Freeman Introduces Fuzion, the Event Industry’s First Open Technology Platform

October 13, 2017

As a global provider of brand experiences that has been advancing in the event technology space, Freeman understands the industry-wide challenges of digital tool integration.

In an effort solve this often frustrating issue and create a more seamless experience for event organizers and attendees in the process, the company has introduced Fuzion by Freeman, an open product ecosystem designed to simplify integration by acting as a foundation between digital solutions, establishing a common language that allows multiple tools to talk to each other.

With Fuzion, event organizers will have the freedom to choose whichever best-in-class digital solutions match their unique needs and integrating them will become increasingly easier. Combining data from disparate sources will also allow organizers to have a more unified, meaningful view of their events and centralized analytics.

“Achieving true event technology integration that drives improved visibility and actionable insights is one of the biggest opportunities for our industry right now,” said Richard Maranville, executive vice president and chief digital officer of Freeman.

He continued, “We want to enable event organizers to use more and more technology without having to worry about how to make all the nuts and bolts work together…we don’t want them having to become experts in how APIs work between system A and system B – that’s not what they’re paid to do. Fuzion is a forward-thinking, transformational technology solution that enables our partners to focus on what they do best and prioritize their customers.”

Fuzion will benefit event marketers and show organizers by:

• Increasing attendee experience and satisfaction

• Providing flexibility and enabling event technology adoption

• Saving valuable time and resources

“Fuzion opens the doors for those looking for a solution that will save time, improve flexibility and drive better attendee experiences,” said Danielle Puceta, Freeman vice president of digital product and partnerships.

She added, “Freeman’s goal is to develop common standards and a cohesive partner network that solves integration challenges for all association and corporate customers.”

Until Fuzion is ready for prime time in the summer of 2018, the company is looking to engage industry partners and customers to help Fuzion move through its final development phase, which includes joining the Fuzion-certified partner network.

“We want to make event technology accessible to everyone and make it easier for companies to join the event technology space, because integration is a difficult task, especially for small start-ups,” Maranville said. “We don’t want them to spend all this time doing integration instead of working on their core product, which might be something really cool and game-changing, so we want to take away all that heavy lifting so we can increase the adoption of technology for everybody.

He continued, "We are going to be working with what people will view as ‘competitors’ to make this work, but if you think how Apple and Microsoft work together, how Sales Force and Oracle work together, and how Microsoft and Oracle work together – all these companies work together because it’s for the benefit of their customers. And that’s really who and what we’re focused on: giving customers a great experience and allowing them to use more technology.”

To learn more about Fuzion, go here. For event tech companies interested becoming a Fuzion-certified partner, submit inquiries through Freeman’s developer portal here.

Gain more perspective from Richard Maranville on why making digital products work together is necessary to push event technology here.

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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