Technology in Events

Keeping up to date with the latest trends in event technology is a difficult task because new tools and platforms are emerging all the time. This article will help event planners understand where investment can be maximised and how to make events as engaging as possible for their attendees. Experiential marketing, for example, is becoming one of the media industry’s largest segments and following a huge dip during the Covid-19 outbreak, is due to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2024.

Since the pandemic, events have made an impressive comeback with hybrid events becoming more popular than ever. This has led to a great deal of innovation in events technology, increasing the quality of event production as well as attendee experience.

Indigo Splash is a complete event production company so we live and breathe event tech. In this article we break down 10 emerging trends in event technology which we think are set to make an impact in 2024 and beyond.

What is Event Technology?

Event technology refers to all of the software and hardware used to plan, manage and produce events. The purpose of event technology is to increase efficiency and add functionality to the processes involved with event management and event production. This ultimately helps to improve attendee experiences and meet business objectives.

Examples of Technology in Events

Some examples of event technology which use software are digital solutions to help manage registration and ticketing as well as schedules and budgets. Hardware examples of event technology include lighting systems, sound systems and ways to deliver presentations and content, such as projection and digital signage.

In reality there is a vast amount of technology which goes into planning, managing and producing a live event which depends on whether the event is in-person, virtual or hybrid. The aim of the event and its target audience will also affect the technology used. For example, a product launch event might incorporate experiential elements to allow customers to interact with a product. A corporate event, however, might utilise large LED screens or projection to present content to an audience.

One thing you can be sure of is that event technology will continue to develop at a pace so let’s take a look at some of the emerging technologies which are set to push the boundaries of event production in 2024 and beyond.

Emerging Trends in Event Technology

1: Event pre-visualisation: Photo-realistic images of an event can be created with pre-visualisation tools making it easier for event planners to envisage how everything will look on the day. This innovation in event technology adds an extra layer of confidence when budgets are being signed off, significantly accelerating the planning and approval process.

2: Dante AV over IP: Traditionally event hardware requires point to point connections between devices. This is manageable but results in large amounts of cabling, signal degradation over long distances, and makes it difficult to adapt to changing circumstances.

Dante replaces these connections with a single ethernet cable so that adding a piece of equipment is equivalent to adding a printer to a network. Audio and video are wrapped in an IP (internet protocol) and transmitted in high quality from one Dante enabled device (such as a video switcher) to another (such as a projector) via a central Dante enabled managed network switch. This is a piece of paradigm-shifting event technology which makes managing the numerous AV systems involved in an event much more efficient.

3: Virtual events: Virtual event platforms allow event planners to live-stream online events, such as conferences, webinars, and trade shows. These platforms are becoming more affordable and include the ability to integrate with marketing automation tools to help event organisers promote their events and measure their results. As well as this, virtual event platforms provide opportunities for interaction such as allowing attendees to explore virtual event venues and to communicate with other attendees in real-time.

4: Lighting: Event lighting technology is revolutionising events by making them more immersive, engaging, personalised, and sustainable. Lighting can be used to create holographic displays and other immersive experiences that can transport attendees to different places and times. As well as this, intelligent lighting systems can be used to create lighting effects that respond to music or movement, or to create interactive lighting experiences. LED lighting is also being used more widely, being more energy-efficient and producing less heat than traditional lighting solutions, helping event producers to reduce their environmental impact and energy bills.

5: Experiential technology: As online customer experiences improve, the need to provide an engaging in-person experience is more important than ever. Experiential technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and interactive installations can be used to create interactive games and simulations. Immersive and experiential events increase audience engagement rates which leads to customers being more likely to purchase the products being promoted.

6: Mobile: Mobile apps can help provide a seamless digital experience for event attendees who have come to expect mobile-friendly services. As well as saving on printed schedules and other event information, attendees can personalise their experience and receive real-time notifications about forthcoming activities or seminars which are of interest to them. Audience members can also participate in live voting or Q&A sessions, as well as network with other attendees of the event.

7: Live translation: Real-time audio translation is now possible using certain voice translator tools and apps. By eliminating language barriers, the reach of virtual events can be extended even further which is an exciting prospect for many event planners. Building on in-person events by making them hybrid, and then providing live voice translation, means the number of event attendees could become almost limitless.

8: Gamification: Solutions which gamify elements of an event will increase attendee engagement and make the event more fun. For example, attendees could earn points for attending sessions, visiting exhibitors, and networking with other attendees. These points could then be redeemed for prizes or other rewards.

9: Wearable technology is already having a positive impact on events, and its role is only going to grow in the future. Wearable technology can make it easier for attendees to register for events, check in, make payments, and navigate the venue by using wristbands or smart badges that contain their RFID tags.

10: Artificial intelligence: AI can be used to personalise the attendee experience and provide real-time feedback. Data can also be analysed after the event to identify the most popular sessions, exhibitors, and activities or to identify areas where the event can be improved, such as by optimising the layout of the venue or scheduling sessions.

Event Technology: Key Takeaways

The future of event technology is very promising, with new and innovative solutions emerging all the time. Here are some key takeaways for those wondering what the future holds.

Hybrid and virtual events will continue to be popular so it’s important to deliver engaging and seamless experiences for both in-person and virtual attendees. Immersive technologies are still in their early stages of adoption but will become more mainstream as more event planners look to create immersive and engaging experiences for their audience. We can also expect event technologies to become more integrated, allowing diverse technologies to be controlled from one place. Moreover, AI will help to streamline event management by automating and personalising the event experience.

As an experienced event production company we embrace new technology and constantly seek to push its limits to create memorable experiences for attendees across a wide range of events. Our knowledge of event production and event technology can help you develop creative and innovative ways to incorporate new ideas into your events to improve the event experience for your attendees.

If you need help planning your event and how to make the most of the latest innovations in event technology, get in touch with us today so we can discuss your project.