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 www.conference-news.co.uk 7 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.