Case Study: Cincinnati Zoo

Analysis of Case Facts

The Cincinnati Zoo was originally organized as a for-profit enterprise, but it never turned
much of a profit. The lingering effects of the financial Panic of 1873, compounded by a smallpox
epidemic and poor weather, resulted in deficits throughout the first decade. In 1885, Zoo
directors considered a total shutdown, including selling off all the animals. Eventually, the Zoo
reorganized as a nonprofit corporation, with the City of Cincinnati owning the land.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a non-profit organization and is partially
subsidized by Hamilton County, more than two thirds of its $26 million annual budget is
generated through its own fundraising efforts.
Currently, Cincinnati Zoo makes use of four separate legacy point-of-sale systems with a
single platform to provide data on all admission, membership, retail and food service sales. A
POS or Point-of-sale system is more specifically the tools that facilitate each transaction. A
Legacy POS is also referred to as a “traditional” POS. This type of system will run on a closed
internal network and store all of your data there. To access legacy systems, you’ll need to log
into the devices that the information is installed on. Zoo staff make their rounds to observe the
number of visitors in certain areas.