New technology for the event industry
The events industry is constantly developing new and innovative ways to deliver festivals, conferences, shows, concerts, experiential events, corporate hospitality and brand activation. At this time of year our attention turns to the Event Technology Awards which was created to recognise these developments. The standard entry nominations for the Event Technology Awards have now closed, although there is an extension available, find out more here: http://www.eventtechnologyawards.co.uk/about/.
As we wait to find out the winners, here are some of the new technologies currently causing a buzz in the event industry:
ecoXpress
ecoXpress, launched in April, is a revolutionary new system that removes the need for exhibitors to print and ship pallet-loads of brochures to events; saving marketing budgets and the environment. Instead, visitors can select an exhibitor’s digital brochures or information most relevant to them on an intuitive and interactive touchscreen and instantly email it to their inbox.
The system – quickly snapped up for use at exhibitions by leading brands including GSK, GE and Honeywell - not only saves money (and trees) through the reduction of printing and shipping costs but also provides invaluable data capture and data analytics, enabling exhibitors to more effectively target their post-event sales activity.
RealLifeConnect
RealLifeConnect is an easy-to-use fully customisable platform that allows event organisers to easily adapt to real-time integration of social media at events.
When people sign up (RSVP) to events, conferences or concerts, they do this via an online signup form. RealLifeConnect enriches this sign-up process with a code snippet that links their Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profile to a Smart-Badge.
When the visitors arrive at the event they will get everything they are used to, including a badge, but this time it is a Smart-Badge with a NFC chip – it knows exactly to whom it belongs.
Attendees’ first action at your venue usually is to swipe their Smart-Badge at the entrance (for access control) and the badge will automatically check them in to your venue on their social media profiles. This will be displayed to all their friends and followers.
Throughout the venue different interaction points can be placed where they can swipe their cards to get presentations or info-material forwarded to their email address. This interaction will also be published to their social media channels, attracting others to check out the provided content and drawing attention to the event. There are multiple other possibilities, like taking pictures, creating polls, participating in lucky draws or liking products and all are leveraged in real time onto the visitor’s social media channels to be seen by thousands of friends online.
Bizzabo
Bizzabo is an event networking app designed to help event organisers communicate with attendees while giving them the best social and networking experience. Event attendees are able to browse through an interactive, socially integrated list of attendees, get suggestions on valuable potential contacts and receive unique offers from sponsors.
The app enables attendees to stay informed with real time updates, create and maintain relationships by in app connections and share their activity via social media. Event sponsors can enhance their presence at the event and build interest in their brand through their rich company profile and in depth connection ability. Event organisers are able to engage more effectively with their attendees with the ability to mobilise event information, interact with their attendees, promote sponsors and analyse the event through a dedicated “Organiser Dashboard”.
uTRAC
uTRAC is a very simple to use and intuitive online workforce scheduling solution designed around the needs of event labour providers who service multiple events simultaneously. The cloud-hosted online scheduling application directly streamlines all the necessary financial and administrative functions in running a crew through a robust scheduler, greatly reducing errors, waste and excessive hours spent in back-office processing.
Live, up-to-the-minute accurate information is always available to everyone due to the centralised online nature of the application. The solution improves communication management with integrated VoIP, SMS and email features. uTRAC mobile features also allows staff to check their shift details by logging on to the system via a smart phone.
Festival Ready
Festival Ready is a free app that ensures no one ever need lose their friends or tent when they head off to festivals.
From Victorinox, the originators of the Swiss Army knife, the Festival Ready app offers a host of essential functions for outdoor events, most notably an innovative navigation system to track down missing mates and that all-important camp site.
As well as offering weather info and communication elements, the app runs a hi-tec map system, allowing festival-goers to drop pins on a virtual recreation and keep track of each other at all times. The app also offers a camping checklist, a torch function and LED messaging so users can communicate at all times.