As a sustainable events company, we are firm believers in the power of live events to facilitate human connection, interaction and community. Face-to-face meetings and trade shows aren’t going away, and that’s worth celebrating. But while we wait for the non-virtual segment of our industry to start up again, now would be a great time to re-evaluate some of our old, habitual “go-to” practices and replace them with smarter, more flexible and sustainable options. 

If there’s one thing you could embrace today to make your events more efficient and less wasteful, harnessing the power of digital technology is a great start! Below are some of the technologies and trends we hope will become the “new normal” at face-to-face events going forward. 

Mobile Apps

 The majority of people today are very comfortable using their mobile devices. In fact, according to Statista, there are 3.5 billion smartphone users in the world, which means that more than 45 percent of the planet’s population owns a smartphone. Mobile apps have become much more sophisticated and user-friendly, and many conferences and trade shows have already adopted them to improve the attendee experience. 

 In light of this, why continue the worn-out old habit of printing show dailies, expo guides and floor maps? Plus, in a post-pandemic world, people will likely be more comfortable accessing or scanning something with their phone versus touching physical handouts and materials. 

Besides reducing your carbon footprint and saving you lots of money in printing and shipping costs, here are some other benefits to mobile:

•  All show content, timing and speaker information can be quickly and easily accessed in one place.

• Savings on labor costs to unpack, restock and/or dispose of discarded publications and materials.

• Increased opportunities for meaningful engagement between show organizers, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors.

• Increased polling opportunities, ability to post up-to-date event information in real-time and (our favorite) sustainability pledges!

• Show participants can create their own schedules on the app; instead of wearing huge lanyards and badges, everything lives on their phone.

• Exhibitors and attendees can exchange contact information digitally – no need for paper business cards! 

• Sponsors can place company logos all over the app, including push notifications, and track how many people clicked on their ad or coupon.

• Apps “live” longer than printed marketing pieces, so exhibitors and sponsors have more opportunities to share their messaging beyond the physical show.

• Extends the life of the event, helping to keep attendees connected to the show for longer.

Electronic Signage

Could 2020 see the end of Foamcore signage? We hope so! Here’s why switching to digital signage is a smarter and more sustainable choice:

• Saves money on printing costs.

• Ability to make real-time changes on the fly.

• Allows events to be more flexible, particularly if there have been changes to schedules, branding and messaging.

• Many venues have already made the switch to digital signs, which are typically available at no cost to event organizers.

•  Rentable options allow you to reuse year-to-year and make real-time changes onsite.

Virtual Marketing Collateral and Eco-friendly Giveaways

Vouchers, product information, samples and promotions are all important components of any event, so they aren’t going anywhere. But do they really need to be glossy paper handouts and tchotchkes? Instead of making your attendees lug around another show bag filled with stacks of marketing collateral and promotional giveaways (most of which they’ll likely end up throwing away post-show), consider these options:

virtualTotebag: this innovative solution allows attendees to request and save speaker presentations, conference session handouts and exhibitor brochures digitally. Show organizers reduce their environmental footprint, while exhibitors not only save on printing and shipping costs but are also able to see who downloaded each document, providing more targeted sales and marketing leads. The sponsorship opportunities are endless, too!

Virtual gift cards: Besides saving on printing costs and plastic waste, virtual gift cards can be stored on attendees’ phones and redeemed whenever they want. Sponsorship opportunities abound and there’s no cost to produce them!

Responsible giveaways: While branded promotional products can be important to many exhibitors for keeping their businesses top-of-mind with attendees, it’s better to choose merchandise that matters. Check out Fairware, an awesome company that  creates custom branded promo products that are also Earth-friendly and ethically sourced. They also source products like this and this to address our new normal.

 As we touched upon in our last blog post, the successful integration of virtual, hybrid and on-demand event content can improve the sustainability of an event and enhance the in-person experience at the same time. The same goes for other forms of digital technology. Economic, environmental and social benefits can all result from thoughtfully integrating and using technological platforms. So why wait? Communicate to your audiences about the “why” behind your tech transition and then take the plunge – what do you have to lose, other than all of that leftover paper and signage?

 Join us next time as we take a look at what’s on the horizon with destinations, CVBs, DMOs and event sustainability!

 What are your thoughts about digital technology at events? How are you using them to streamline your costs and improve the attendee experience while furthering your sustainability goals? Share with us in the comments below or engage with us on our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages!