In-person, event tech and big branding moved even closer together following the announcement from Cisco Webex that its Socio event management platform has developed into Webex Events, signalling a new stage in the brand’s strategy for powering end-to-end virtual, in-person, and hybrid events. It is also a signal big tech is making a more decisive move to the in-person meetings market.
Cisco Webex described Socio’s new incarnation as Webex Events as the “next major step” towards positioning it as a leader in the transition to hybrid event platforms, “with an enterprise-grade combination of software, hardware, and services that simply cannot be achieved without a company like Cisco Webex in your corner”.
With web and mobile app, registration, ticketing, check-in, and badge-printing, to advanced studio production, sponsorship capabilities, engagement features, lead retrieval, and analytics, Webex Events now lays claim to be a true end-to-end, hybrid-ready event management platform that can push further into the in-person conference arena.
“While selecting a new name was certainly bittersweet, we wanted our name to reflect that we are part of the Webex Suite, which also includes Webex Meetings and Webex Webinars,” the company said describing the rebrand from Socio. “We will always remain Sociolites at heart, with a deep commitment to innovation, customer service, and support.”
The Webex Events philosophy now, the company said, was to treat events less as single moments in time and more as milestones along the attendee and customer journey.
“We learned that event data can be incredibly powerful when it’s real-time, easy to access, and lives in a single place, instead of being siloed across separate tools. It makes it easier to improve your events, show value to sponsors, and prove event ROI,” the company said.
The expectations of in-person audiences will reach an all-time high, Webex Events noted in its commentary on the new branding, as people decide which events are worth the cost and time away from their families and which can be attended virtually.
Setting out its view of the future of events, Webex Events said hybrid events were becoming increasingly commonplace, but that hybrid was not just about providing the same content to two distinct audiences based on where they’re consuming it.
“Moving forward, events will live on a spectrum, allowing for unique, personalised experiences, no matter how people choose to attend. There will be in-person events, virtual events, and hybrid events. Pivoting from in-person to virtual and back again can be done in just a few clicks,” Webex Events believes.
Cisco is likely to expand Webex’s offerings and integrate Webex Events into Webex like it did with Vidcast and Slido. The company said it would also accelerate the technical integrations with others in the Webex ecosystem, including Webex Meetings and Voicea.
The company underlined there were no requirements to use other Webex products in order to use Webex Events (formerly Socio), and promised to continue to offer a range of streaming options. Those using Microsoft Teams, should be able to use Webex Events without having to switch to Webex.
