Roger Lewis
Roger Lewis, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Alliance Tech, is a well-known and respected speaker and blogger in the world of event technology with over 20 years of related event measurement and technology experience.
The Future of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Technology
June 6, 2014
In my last blog about Near Field Communications(NFC) I mentioned that the industry is watching to see if Apple will throw its weight behind NFC or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) technology.
Bluetooth Smart, and iBeacon™ all refer to Bluetooth low energy wireless technology. It consumes only a fraction of the power of classic Bluetooth radios, expanding wireless to devices like watches, toys, gaming devices, and more. Plus, they could go as long as a year on one charge!
Of course, for event marketers, the goal is to increase engagement and drive ROI. Sensor beacons, small BLE hardware devices, can send push notifications to mobile devices nearby. Using beacons, trade show marketers can push messaging directly to prospects. It can be utilized to attract attendees to your booth or to let them know about imminent events like a presentation or flash gathering.
How far in the future will event marketers be utilizing BLE? It’s happening now, and it’s being adopted by very high-profile events like Austin’s South By Southwest (SXSW). In March, SXSW launched an iBeacon-powered app at their 2014 event.
They placed beacons within select session venues. When attendees entered the venue, they received a prompt to “join the conversation” within the official SXSW GO iPhone app, where they could network with other attendees in their session and participate in a discussion forum and live audience polls. In some cases, the beacons even enabled quick access to an attendee's registration QuickCode.
This technology provided the ability to deliver iBeacon triggered push notifications to app users, containing highly relevant messages about the sessions the user attended and the places they visited.
“This year we focused on using beacons to deliver timely information and access to services, while keeping the number of beacon alerts to a minimum,” commented Scott Wilcox, SXSW technology director. “In the near future, we foresee beacons being used in conjunction with many of the technologies currently relied on by events - like QR Codes and RFID.”
I agree with Scott Wilcox that we will see BLE used more frequently with RFID in the future specifically related to retail and marketing events. Will BLE overtake NFC? Only time will tell.
For more info, read this interesting post on Mashable: iBeacon Comes to SXSW
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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