Tech
Adapt or die
Event tech platform EventsAIR is looking to the future,
with a focus on transparency and security
e live in an age where
data and privacy are
increasingly on the
public agenda.
At the same time, we also live in
an age where the number of players
in the event technology market
continues to increase. EventsAIR, a
platform that originated in Australia
before expanding to the UK and US,
has drawn a line between these two
phenomena.
Those behind the technology
have realised that offering their
customers strong data protection and
transparency can secure their loyalty,
and help distinguish themselves from
the crowd.
EventsAIR provides an end-to-
end platform that allows exhibition
organisers to manage every aspect
of their work, from attendee lists to
budgets, travel arrangements and
more. As a result, it naturally collects
large amounts of data, some of which
of which is highly sensitive.
Founder and CEO Trevor Gardiner
realised that he would need to offer
a compelling argument for security,
if the technology was going to take
off. He says: “We take our role in
the events ecosystem very seriously.
Our clients rely heavily on us, and
trust us to ensure they have the very
best in terms of security and privacy
compliance. We also have many
large government clients including
CHOGM and G20 who demand
exceptional security, as they manage
“You only need look so
far as Facebook’s new ad
campaign, ‘we all have
our own privacy settings’,
to see the importance of
data security.”
w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk
highly sensitive data regarding world
leaders.”
In these cases, data protection is
a necessity. But in the wake of the
Cambridge Analytica scandal, it is
an issue which has moved beyond
high-level security and into public
consciousness. You only need look so
far as Facebook’s new ad campaign,
‘we all have our own privacy settings’,
to see its importance.
EventsAIR makes use of a ‘data
processing log’, which clearly lays
out to the customer who has access
to their information. It logs various
consents, details of data sent to third
parties, data anonymisation and
much more. According to Gardiner,
it was an attempt to go beyond the
minimum level requirements set out
by the EU’s General Data Protection
Rules, and set the bar higher.
“Under the laws of GDPR, we are a
‘data processor’, and our customers
are ‘data controllers’,” Gardiner says.
“With EventsAIR, we have gone far
Above:
Trevor
Gardiner,
EventsAIR
Founder
and CEO
beyond the requirements of a data
processor, and implemented very
strong controls that meet PCI Level 1
certification.”
Gardiner foresees this being
a benefit to his business going
forwards, as more countries
implement data protection laws in
the wake of GDPR. He adds: “Most
countries have some basic level of
privacy protection, but GDPR takes
this to the next level in terms of the
rights of individuals. We have seen
California adopt similar principles,
and we expect GDPR to be the
benchmark worldwide.”
Getting ahead of the curve on
crucial issues such as sustainability
and data security will be what sets
businesses apart in the coming years.
Those who are able to adapt to the
changing times will thrive, while
those who leave their customers in
the dark will suffer the consequences,
much as BA and Marriott have in
recent months.
Issue 5 2019
43