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Event Technology: Emerging Trends in the Event Industry

September 7, 2015

Keeping up with new technology for events industry and adopting the most dynamic ideas gives venues and planners a leading competitive edge. Studies have revealed that innovative event technology can increase productivity by 27% and attendance by 20%.

 

With new event tech trends continually emerging, it can be challenging to keep up with event management technology. However, event planners must understand and utilize new technology in event productions. By harnessing and embracing new event technology, planners have the opportunity to captivate guests, enhance their brand, and create lasting memories with their audiences.

What is Event Technology?


Event technology refers to any digital tools that assist event planners in executing projects successfully. Event planners generally use a range of technology types, including mobile apps, specialized event software, virtual platforms, streaming services, and mobile applications.

How to be an Innovative Event Planner

 

To be an innovative event planner, you must understand upcoming trends in event technology and blend traditional and innovative approaches when orchestrating an event. Once you understand the technology available to wow your event guests, you’ll be able to structure your event around this technology, harnessing innovation and creativity.

 

Current and Emerging Technology in the Event Industry 

 

Below are some examples of the most popular technology being used in today’s event industry:

Live Streaming

 

Live streaming has been a popular trend in technology industry events for years. However, COVID-19 has seen a surge in reliance on streaming technology as many organizations transform their physical events into virtual events.

 

Live streaming offers a wealth of benefits. You can create a global event without the constraints of a physical location, accommodate guests who can’t make it in person, and potentially hire guest speakers at discounted rates as you no longer have to pay for their flights and accommodation.

AR/VR

 

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have become popular in the events industry over the last decade. After scanning a QR code, guests can enter an augmented world, accessing projections and exclusive content directly from their smartphones.

 

Virtual reality can provide an immersive, unforgettable experience for event attendees, with possibilities only confined by the limits of your imagination. VR can be used to tantalize your attendees’ senses, taking them on a powerful journey into a digital world.

Facial Recognition

 

Contactless event check-ins are likely to be essential in the coming months and years. Therefore, facial recognition will be a critical piece of event technology. Attendees will be able to scan their faces to gain entry to an online or offline event, creating a seamless experience for everyone involved.


Artificial Intelligence

 

AI is a beneficial event technology in the following areas:

 

  • Event chatbots
  • Facial recognition during event registration
  • Voice interpretation and translation during panels
  • Event newsletter personalization 

Upcoming Trends in Event Technology 

Micro Projection Mapping

 

3D projection mapping helps event organizers bring buildings and objects to life using high-tech 3D imagery and projection technology. This trend can be described as ‘painting with light.’

 

Projection mapping uses technology to project images onto 3D objects. These images can be as simple as stage lighting or as complex as mapped-out videos that transform buildings or industrial landscapes.

 

Emotional Recognition

 

Emotional recognition is a form of AI that monitors facial expressions to analyze human emotion. Once collected, data is aggregated to figure out how somebody is feeling. These techniques are used to predict consumers’ behavior while monitoring their reactions to specific engagements.

 

For example, suppose you want to track how successful a display advertisement or a speaker is at positively engaging the audience at your event. In that case, emotional recognition technology can be deployed to help study attendee reactions in real-time.

 

The Benefits of Event Technology

 

There are several reasons why event technology should be incorporated into your event planning strategy. Here are three key benefits to utilizing event technology:

 

  • Increased Audience Engagement 

Event technology gives attendees power, allowing them to interact directly with the event. These interactions help people share your event with their peers instantaneously, generating a marketing buzz faster than word of mouth.

 

  • Measurable Success Rates 

No matter what metric you use to measure success, technology can help you with your calculations. Whether you’re monitoring social media activity, online surveys, digital downloads, digital purchases, or landing page visits, tech makes the entire tracking and monitoring process more efficient.

 

  • Impact on your Attendees 

Event technology can be used to captivate your audience. You can create unique, engaging, and memorable experiences by combining some of the latest event technology. Synergistic approaches to event planning help to create memories that leave your attendees thrilled, excited, and wanting more.

 

Work with SmartWorks

 

SmartWorks can help you harness the latest event technology trends and create world-class events. We’ll work side-by-side with your corporate event planning team, creating seamless events from concept to completion. Start planning your event today.