Digital services for events
The topic of digitization is much discussed throughout the industry and without question it is a trend that has already set new standards.
Event management software makes life easier for organizers, digital tools make events more exciting and offer numerous approaches for new marketing ideas. But what are the actual ideas? In this blog article, we have compiled some examples of digital event services.
The foundation for digital services: eventWiFi
All digital services have one thing in common: nothing works without a reliable data connection.
A bumpy connection only leads to frustration for event organizers and guests. A fast data connection is therefore the foundation for modern events. The signal must be fast, stable, and independent of the mercy of mobile carriers. Event-WiFi is the most reliable connection for all users - because WiFi has every device these days.
We build for you WiFi for events. Temporarily for productions or as a permanent installation in event locations.
Social Media
Social media is a part of many people's everyday lives. Therefore, it is obvious to make it also a part of events to increase awareness and interact with guests.
The respective social media channel should already be set up and used before the event in order to collect the first followers. During the event, highlights, supplementary content or competitions can be posted on the channel. The important thing is that the content should be of high value and encourage interaction. Guests can also be encouraged to post their own content to the channel or forward it to friends. In any case, the social media strategy should be based on a well thought-out concept so that successes such as higher awareness can be achieved.
WiFi-Marketing
When connecting to a free guestWiFi , users are always shown a login page where they can log in. Not only can advertising content be placed on this page, but marketing measures can also be triggered.
Via a so-called social login via Facebook, Instagram or email address, e.g. contact data of the users can be collected (of course DSGVO compliant). After the event, a mailing can be sent to the guests with a request for feedback, with offers or exclusive benefits. An automatic post on the users' Facebook page or a "Like" of their Facebook or Instagram profile is also possible. If you offer an app for event, WiFi marketing is ideal to promote it and offer it directly for download.
Cashless payment
"Cashless Payment" allows your guests to simply pay digitally by debit or credit card and, more recently, with their smartphone.
In addition to these payment options, there are of course special chip cards or wristbands that are issued at the event and can be used not only for payment, but also for admission control, access authorizations and relevant statistics. The advantage of all methods of cashless payment is that your staff no longer have to manage large amounts of cash and guests generally consume more because the problem of "running out of cash" no longer exists.
Participant interaction
Interaction with guests via digital services such as event apps is one of the most exciting possibilities of digitally supported events. There are countless ways to make events interactive and therefore more interesting.
Therefore, a dozen blog articles could easily be written about it. Whether it's voting, surveys, participation in presentations, networking, feedback or word clouds. Technically, all these interactive modules can be combined in an event app. Which module is available when can, of course, be controlled live. Event apps can also be sent to participants before the event - so interaction with guests can even begin earlier than the event itself.
Video streaming
Video streaming is the real-time transmission of moving images - usually directly from the Internet.
Video streaming can be used to broadcast the event live on the Internet (e.g. directly to YouTube) or to embed distant events live via video into the program. For example, interviews, live events or shows can be streamed to the event or remote events can be linked together. While trucks full of broadcast technology were needed in the past, video streaming can now be implemented for any event format, even on a small budget.
Interactive webinars
Closely related to video streaming are webinars - and yet it is something different. Because here, people can interact with each other on both sides of the line.
Whether classic interview or group discussion - webinars can be integrated into the event program as interactive elements without spatial restrictions. Participants do not need any special devices for this. Modern webinar solutions run on any laptop in the browser or on smartphones and tablets via app. This means that participants can also be included in video discussions without any great technical effort.
Virtual and augmented reality
With virtual reality, you put on a pair of glasses and can then look around (sometimes move around) in a virtual world. With augmented reality, digital objects are placed in the real world.
With augmented reality, for example, you point your smartphone camera at a brochure and the images in the brochure suddenly come to life on the display. Does that sound like a gimmick at first? Fortunately so! Because it allows you to present complex content that you want to present at conferences or trade fairs in a playful, entertaining and vivid way.
Gamification
With gamification, guests no longer play around on their smartphones during the event out of long idleness, but because their topics are wrapped up in playful interaction.
For example, certain content can be searched for at the event and collected in an app, exchanges with participants earn game points, and solving thematic quizzes unlocks achievements for which there is a small reward in the real world. Gamification can be very effective, but it should always be well thought out and professionally prepared - both in terms of content and technology.
Audio and video guides
This service is about providing audio and video content that contains further information for guests - at the right time.
For example, an explanatory audio track or video could be accessible at certain points via QR code or NFC tag. Do people have to wait in line at the event? Then why not provide audio guides with preparatory information to bridge the waiting time. The content can be location- and time-dependent or manually controlled on a website or an event app. The important thing is: no one will watch just a file directory with loud videos. Instead, present the content on your guests' smartphones at the appropriate time.
360° video transmission
With 360° streams, the former advertising phrase "in the middle of things instead of just being there" becomes reality. By means of a 360 camera, your event is streamed as an all-round view on the Internet.
