We’ve all been there, at that conference where the content might be informative, but people are either on their phones, or simply trying to stay awake, because the audience don’t feel ‘involved’.

The two main things we found our clients wanted to achieve at conferences and exhibitions were: engaging with the delegates, and then collecting data from the event.

People at conference

Here at SGR, we love to rise to the challenge and offer solutions to the client’s needs. In this case our approach is bespoke event apps.

Since lockdown we have been working closely with CrowdComms, our chosen event platform, to offer the broadest and most exciting event apps that deliver on those two key targets: engagement and data collation.

As with any job, our first step in the process is to discuss with the client their brief; how they wish to use the app and what they want to achieve, and then assess which features will best deliver on this. We start off with the principal and more common features: event agenda, venue location, libraries of attendees/speakers, etc. and then we look to add in some more ‘fun’ elements – such as: event games or a quiz which the delegates can interact with, or an activity wall for posting comments and photos throughout the event.

Whilst the latter may appear on the face of it to be ‘gimmicky’, they are actually really useful tools to gauge the delegates’ experience of the event and also to collate their interaction. This proved particularly successful for exhibitions where we created a ‘QR code challenge’ – delegates would scan the QR code on the individual stands to receive points within the event game; and as a result, we were able to provide data to the client of which stands had been visited and by who.

As well as this, your event app can also help to deliver messages on issues that are important to your company, which you might not be able to include all the info on stage during your conference presentations. For example, your company’s approach to sustainability or the welfare of your employees; these can be accessed either via a ‘widget’ on the homepage or a menu option.

We have created apps for one of our client Pebble Events to help them with successful events for their clients – Keyline, Benchmarx, and Akzo Nobel to name a few.