Conference News Supplements The Tech Factor Supplement | Page 7
previously in a different venue
because you are comfortable with
the software, but it is the right
software for the current venue?
The question is who in the
business is equipped with enough
knowledge to ask the right
questions. The tech people do not
always understand events
challenges, and events people from
our experience do not enjoy being
bombarded with ‘tech jargon’.
From our experience, venues rely
on event organisers to bring in their
own technology for front-line
guests. But having the right
resource or expertise within the
business is an advantage.
Some venues believe technology
is costly and so avoid the internal
struggles or defer them into next
year – the fundamental thinking
needs to shift from being a cost to
one-off investment.
As one of our key pillars, VTC
works with different stakeholders
to educate and build the
technology knowledge for different
stakeholders within the market.
What about technology suppliers;
do they sometimes underestimate
what event organisers need or
expect at venues?
No, we do not believe that
technology suppliers
underestimate what event
organisers need, and after all, they
are the paying for the service. It is
what the organisers can afford
against their budget for the event
itself, that is the challenge.
IT IS WHAT THE
ORGANISERS CAN
AFFORD AGAINST
THEIR BUDGET FOR THE
EVENT ITSELF, THAT IS
THE CHALLENGE.
THE TECH PEOPLE
DO NOT ALWAYS
UNDERSTAND EVENTS
CHALLENGES, AND
EVENTS PEOPLE FROM
OUR EXPERIENCE DO
NOT ENJOY BEING
BOMBARDED WITH
'TECH JARGON'.
Technology suppliers are only too
happy to support and engage with
venues, but ideally, they need to be
brought into the discussion early
on.
Audio Visual, for example, is
clearly costed out and organisers
have experience of understanding
what is required to deliver their
event requirements and can get
quotes from either in-house teams
or preferred suppliers
However, most venues should
offer some sort of free Wi-Fi, and
with it more readily available in
coffee bars, pubs etc., people don’t
understand why this should be
different at venues and events.
Unlike lighting or video, Wi-Fi is
invisible. Whether you connect to a
£30 router or a £1,200 access
point, the Wi-Fi signal on your
phone looks the same. Wi-Fi at
home or in a coffee shop might be
free, but there is no real quality of
service and if hundreds of users
are trying to connect at the same
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Technology
time it falls over. This varies vastly
from venue to venue and is very hot
topic at present.
So, you act as a consultant for the
two parties?
Yes, and more. At present, the VTC
eco-system is made up of venues,
event organisers, technology
companies, trade associations
(notably the HBAA and MIA), and
analysts.
While our major clients are the
venue and technology partners, the
others help us complete the
perspective to facilitate and
support the client projects and
requirements.
Current partners within the
collective include, a Wi-Fi provider,
venue and event management
solution providers, and a digital
transformation agency while
working with stadia, unique venues,
exhibitions, and conference
venues. However the VTC
community will be vendor agnostic.