How Event Marketers Will Leverage Technology in 2019

January 29, 2019

Ravi Chalaka

Ravi Chalaka is the CMO of Jifflenow, and a marketing and business development expert who creates and executes business strategies, generating demand and raising brand/product awareness in competitive markets. As VP of Marketing at both large and small technology companies, Ravi built strong teams and brands and enabled faster revenue growth for a wide range of solutions based on Big Data, SaaS, AI and IoT software, HCI, SAN, NAS. 

Thanks to technology, the trade show space continues to evolve. From digital mapping and augmented reality to IoT and predictive analytics, event marketers have a plethora of tools at their disposable to make their events more impactful than ever. While significantly less flashy than an immersive VR environment at your booth, one tried and true way to impact the ROI of your event is through strategic events and meetings. 

Whether they include engagements between executives, subject matter experts, prospects, customers or analysts, strategic meetings help drive business forward. Strategic meetings always have an outcome, ranging from sales and partnerships to investment and potential acquisition. 

As the event and meetings space continues to grow, more and more technology solutions are available to assist event marketers and sales professionals in scheduling, measuring and tracking. Below are three ways I expect the event and meeting space to grow and change in 2019. 

Events get even more personalized

For successful interactions at events in 2019, event marketing and sales professionals must consider their stack for event software. To bolster your company’s events, take a look at opportunities where registration, mobile, logistics, social media, meeting automation and more can all come together to provide a truly rich experience. 

Professionals who incorporate these tools into their event marketing stack will have the ability to personalize interactions with visitors by using software to pre-plan, share event updates with teams and digitally capture and analyze data to revolutionize the way customers experience their journeys.

Exhibitors explore technology solutions to track meetings

Heading into 2019, we expect to see the meeting automation platform(MAP) adoption rate accelerate as the category becomes more mainstream. Industries that are quick to adopt MAP, like technology, telecom and healthcare, will reap the early rewards to doing so and other industries such as retail, finance and transportation will follow suit. 

Meeting automation platforms will add value to an organization’s ability to increase B2B engagement where strategic meetings occur, allowing them to gain insights on the impact on advancing revenue pipeline, the return on investments in events, briefing centers, roadshows and ultimately, drive business forward.

Trade shows go virtual 

Trade shows will continue to become more important to businesses for a variety of reasons in 2019. Trade shows create a one-stop shop to gather information on your industry, including new trends, innovative technologies and products that have the potential to transform businesses. 

No industry or business can ignore the disruptive forces of change. As trade shows continue to provide an opportunity for business leaders and peers to meet in-person, companies will find more ways to incorporate technology to make these interactions more efficient and effective. 

For this reason, we can expect to see an increase in the use of virtual technology. Virtual technology allows companies to connect customers and partners at trade shows with subject matter experts from across the world to answer any questions and foster relationships.

Only time will tell if these predictions come to fruition, but one thing is for sure: the future of the event space is bright. Trade shows remain one of the best mediums to reach your partners, prospects, analysts and influencers. But, as the space becomes more crowded, how event marketers improve upon the way those activities are handled will impact their return on investment in the long run. 

 

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Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact