AIPC
Push the button
CEO OF INTERNATIONAL VENUE ASSOCIATION AIPC, SVEN BOSSU SAYS, GIVEN THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, CONVENTION CENTRES CAN FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY GAINS WHEN LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS AND, ALTHOUGH THE GAINS WILL VARY FROM CENTRE TO CENTRE, THERE ARE SOME SURPRISING AVENUES POSSIBLE
D
oing more with less seems to be continuing, much like last year for many event organisers. Costs continue to rise and budgets do not produce the same or( even worse) decrease. In addition, there is a continuing lack of qualified staff. While the trend for smaller, regional events continues. All of this puts pressure on the entire value chain, including convention centres.
Looking at technology to address some of these challenges is definitely an option. In a couple of years, AI has moved from concept into applications which are ready to use, and the new wave of AI agents will only accelerate the trend. Systems can now perceive their environment, process information, and take actions to achieve specific goals, often autonomously.
There are many areas where AI could play a role in convention centres – from sales to predictive maintenance. The convention centre AI agent could propose a priced event design based on past events( which did not necessarily take place at the same venue). However, implementing AI successfully is not straightforward and will require revisiting existing processes and stripping these down to the very core, before doing any development. It might be that process optimisation will get you the result you want without any need for AI, but AI has one key advantage: it can combine sets of data – both internal and external – and detect patterns which we might not otherwise see.
Personalised training paths A lot of temporary staff goes through a
Above: Sven Bossu
“ AI has one key advantage: it can combine sets of data – both internal and external – and detect patterns which we might not see”
day’ s training before starting the job. AI technology has the potential to not only accelerate the training process but also tailor it to meet the specific needs of the workforce and the demands of the season. According to companies such as TrainDay( one of many offering this type of service), the following could be imagined:
• Automated training modules which quickly assess the skills and knowledge gaps of new workers and provide personalised training paths.
• Real-time adaptation and gamification, ensuring temporary staff are learning at an optimal pace, maximising their time and accelerating their readiness.
• Feedback loops: AI tools can integrate feedback mechanisms that capture insights from temporary staff throughout training. This is analysed to make real-time improvements to the programme and adapt future training initiatives.
• Measured impact: the effectiveness of training programmes is continuously measured against key performance indicators such as speed to competency, quality of work, and overall productivity. AI and data analytics provide a detailed analysis of these metrics, offering clear insights into the return on investment in training.
The impact could be very positive, both for the convention centres and for delegates, as it combines external and internal data with continuous improvement and efficiency. And, for the temporary staff, it could be a great learning experience on various levels. It might take a bit more than simply pushing a button, but it is worthwhile exploring. n
ISSUE 135 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 11