The latest event technology trends are enabling hybrid and in-person events to make a triumphant comeback in 2022.
Digital transformation has transformed event production over the past two years, making event attendees expect higher quality products to be worth their time and money. Investing in the right event technology is crucial for event organizers.
Event technology is constantly evolving to enhance and ease the event experience. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Contactless features, live chats with other attendees, exhibitors, and incredible tools, the event industry is constantly evolving and implementing high-tech technologies that exist only in imagination.
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What is Event Technology?
Event technology involves incorporating tools for event management, software, or electronic devices into events. By utilizing these event technologies, attendees are assisted in virtual registration, contactless check-ins, event management, and creating tech-enhanced presentations with lighting and music using artificial intelligence.
These event technologies, however, are not only for event planners; even attendees can benefit from them. Event platforms, wearable devices, and social communication with live polls help attendees enhance their experience at an event. In recent years, event technologies have been boosted to give audiences better, hassle-free, and safer experiences.
The latest event technologies have enabled the hosting of virtual events to become a cost-effective and engaging experience. Many people participate in virtual events due to high-quality visualization, holograms, phone booths, and wearable devices.
How To Leverage Technology to Host a Successful Event?
The tremendous growth in virtual events is apparent regardless of the pandemic. The number of events is increasing, as well as the number of attendees. Virtual events are more successful since audiences can join from anywhere at any time. Integrating up-to-date technologies into your event can drive amazing results if you wish to give a high-quality experience and meet your guests’ expectations.
The solution is not just about adding seamless virtual registration or contactless check-in but also investing in other emerging technologies mentioned in this article. According to research, event technologies can,
- Increase the attendances by up to 30%
- Save your time and money by 45%
- Increase productivity by 40%
- Increase the conversion of leads by 25%
As well as providing guests with hassle-free and exclusive experiences, event technology can assist organizations in successfully conducting the entire event. It can facilitate event navigation, schedule the event, improve follow-up, offer guests special offers, real-time event networking and communities, and many more.
Top Event Technology Trends You Need To Know
Knowing the importance of event technologies and that the trend is here to stay, we’ve compiled a list of the most recent event technologies you should be aware of.
Any business knows that building brand awareness and trust is crucial to growth. You can efficiently represent your thoughts, products, and ideas to your target audience by hosting high-quality conferences, events, or webinars.
1. Contactless Verification
Event industry professionals will take time to feel comfortable meeting in large groups again, despite the rapid shift back to in-person and hybrid events in 2022. The world has become increasingly reliant on contactless technology and remote interfacing.
Contactless solutions, like ticketing, check-in, and product and exhibitor interactions, managed via QR codes, can help attendees avoid contact with staff during check-in.
The event technology vendor provides the check-in kiosks, and attendees scan a QR code with their phones. The software sends the attendee’s badge to a nearby printer to make badge pickup easy.
Contactless check-in is safer and faster than traditional check-in and enhances safety and health measures. You can finally say goodbye to long lines and bottlenecks.
2. Live streaming and simulive
Live streaming is a familiar concept, especially since event tech companies have advanced their streaming offerings to accommodate virtual events.
This means your attendees expect the best quality streams, especially if they are tuning in remotely. With a comprehensive solution, you can rotate between virtual and hybrid events, sync multiple locations with your live audience, seamlessly mix live and pre-recorded video, and integrate your favorite streaming service.
Another streaming solution offered by Simulive is perfect for hybrid events. Pre-recorded event content can be scheduled to go live at specific times. Using Simulive, you minimize the risk of syncing multiple videos in real-time during the live event, which we all know can be extremely nerve-racking.
3. Event Gamification
Gamification is a great way to boost fun and event engagement through friendly competition.
Event management platforms often include customizable games so event organizers can create challenges, such as answering trivia questions at the end of a session or visiting an exhibitor booth.
Using the event app, attendees earn points by entering corresponding codes. Be sure to promote your leaders frequently and offer some irresistible prizes.
