Technology has reshaped how individuals communicate, respond to ads, and even attend events. As industries across the board struggle to keep up, the event industry in particular is finding new ways to address old problems through identifying why tech is important to events and the role it can play in years to come.

Why Is Technology Important For Events?

One of the greatest hurdles holding back technology in the event industry is the outdated mantra that technology is a gimmick. While technology is frequently displayed as something that people can directly focus on, its implications in event planning go far beyond something shiny, new, and momentarily captivating. To utilize technology correctly, a ground up philosophy has to be adapted.

Technology should enter the conversation the moment an event begins to be planned. Consider what is generally considered to be cumbersome when event planning and see if there is a tech solution that can help streamline the process. Consider hiring IT professionals who specialize in event IT and seek out their opinions regarding how they can use technology to create a more exciting and engaging event. In the end, the technology that is utilized for an event will be as unique as the event itself, perfectly fitted into the overall fabric and pace of the event. With any luck, it will remain completely hidden from view, only coming out to provide necessary services on request.

What Roles Can Technology Provide At Events?

A popular use of technology at events is limiting paper. Take a trade show as an example. Instead of handing out papers regarding what companies do, each individual stall can instantly send you information via e-mail or other social media. When planned correctly, almost all paper can be removed both from the planning side and from the event dayside.

Technology also has the potential for live production. From being a tool in which people can demonstrate and show ideas during a lecture or updating what events are happening where, tech can be utilized to heighten the experiences of the person attending the event.

For those who cannot attend the event, it is possible to utilize technology to create remote attendance and even another source of revenue for the event. Growing in popularity, it is not uncommon for some events to be live streamed, providing a first hand view of the event for those who are unable to make it.

Video by the talented Alejandro: http://www.alejandronegueruela.com/

Special thanks to Courtney Stanley, Fathi Hakam, Nicole Reding, Luke Glenn and Pedro Anderson.