Dec 23, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
As we set out to embark on a new decade, we look forward to a year filled with technological advancements that promise to make our events even more personalized, interactive, and engaging than ever before. The latest buzz surrounding fully immersive experiences made possible through multisensory stimulation and the creation of mixed reality environments will continue to gain traction in 2020. Here are some of our predictions for the tech trends the event industry can expect in the coming year. ...

Dec 16, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
Here we are, on the verge of wrapping up not only 2019, but an entire decade loaded with technological innovation. Event tech has certainly evolved over the last decade. The first iPad was released back in 2010, which is when event planners were just starting to make use of wireless handheld devices to simplify audience participation. Projection screens were also just coming into their own at that time, though certainly not with the advanced capabilities of today’s screens. Fast forward to...

Sep 03, 2019 by Michelle Bruno
If leads are important to you—and what exhibitor doesn’t want more, qualified trade show leads—the SmartSource Lead Retrieval Solution is a great option for quickly and easily capturing and processing lead data. It’s time to retire manual lead capture. Every minute spent on lead data processing is a minute lost on making a sale. SmartSource offers hardware and software in a small, nimble device that uses the industry’s most powerful scanner. In less than three seconds, the device sc...

Jan 03, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
2019 Event Technology Trends This past year saw many advancements in event technology, and 2019 promises to improve on some of the most cutting-edge solutions. Lately, there’s been buzz about facial recognition, block chain, RFID, immersive experiences, live streaming, and using social media in innovative ways. Here’s a sneak peek at what we believe the industry can expect in the coming year. Facial Recognition As we mentioned in our last blog post, facial recognition is one trend that ...

Nov 01, 2017 by Lisa Apolinksi
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/smartsource-936987538/pairing-booth-content-with-attendee-expectations[/embed] Click Link On Image to Hear Podcast RELATED ARTICLE FOLLOWS If you haven’t noticed yet, content is king, and our audiences are always searching for more. A recent infographic from The Word Pro shows that in just 60 seconds, 4 million posts are engaged with and liked, 300 hours of video are uploaded, and nearly 350,000 tweets are sent. Wow, that’s a lot of content engagement. Whe...

Oct 31, 2017 by Danalynne Wheeler Menegus
Event marketing can occupy a substantial portion of a company’s overall marketing budget. So it’s important that the events be effective. A previous article in this series discussed establishing goals and objectives for corporate meetings and trade shows. This article focuses exclusively on the human resources and technology required to achieve the maximum return on investment from events. Get Buy-In From Sales Staff Event marketing and sales staffs need to work together to fully realize t...

Jul 26, 2017 by Lillian Taylor
Attendees at B2C trade shows want to buy products right there on the show floor. With the right technology you can make cashless sales a breeze. According to a new report by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)*, 57% of attendees can’t resist the opportunity to make on-premises product purchases. The downside? Only 19% of exhibitors have the technology to provide an in-booth shopping experience. So how can you facilitate on-premises selling? There are two avenues association...

Jul 25, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
The term “technology stack” can have several meanings. It is both a descriptor and a tool that event planners can use to understand the role that specific technologies play in their events. Visualizing a technology stack can help planners make better technology decisions, address challenges, and save money. What is a technology stack? A technology stack, sometimes called a solution stack or software stack, can refer to all of the components needed to make a system work.  An event website,...

May 31, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
The technology that powers events produces a lot of data: demographic, behavioral, and historical, to name a few. But one category of data, the information delivered immediately after it’s collected—real-time data—has a value that sets it apart from any of its business-intelligence counterparts.  A real-time data strategy is dependent on technology. While the field is still evolving, there are a number of solutions available to help planners build a real-time information ecosystem toda...

May 17, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
Charging stations are one of the most in-demand amenities for conferences and events. After all, there are only so many wall outlets to go around and not every attendee brings a charging cable with them to the event. But, charging stations do much more than charge electronic devices. They add value in lots of settings. Charging stations – also referred to as charging kiosks, come in a variety of sizes and shapes (including secure lockers). They are equipped with all of the connectors needed...