Beacon For Events | What Tech Should You Be Using To Plan Your Meeting in 2016

Source    :   eventindustrynews
By        :      Abi Mandelbaum
Category  :  Beacon For Events

From preparation to successful execution, technology plays a major role in meeting and event planning. But it can be difficult to determine which new technologies will be an asset. Knowing what’s on the horizon at innovative tech companies, and observing trends from this year’s big event’s can provide valuable insight.

Below are the technologies meeting and event planners will be used to plan events in 2016:

Beacon Technology

Beacon technology offers two-way communication between electronic beacons placed around an event and attendees’ smartphones. Venues that have installed beacons have a significant advantage over their competitors.

That two-way communication means that beacons can be beneficial both to event planners and attendees.

The beacons, which connect to phones in close proximity via Bluetooth, can be placed at registration desks, allowing attendees walking by to be checked in automatically.

Beacons placed at booths can send product or company information to the phones of people visiting that booth.

Additionally, beacons can make events more interactive or help planners steer attendees toward certain areas or events by incentivizing people to “check in” at different locations.

They also can help customize an event for attendees’ by accessing individuals’ social media profiles and, based on that information, steering them toward speakers or presentations that would be of interest.

Furthermore, the beacons can provide event planners with valuable data. Data gleaned through the beacons can give planners insight into which attractions are garnering the most interest. The technology can also help eliminate the circulation of surveys after an event.

Live streaming

Although live streaming is not a new technology, it has gained new life earlier this year with the release of apps like Meerkat and Periscope.

The apps alert a user’s Twitter followers when a video stream has been created. The followers can watch the video stream and provide comments, which are seen in real time by the video’s creator.

The apps have earned a lot of buzz this year with their successful use at major events such as South by Southwest.

Live streaming can assist with event promotion, and it can be used to engage attendees.

Planners can introduce a hashtag for attendees to use when streaming the event live, and prizes can be offered for generating the most views, or for visiting a certain part of an event and sharing it.

Additionally, it can make planners and event presenters more in tune with event attendees’ needs.

As conference-goers sit down before a presentation, they could be treated to a backstage livestream, during which they could offer questions for the speaker or give insight into what they hope to hear the speaker touch on.

Live streaming also can be used by planners to keep things running smoothly: Registration times can be provided via live streaming, as could alerts that a certain attraction at the event is seeing heavy traffic or long waits.

Because livestream viewers can comment on the video; those running an event can have instant feedback.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is expected to go mainstream next year with Facebook-owned Oculus leading the charge. Earlier this year, the company announced it will release its first consumer-ready virtual reality headset, the Rift, in early 2016. Other virtual reality headsets such as the Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard have already hit the market.

Hotels and venues are expected to be major users of virtual reality by creating virtual reality experiences of their event spaces and accommodations.

Many times the pictures on venues’ websites or promotional materials are not accurate, making it difficult for planners to choose a location without visiting in person. Virtual reality, however, can be a valuable tool as it gives planners the opportunity to fully explore a venue, and gain a better understanding of how a location can meet their event needs.

Virtual reality also can enhance the event itself through several applications.

Companies can use virtual reality to transport attendees out of a meeting room to tour a facility, experience a product, or engage in a team building activity.

Virtual reality also can play a role in creating branded experiences. A number of leading businesses and institutions have given away branded Google Cardboards, inexpensive VR headsets that work in conjunction with a smartphone, to their key audiences.

(Read More : eventindustrynews.co.uk/event-technology-news/guest-blog-the-tech-youll-be-using-to-plan-your-meeting-in-2016/)