This is a sponsored post written by George Sirius, CEO, Eventsforce.
More information about Event Manager Blog’s sponsored posts.
The use of technology at events has become a fundamental element throughout the event lifecycle. Event professionals rely on websites and registration pages, email communications, social media, webcasts and live-streaming. When you add to this document sharing, digital networking and more, there is a vast array of technology that can improve and enhance your event.
Keeping a handle on all of this tech can become a headache if you do not have the in-house tech know-how to keep abreast of the latest developments. You need to ensure that all your technology is talking to each other to make the most of your investment. Cue the need for technology partners…
Develop The Perfect Strategic Partner Relationship
Taking a partnership approach to your relationship with your technology provider requires a different mind-set. Rather than just asking for a certain technical specification to be delivered, in today’s complex technology-rich events environment, event organisers need a much greater level of support and understanding from technology partners that can truly understand their business and develop integrated products to address their particular needs.
What You Need To Ask
A true technology partner should help you stay ahead of the game so it pays to choose wisely. Below are a few questions to consider when looking for a technology partner that can support you and your events now and into the future:
– – Do they really understand your business objectives? Have they demonstrated their knowledge of how you work, what your priorities are and are they focused on how their technology can help you achieve your goals?
– Knowledge of industry – How well do they really know the industry that you operate in? If you operate globally, will their knowledge extend this far?
– Support – what kind of support do they offer and where is it available? Is local training available, do they run a help line, will they be flexible in terms of dealing with queries at speed, especially during an event?
– Measurement and ROI – what level of analytics are you able to achieve with your technology partner? Are they able to assist you with delivering clear metrics on your event, improving your own reporting and helping you to assess the value of their products and services?
– Relationship – Are they committed to developing a relationship with your company and clients? What is their long-term focus and goal?
– Integration with other tools – a true technology partner will provide you with products and services that improve the seamless flow of data between different tools and platforms. They will simplify your requirements and provide a single platform as much as possible. Ask about which products they integrate with and look at their product roadmap. This will help you ensure that they have plans in place to continue to develop their products in line with new and emerging communications and data technologies.
In Conclusion
These may seem like fairly simple steps to take, but they are often overlooked with the emphasis being too heavily focused on functionality. Ensure your technology partner ticks all the above boxes and you’ll soon be well on your way to maximising your investment.
