Tech
Top Tech picks
for 2019
James Morgan, founder of Event Tech Lab,
asks industry experts about this year’s top
tech
From off-the-shelf tech
applications like AI-based
networking platform Grip
to ways of using technology
platforms to create
workflow and experience
management efficiencies
like Chili Piper and Spelfie,
2019 has been a year
where we have seen some
established technologies
become the norm.
Digital data continues
to be prioritised as the
currency for business
success. I asked some
industry experts for their
top tech picks for 2019 and
for a peak into 2020.
Stephan Forseilles, group
head of technology and digital
transformation, Easyfairs
AI (and more specifically
Deep Learning) is the
most exciting tech of 2019.
From talking on-site show
assistants to intelligent
match-making, we’ve seen
it surfacing in our industry.
But the most impactful
technology for me this
year was probably cloud
computing. Cloud has been
around for a long time,
but we just started
to really understand
its real power.
That’s not just
replacing physical
hardware but building
complex data pipelines
and solutions on the cloud.
Without it, we wouldn’t have
a Data Lake, we wouldn’t be
moving around IoT data at
blazing speed, rolling out AI
applications or be working
at becoming the ‘Spotify of
trade shows’.
Tamar Beck, CEO, Gleanin
I am pulled towards
practical, intuitive tech that
has a clear proposition and
gives me a simple solution
to issues like getting more
visitors and measuring
exhibitor ROI. My top picks
start with Tag Digital. They
provide PPC event services
for organisers and deliver
results. Second, Grip, the AI
networking platform.
It is attendee driven and
doesn’t allow exhibitors to
spam visitors. Next, Visit
by GES Smart Badging
enables visitors to digitally
collect exhibitor and
speaker information, plus
give organisers insight into
which exhibitors are driving
the highest interactions.
Glisser – the audience
response system – gets the
audience involved through
slide sharing and Q and A’s.
Finally, Blendr.io, facilitates
multiple platform integration
which is a big challenge for
event organisers.
Calum Gill, head of client insight
and innovation, DRPG
The best and most
important tools we've been
working with this year are
algorithmic personalisation
and data insight tools in the
exhibition space. In 2020, I
foresee a huge requirement
to deploy these tools, like
those offered by Crowd
Connected, at exhibitions.
Not only can you provide
meaningful analysis
of traffic, you can use
intelligent, automated
messaging to personalise
delegate experience through
tiered messaging, as well
as revive flagging areas
of an exhibition hall by
directing footfall across
devices and exhibition
screens. The possibilities
are hugely exciting and
answer the audiences need
for experiences that put their
preferences at the centre of
the exhibition hall, and the
stands.
December — 57