MEETING NEEDS
Sian Sayward , governance director of beam , reveals what its members need from technology , from broadband and AV to seamless streaming and skilled operators .
echnology has been crucial to the survival of the events industry over the past two years . Venues and agencies were able to adapt at speed and were fast-tracked into the digital future of events . Now everyone is getting back to business , what role will hybrid and virtual events play going forward ? What does the future really look like for technology in the industry ?
Key findings
To tackle these questions , beam surveyed its agency and venue members in the UK business events , accommodation and meetings sector .
When asked about the changing needs for technology in venues , more than half ( 55 %) of respondents said that broadband was by far the most important for event planners . While 19 % said AV , followed by hybrid meetings technology ( 15 %), and 11 % voted for direct online availability .
The reason broadband came out on top is because “ without superfast , efficient and free broadband , the rest is simply pointless ,” says Louisa Watson , director of marketing at Wyboston Lakes Resort . Sally Doyle , director of Infusion Events , agrees : “ Poor broadband is difficult to fix and is not tolerated by speakers , sponsors or delegates .”
The truth is , it is a “ blend of all these technologies that is important ,” says Richard Lloyd , technical and ICT operations manager of the EICC . “ Fast , reliable broadband is obviously important , but an online audience cannot engage with an event if the audio quality is poor .”
There are many other technologies that are growing in importance for venues and agencies , too . Caleb Parker , founder and director of Bold , says these include “ mobile-friendly booking user experience , and technology that enables seamless interaction between onsite and remote teams , such as virtual whiteboards and community engagement tools .”
Services such as video production and streaming are an absolute advantage to event organisers , too , adds Stephanie Macfarlane , senior www . conference-news . co . uk