Users who can't be at the event themselves have the opportunity to take a virtual look around the event. Users don't need any special software on their device - the whole thing simply runs via YouTube or Facebook. The highlight: if the person in question has VR glasses, they can even participate in the event via virtual reality. Especially for events where the program does not only take place on a central stage, 360° transmissions can be very exciting.
Audio streaming
Audio streaming can be used to deliver audio content directly and live to guests' devices.
Practical applications include interpreting services, support for the hearing impaired, or situations where silence is required. Whereas in the past individual and expensive systems had to be rented for such services, nowadays all that is needed is a laptop and eventWiFi. Guests receive a link that allows them to access the appropriate audio track. No app even needs to be installed for this - it works via simply using the Internet browser.
Online tickets
Online tickets have now become the standard. Accreditations, guest lists and all other admission options are now also handled digitally.
This means that digital ticketing systems are probably among the services that make things easier for both event organizers and guests. Here, it is particularly important that the system is connected to a reliable WiFi infrastructure, because nothing is worse than not being able to proceed simply because of technical problems at the entrance.
Cloud storage
Cloud storage (e.g. Dropbox or Google Drive) are services with which data is not stored locally on the computer, but on the Internet. Especially for teams, this is a great thing.
Documents, photos, databases - everything can be accessed online, so you can access them anytime, anywhere. Gone are the days of emailing Word files in the tenth revision. Instead, everyone works together on one document that's always up to date. Forgot your USB stick in the office? That too can no longer happen. However, you should be able to rely on WiFi , otherwise accessing files in the cloud will be a pain.
Digital program guide
"Where is the presentation?", "When is it going on?", "Where is the workshop?" - Do you know these questions? With a digital program guide, you answer questions from guests even before they are asked.
All relevant information for the event can be stored on an event website or in an event app. Presentations can be offered for download and feedback can even be requested. In addition, it is possible to send push messages, e.g. to remind people of the start of a program item. Digital program booklets are also completely agile, so you can add new information or change existing ones at any time.
Video surveillance
If the security concept requires it, it is sometimes necessary to resort to monitoring certain areas by video.
However, this does not require an additional, stand-alone system. Camera surveillance can be integrated into an existing data network and the cameras, like any other device, are simply connected to the network. This makes it easy to set up a temporary security room with live monitoring and image recording.
Site networking
Site networking is the connection of two remote sites via data line (a so-called VPN connection), so that you can also work in the remote network as if you were on site.
Site networking is always an option when customers' devices are dependent on the company's internal network, usually for data security reasons. Companies, such as many insurance companies or medical services, allow employee devices to access the Internet only via their own network. Some services are also only available in-house, but are needed at the event location. Here, too, the problem can be solved with site networking.
Digital advertising spaces
Placing ads digitally at events has several advantages: content can be posted at any time and from any location, moving images can be used, and contact information can be collected or interaction can be enabled.
If there is own content or content from sponsors, this can be placed digitally on the event. For guests WiFi , users have to log in once. On the corresponding login page, you have full attention for that moment - an ideal place for your advertising message. In addition, graphic content can be played out on displays and adapted in real time - e.g. to react dynamically to the event. For sponsors, this means a much stronger presence on additional advertising space.
Statistics
Via a guest portalWiFi , a wide range of statistics can be collected about the users and their behavior, which can be used during the event and in the follow-up.
Data that can be collected includes "When did most guests log in?", "What age or gender are the guests?", "Which country do the guests come from?", "Which services did the guests use most intensively?", "Where did the guests stay?" and much more. In addition, email addresses of guests can also be captured (DSGVO compliant, of course) in order to contact them later, for example, to gather feedback on specific program points. The feedback can then be assigned to the demographic data.
Twitter Wall
With a Twitter wall, you can integrate content from Twitter live into your event. This way, attendees at the event and users from other locations alike can participate in discussions and post comments.
Especially if guests are to be encouraged to participate digitally, the use of a Twitter wall is a good idea. Guests can then post questions and comments using a hashtag (the familiar # sign). The Twitter wall itself is a large display (or screen) that is best placed very prominently (e.g., in the reception or networking area - or even on stage). This motivates use, because most people like to see their own posts on the big screen.
Instagram Wall
With an Instagram wall, you show all content under your event hashtag on a display or large screen. This allows you to showcase visual impressions of guests in a big way and also generate content for your Instagram channel.
Instagram is the platform of pictures. Younger generations in particular are used to capturing impressions and moments in photos and sharing them with friends on Instagram. The photo is assigned to certain topics with hashtags (#). Set a hashtag for your event and ask your users to tag their own content with it. Of course, you can also assign a staff member to produce their own content during the event. All posts with the defined hashtag can then be seen on your Instagram wall.
Measure visitor flows
With visitor flow measurement, you can evaluate the performance of your live communication measures in a data-based manner at the push of a button.
For this purpose, one or more sensors are placed at defined locations in the venue. Based on WiFi technology, this sensor measures the behavior of event visitors in accordance with data protection regulations. The data is available on the platform in real time. This allows you to analyze visitor behavior at your booth, optimize event concepts, and evaluate the success of your live marketing measures based on defined KPIs.