New technology is helping make it possible to connect exhibitors, visitors and speakers (who are either not allowed or don’t want to travel) online and interactively. RAI Amsterdam is one venue that has shown how this can be successfully delivered during GreenTech Live & Online, the international tradefair for horticultural technology, which took place entirely digitally, 20-22 October.
In three days, 6,300 horticultural professionals from 140 countries registered, 70 exhibitors took part, 30,000 videos were watched and 53 knowledge sessions with 121 speakers took place during this virtual edition of GreenTech.
Maurits van der Sluis, COO of RAI Amsterdam, said: “We have been able to bring the right people and the right companies together during a live event for years. We have now also managed to do this during GreenTech Live & Online. Adding an online shell gives us the opportunity to properly map out the needs and behaviour of our visitors and exhibitors: Which parties are looking for each other? What content connects them? And who are our most valuable leads?”
Maren Schoormans, chief business development officer at Viscon Group, added: “At first glance I am sad about the empty halls. Normally we would have GreenTech here. But thanks to GreenTech Live & Online, this new movement is growing exponentially. This is an excellent start to a new era.”
Pieter Vellekoop Sewarage, manager, Westland, said: “Ironically, during an ordinary ‘GreenTech’ I was never able to make contact with so many nationalities within fifteen minutes. Thank you for this opportunity.”
Van der Sluis added: “We strengthen our physical events with this online tool, because we expect less travel in the near future. With this online shell we are responding directly to this. In the future, our international events can be visited online as well as physically. This will enable us to tap into a much larger audience.”
Upcoming events
RAI Amsterdam has been building studios from which a number of international tradefairs will take place virtually in the coming months. From 3 to 6 November it’s all about bringing professionals together, innovation and knowledge transfer during Interclean Amsterdam Online. Amsterdam Drone Week takes place in the first week of December (1-3 December). This event consists of an online live stream with keynotes, panel discussions, interviews and various high-quality networking opportunities. METSTRADE Connect is an online event (10 December) where the marine sector will meet to share knowledge and innovations during various sessions.
