I read with interest your feature on new technology. As a specialist technology supplier for the live events sector we have seen many progressive applications wow delegates and equally as many frustrate, aggravate and actually have a very negative affect on visitors.
Today’s event market is being driven by handheld devices; whether it is a simple text message reminder or a more robust app’ that may guide you through the show floor or enable you to interact and network with like-minded individuals.
One thing to be very wary of is that when investing in an app’ please be sure to take some very basics into consideration to ensure that you do get a return on your spend.
Apps downloaded from the app store are in use by less than five per cent of the people one month after they were downloaded. So, while app’s may be the marketers current mantra – make sure you create an app that engages with your audience over the long-term.
Applications developed for the iOS and Android platforms are good for event organisers as are quickly accessible from laptop, mobile device and tablet. The information that is relayed is scalable and therefore user friendly to the many different hand- held devises on the market.
The most crucial area to look at is the connectivity in the venue in which you want your audience to use your app. The UK’s venues widely promote free Wi-Fi, however, all too often the bandwidth is minimal or those that wish to use it have to pay. An app designed for a specific exhibition or conference will fail to gain traction if those who download it cannot access the data when they need it. Therefore make sure that you have sufficient connectivity through a wireless network
Apps are incredible tools that assert a business at the fore front of its game - but like anything in life they need the basics to function.
- Tom McInerney, Event Director of Etherlive
