Top 05 Event technology trends that are here to stay in 2019

Event technology has now been bubbling up around for a while and has fascinated event professionals and event techies across the world due to the latest advancements in the space. Upcoming technologies are filled with capabilities of further enhancing attendee experience and are making the job of event organizers more efficient and simpler by automating tasks.

The industry is accelerating with thousands of ideas, apps, and innovations and has been able to find and deliver event technology that is way more profitable and immersive.

Also, event planners and brands are working closely to tap into the detailed interests of attendees with the advent of new technologies to create a one-stop-shop experience.

In this post, I am gonna lay out five event technology trends that are poised to have a significant impact on industry professionals that are likely to stay.

1. Virtual and Augmented Attendees experience

Augmented Reality

AR is a perfect blend of both computer-generated elements and the reality to create an augmented world. It enables viewers to interact with computer-generated overlays as they actually move within the real world.

This technology is converging with handheld devices to create a better and more engaging experience for consumers. Sponsors are also looking forward to meaningfully integrate AR into their engagement and communications using technology to enrich attendee experience.

Virtual Reality

This is an immersive experience, which not only allows the event experience to another level but also lets people who could not be present at the event in person to engage as if they were actually a part of the event.VR provides an extremely personalized experience of the service or product for the end users which creates a multi-sensory experience, designed to truly involve the viewer in the new reality.

Some benefits of using VR technology are listed below - • Product demonstration during the event especially helps in displaying large products which are otherwise difficult at events/trade shows.• Marketers will be able to engage with the attendees with VR gamification and host interactive 360-degree virtual meetings anytime.

Why Should Event Planners Care?

VR and AR are both significant to speakers and attendees, enables to break the barriers of time and distance via technology.• Allows virtual speakers to take the stage with 3D visualizations and adds a certain depth to the speaker’s virtual presence.

• Marketers would be able to execute experiential marketing and get the best result out it.
• Allows virtual attendees to actively participate in discussions and the event journey by creating a virtual meeting place.
• Hosting digital hangouts which can add a new dimension to network and interact, which can be accessed during the event to engage other speakers, participants, and virtual audiences right from your devices.

2. Artificial Intelligence Providing Event Assistance

Thinking of AI or Artificial intelligence, is it the next big wave of event technology and will it be yet another buzzword to add to the list?

In recent times, across the conference and corporate events, a majority of event professionals prefer to use AI for their upcoming events. It is also clearly seen that event professionals inclinations towards AI is increasing and are happy to use. 

I. Chatbots to delight attendees 

Automated customer service is the foundation of a quality attendee experience. Which is why progressive corporate events and conferences are using AI things like chatbots, which answers your basic attendee questions swiftly, while staff can work more efficiently.

II. Personalized recommendations

Artificial intelligence has also been able to personalize recommendations on a much wider scale than before. For instance, an AI matchmaking engine interprets data from various social media profiles of attendees. And as output, it recommends people whom you can meet during conference sessions to attend. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been successfully played a major role at events in recent years, and it will continue to dominate further.

Why Should Event Planners Care?

The following ideas will help push AI to enhance future events:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) on demand will range from a catering registration assistant to a virtual concierge. It can also start as a session reminder for the attendees and eventually suggest the best activities to do next, capture feedback, take a note and even provide personal assistance.
• Event professionals will invest more time in making content (documents, presentations, photos, and videos) which can be shared online, increasing the reach of the event. Chat AI and event apps integrated into each event’s social media strategy to gain maximum outreach.

3. Proximity Beacon Technology

The best event organisers around the world understand that integrating innovative technology into your planning is an excellent way to take your event to the next level. Cutting-edge technology like mobile event apps and proximity sensor technology is quickly becoming an effective way to add more value and enhance the enjoyment of your event.The technology world has been seeing proximity beacons for quite a while now in various other applications. But it's appropriate utilisation in the event industry has just begun.

Installed Beacons – This is a Bluetooth-enabled device that is placed throughout your event venue that transmits IDs that are received by enabled mobile apps of the attendees. Then the app sends the secured ID to the cloud wherein it can be used to send updates, notifications, alerts to attendees through their mobile event app.

Wearable Beacons – These are small proximity Beacons that can be attached to attendees’ lanyards. Wearable beacons broadcast Bluetooth signals through its tiny built-in antennas and the devices within range receive the signals and send the Beacon ID to the cloud. The cloud identifies the user Beacon ID and transmits their details back to the smart devices and respond with a notification.

Why Should Event Planners Care?

• Proximity Beacon helps attendees for better networking and helping them identify the people around them.
• Beacons help attendees share their virtual business cards on the go to anyone they wish to share with.
• Offers real-time reporting and analytics to the event organizers.
• Proximity Beacon also helps the attendees find the venue.

4. Branded Multi-Use Apps

Event apps add tremendous value when integrated seamlessly in the event. A mobile app is an evolving tool to communicate with your audience before, during and after the event. It can be used for survey and polling, also provide useful feedback for future development.

Every event app can provide basic features, such as an agenda and access to social media. Business event and conference apps help attendees track information like speakers and networking opportunities. And festival and consumer event apps help attendees to find and bookmark locations and create shortlisted line-ups.

Why Should Event Planners Care?

Event planners can utilize branded event apps to connect with attendees, reserve tickets, personalize event agenda, polling crowds in real time, surveying attendees and beyond.

• Raising RSVP and catering points for actions like scanning QR codes and check-in.
• Sending push notifications and messages on the app.
• Creating an audience poll and capture feedback.
• Engaging attendees on a variety of levels before, during, and after the occasion.
• In-built Gamification, etc.

5. RFID for event sponsors

RFID refers to a wireless technology that creates communication between a tag and a reader. These can be used for long-range communication through U.H.F (ultra-high frequency) tags or for very close communication using N.F.C (near field communication) tags.

RFID can be enabled by a chip embedded in a badge, wristband or card to communicate with a scanner via a radio signal in premises. These chips can be easily embedded in a wearable device such as a Lanyard or bracelet, which makes it convenient for the attendees to wear, enabling event-goers to simply tap a wristband against a sensor to get entry inside and also make purchases. For event planners, RFID makes it simpler and possible to capture more attendee data than ever before.

Why Should Event Planners Care?

• It allows immediate insight into how traffic flows through your event. 
• Allows sponsors to find ways to engage attendees engagement in fun and interactive experiences with wristbands
• Eliminates the time spent in waiting in lines. One of the best things is that it can seriously speed up check-ins.
• Attendees can pay for merchandise, food or drinks with a simple tap of their wristbands.
• Chips have a unique ID that makes it nearly impossible to duplicate tickets.What will come of these event technology trends?

The main purpose of capitalizing on event management technology is to make the life of event planners, clients, venue professionals and attendees as easy as possible and more of elevating experiences by helping them to save time and add value.