With a boom in the event planning and management industry, the job of event planners has become more demanding. Event managers must ensure the satisfaction and happiness of the guests and be able to handle things smoothly to make it in the industry. Be it conferences, weddings, trade shows, concerts, or corporate meetings, ensuring a positive experience for the attendees is paramount.
The best event managers are incorporating the latest IoT technologies to up their game. As a result, the use of IoT in event planning is bringing in a new wave of revolution. But how can IoT improve event planning and management? That is the exact question we are going to answer in this blog. But first, let’s have a look at the technology behind it.
A] IoT Technology Used In Event Management
Generally, the IoT in events communicates using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology as its communication platform. RFID technology consists of two components: the RFID tags and the RFID readers. The RFID tags store, receive, and process data with the help of a receiver and an integrated chip (IC) that works as a processor. The tags can be placed on wristbands, ID cards, etc.
The RFID readers placed strategically throughout the venue can send and receive signals from the RFID tags to facilitate a host of services. Planners can set the frequency at which different operations take place to increase the tech’s versatility. Smaller to medium-sized companies can get the RFID technology for rent if they operate on a tighter budget.
B] Applications Of IoT For Event Management
1. Easy Registration And Automated Ticket Scanning
Some of the most common, yet important functions of IoT in event planning are to sell tickets, automate registration, and make check-ins easier. Selling tickets for concerts and gatherings using QR codes is the most common use of IoT.
Attendees can check in at the venue by simply scanning a QR code using their smartphones and an app. This vastly speeds up the check-in process and also eliminates the need for physical tickets and long queues. As users pay through UPI and credit cards, this also removes the need to handle cash on a large scale.
2. Managing The Safety & Security
The safety and security of the guests attending an event is among the top priority for any event manager. This not only puts emphasis on their physical well-being but also their health and online security. IoT can help to detect indoor air quality, ventilation, heatmaps, etc. to ensure the attendees are in no danger.
IoT also takes care of the attendees’ cyber security by ensuring the data collected during check-in, payments, and registration are kept safe. As many IoT devices are integrating blockchain technology, data security is getting better than ever.
3. Navigation And Guest Tracking
Guest navigation is a relatively new method of integrating IoT; nonetheless, it is improving how attendees interact with the event itself. Using IoT software and mobile apps, event planners can connect the event with people who have either registered or purchased a ticket. Attendees get notifications about the event schedule and check-in times.
These notifications can help attendees get smart parking by notifying them which parking slots are empty. During exhibition events, event managers can even track the footsteps of the attendees to figure out which part of the exhibition attracts the most people.
4. Smart Catering
Similar to guest tracking, IoT can also track which catering items are the most popular and which are the least. By integrating catering appliances such as coffee makers, sandwich dispensers, fridges and serving equipment with IoT, event managers get a brief idea about catering needs to improve future events.
By doing so, event managers can eliminate the needless expenses on the least popular food items by storing only a few units of those. This also helps to keep enough inventory of popular food items so that every guest gets what they want. Another use of IoT in smart catering is the automation of the process. Automated beverage dispensers for refilling are some of the ways, IoT can make catering streamlined, efficient, and cost-effective.
5. Efficient Organising
Organising is by far the most crucial phase of event planning. You have to consider a lot of factors to ensure the event caters to its intended audience and leaves a positive impression. To ensure this, event planners have to go through a massive pile of data and come up with the best strategies accordingly.
IoT can make this process easier by helping teams collaborate across multiple devices. The organising team can prepare for a wide range of scenarios to ensure the best experience. This makes the organising process much more efficient.
6. Data Collection And Improved Experience
Data collection is as important for event planners as it is difficult. IoT automates this process, making it much more efficient and reliable than traditional survey methods. Event planners can only ensure future success if they are constantly raising the bar for attendee experience.
By collecting and analysing the data from attendee profiles, organisers can send personalised recommendations about future events. By tracking heatmaps, event planners can also improve the venue’s layouts to make the space more comfortable.
C] As An Events Manager, Should You Invest In IoT Technology?
According to The Insight Partners, the events industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.1%. Event planners and managers who want to stay a step ahead of the competition must find a way to innovate and incorporate new ideas and technologies.
Technology such as AR, VR, and IoT allows planners to streamline the registration process and personalise the event for the target audience. In a world, where personalisation and convenience are the key driving force behind customer engagement, adopting these technologies are paramount for enterprise success. You can further learn about how AR and VR event technology improve engagement with our blog.
Conclusion
Innovation is the driving force behind the improvement of every industry. As event planners and managers innovate new ideas to incorporate IoT technology, they also improve efficiency, engagement, and overall attendee experience. Better attendee experience often translates to a better market reputation and scalability.
IoT offers event planners all the tools necessary for taking their business to the next level. And as the technology keeps improving, those who adopt early will be the ones more likely to succeed in future. If you are looking for state-of-the-art RIFD and other IoT technology, visit 360 Bright Media today!