4. Event Diagramming and Digital Floor Plans
A growing number of event organizers use event diagramming software to create to-scale, 3D renderings of their event spaces, similar to how architects use blueprints to design and build homes.
With drag-and-drop functionality, 3D walk-throughs, seating and stage design, and booth and vendor mapping, event organizers are given a powerful tool to market their events.
In addition, event apps with digital floor plans can be used by event organizers to create interactive maps for their in-person and hybrid events. Using their event app, attendees can click on a breakout room to view full speaker profiles and session topics. They can tap a sponsor logo to see their booth location on the exhibition hall map.
5. Wearable Technology
Event management platforms typically provide some level of event data and metrics. Still, wearable event technologies go one step further by tracking core event metrics without interfering with the experience of attendees and exhibitors.
Wearable technology monitors a wide range of event metrics, including exhibitor halls and foot traffic, through wristbands or “smart” badges. This technology allows organizers to monitor staffing levels and make real-time changes to address bottlenecks. Additionally, it allows organizers to track keynote speakers and high-profile attendees’ arrivals, grant access to VIP areas, track social distance, and measure how long attendees spend with exhibitors.
6. Holograms
Holograms are no longer just for the Jetsons. Using holograms will be a useful tool for dazzling attendees, educating potential partners, and demonstrating products to customers in ways hardly anyone has seen. A leading video production house in Ohio, Event Works 4D provides 3D holographic mixed reality displays, life-scale holographic presentations, and immersive holographic speaker support for various events.
A major advantage of holograms for event venues is that they fit nearly all types, sizes, and locations. Hologram units are typically self-contained and come with all the audio and visual tools you’ll need. It is possible to use them both permanently and temporarily.
7. Digital Photo Booths
As event planners continue to recognize the power of video marketing, virtual video booths will become even more popular for both online and hybrid events where attendees will be able to share testimonials, raise awareness for a cause, and more results.
You can use virtual photo booths to capture branded photos, GIFs, Boomerangs, and short videos of your attendees both in person and online. As a result, the engagement rate of the branded channel increases. Along with auto-generated captions and event hashtags, it can also improve organic SEO.
8. Live Translation
In the age of virtual events, planners can reach a wider audience and scale their events. However, language barriers remain one of the greatest challenges.
Even though English remains the primary language for many events in the United States, it is a valuable way to connect with attendees if they do not speak the presenter’s native language, as they would otherwise miss out on the experience.
It was previously necessary for event organizers to hire third-party interpreters to conduct meetings and events. The volume and availability of live translation tools for digital events will likely increase, making companies truly global.
Organizers can invite non-English speakers to events dominated by English speakers. Additionally, targeted groups of attendees from other regions worldwide can be reached.
9. QR codes
A QR code can be an excellent design addition to physical marketing materials like event flyers, speaker business cards, and postcards for event ticket leads. The landing page is also a key selling point, so event planners need to use it more often. It is even possible to organize event registrations using QR codes.
QR codes can add yet another touch and a germ-free way for event planners and attendees to connect under modern health guidelines. QR codes can be used to offer venue maps, event check-ins, brand experiences, and more.
10. Augmented and Virtual Reality
Augmented and Virtual Reality are all the rage right now. It takes engagement to the next level by linking in-person and remote experiences with the event technology trend.
VR headsets can be provided on-site to take attendees beyond the screen and into 360-degree video presentations and interactive data visualizations. In contrast, digital attendees can join the live experience simultaneously, making it feel like everyone is simultaneously in the same room.
By providing highly immersive booth experiences, exhibitors and vendors increasingly distinguish themselves from the competition. Participants can wear a headset and enter a virtual world.
Conclusion
Event technology tools are numerous and growing every day. Using these technologies gives you an easier time organizing an event and allows your audience to experience an enhanced, value-added experience.
Technology is now focused on protecting every individual attending an event after this Covid-19 pandemic. The implementation of new event technology trends will make it easier to cut down on different threats. Utilize these event technology trends to host successful events and stay ahead of the competition.