patrons to add tickets directly to Apple or Google Wallet.
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The Interactions Cube is a new Analytics feature that tracks patron activity not tied to a financial transaction — opened emails, attendance at cultivation events, CSI entries, and similar touchpoints. By analyzing these interactions in aggregate, organizations can identify whether specific engagement activities lead to ticket purchases, new subscriptions, or donations. To use it effectively, source codes need to be entered accurately and consistently — which makes a v.16 upgrade a good time to review source code naming conventions and entry procedures.
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Extractions have been renamed segmentations in Tessitura v.16, and system tables are now called reference tables. The functionality is similar but the terminology shift is significant enough that staff training and updated documentation are worth prioritizing before going live — especially for teams where multiple people run segmentations regularly.
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Yes — v.16's digital wallet integration makes this a natural transition point. Patrons can now add tickets directly to Apple or Google Wallet, and mobile ticket sharing is on the product roadmap. Organizations still relying on Print-at-Home ticketing are leaving a more convenient, more secure patron experience on the table. If a v.16 upgrade is on your calendar, planning the move to mobile ticketing in parallel is worth the effort.
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Version 16 streamlines how memberships are set up and tracked, making it easier to apply discounted or complimentary tickets directly to a membership and monitor benefit usage in real time. It also makes it more practical to structure memberships as a subscription model — something patrons can purchase and manage online — which reduces friction in the buying process and opens a more accessible entry point for new members.
