No matter how well planned an event is, there are always going to be queues, be it for the bar, the toilets or the merch table. Ticketing platform Eventbrite is attempting to smooth this out, replacing its regular paper tickets with RFID wristbands that bring a whole host of advantages.

As smart technology changes the way consumers interact with brands and products, innovations like Disney's MyMagic+ are leading the charge towards contactless payment and a smarter, more efficient world.

With 2 million users, a deal with Starbucks, and $6 billion worth of transactions, Square is turning smartphones into checkouts, digitising loyalty schemes and reshaping how consumers spend – without using NFC technology.

Cashless systems are on the rise, from mobile boarding passes to mobile wallets. Portland's TriMet is introducing mobile ticketing across all types of public transport. By 2015, it will move to an all-electronic system, even for those without smartphones.