Event Tech
RefTech partners with Realise on US expansion
E vent registration provider , RefTech , has formed a strategic partnership with Realise to drive the company ’ s expansion throughout the United States .
Through the collaboration , UK-based RefTech ’ s event registration systems will be readily available across the entire USA and will be supported by Realise ’ s expert onsite project management . RefTech , which has a decade of experience in supplying events in the USA , said the partnership will ensure its services are more affordable and accessible with seamless onsite project management throughout the country . Margaret Reeves , managing director of RefTech , said : “ Our clients are organisers of conferences , exhibitions and corporate events and they can now opt for either self-service or managed support . With the Realise team , they gain access to trusted onsite expertise , ensuring smooth operations akin to their UK events .”
David Preston , CEO of Realise , said : “ Our priority is to empower organisers
Above : David Preston and Margaret Reeves
to maximise the benefits of their RefTech registration solution without needing to delve into the intricacies of technology .
“ By functioning as an extension of the onsite event team , we enable organisers to divert their focus elsewhere , knowing that their registration needs are expertly handled .”
AI adoption critical by 2025 , warn experts at DES
At the Digital Enterprise Show ( DES ) in Malaga , technology leaders emphasised the urgent need for companies to adopt AI to stay competitive .
Representatives from the UN , Meta , IBM , and T-Systems discussed the transformative impact and ethical considerations of generative AI in both business and society .
Mark Minevich , ( pictured ) UN advisor and co-chair of AI for the Planet Alliance , highlighted the ethical and human-centric application of AI . He emphasised AI ’ s potential in predictive systems and early warnings , lamenting the absence of such tools during the Covid-19 pandemic .
Minevich predicted a focus on personalisation and productivity enhancements in 2024 , with widespread AI adoption scaling by 2025 . He said : “ If you ’ re not an AI-driven company in 2025 , you won ’ t matter ,” citing projections of AI investment reaching $ 151.1bn .
event : decision partners with You . Smart . Thing on low-carbon delegate travel
Event planning company event : decision and travel demand management platform You . Smart . Thing . are to deliver a new proprietary solution for the measurement of event sustainability .
The tool will aim to support more efficient travel data collection and encourage delegates to travel by more sustainable modes of transport .
The partnership , which is focused on the MICE sector , will aim to solve one of the factors which is traditionally hardest to report , namely travel .
For the first time it will allow B2B and B2C event planners to automatically include their audience ’ s travel patterns , and the associated impact of visitor / delegate travel , with improved accuracy within event : decision ’ s Track reporting service .
Matt Grey , director at event : decision , said : “ Now organisers of events , conferences , congresses and exhibitions can both measure visitor travel impact and start to nudge visitors onto more sustainable modes of transport .”
ISSUE 131 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 53