Bringing the joy of AI to Funlab
Funlab, Australasia's leading creator of competitive socialising experiences, partnered with Time Under Tension to explore how generative AI could enhance operations across their portfolio of eight entertainment brands, including Holey Moley, Strike Bowling, and Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq.
The Challenge
With over 40 venues across Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, and more than 2,000 employees (affectionately called Motherfunners), Funlab needed to understand how generative AI could support their mission of creating memorable, playful experiences. From marketing campaigns for diverse brands to venue operations, customer engagement, and internal processes, the opportunities were vast but required careful identification and prioritisation.
Our Approach
We kicked off with an Inform session tailored to the entertainment and hospitality sector, demonstrating the potential of generative AI through compelling use cases and live demonstrations. The presentation brought the technology to life for Funlab's leadership team, showing how AI is already transforming similar businesses in creative and practical ways.
The session then moved into an interactive Design Workshop where we worked collaboratively with the team to identify specific opportunities across their business. Using our proprietary design methods, we explored challenges and possibilities spanning their multiple brands, from content creation for social media to operational efficiency, customer experience personalisation, and employee training. The workshop atmosphere perfectly matched Funlab's energetic culture, with plenty of creative thinking and enthusiasm throughout.
The Results
The workshop generated a strong pipeline of high-value generative AI use cases, documented in a prioritised AI Roadmap. These opportunities reflected Funlab's diverse operations, from marketing content for their eight distinct brands to innovative applications in customer service and venue management.
The team's creativity and willingness to experiment made this an exceptionally productive session. True to Funlab's ethos of doing everything "for the fun of it," the workshop balanced serious business strategy with the playful, innovative spirit that defines their brand.