I N T H E K N O W • C o m p e x • BY NIGEL WALKER
GOING APPS
Look how far we’ve come The rate of technology change is mind boggling, accelerating with many thousands of ideas, apps and innovations emerging to help us do our jobs and serve our clients better.
month at a social meeting of some of the South African CMPs, this was a topic of e live and work in exciting discussion over pizza and refreshments. What’s interesting, indeed startling, is that times. The first text message two of the eight (25%) meeting planners (Merry Christmas) was sent on 3 indicated that they were organising meetings December 1982 (it took another year before based on iPads and tablets, rather than paper, a reply could be sent), and now eight trillion within the next six months. texts are sent annually. Tomorrow is going to be nothing like yesterday. #6: Event Wi-Fi problems will get worse Last year, Corbin Ball, CMP CSP, gave a before getting better. This is being driven presentation at the UfI Conference in Cape by expectations growing much faster than Town. Do yourself a favour and have a look installations. This rings true. We ourselves at his website (www.corbinball.com/home), have an event this year that requires the especially the ‘13 Meetings Technology capacity to allow for 800 simultaneous Predictions’ article. I’m not going to repeat connections. This is based upon the organiser ‘parrot fashion’ all 13, but here are a aiming to meet the expectations of the few highlights. delegates, exhibitors and other stakeholders. #1: Meetings technology The standard venue will continue to get cheaper connectivity will not Meetings and easier to use. This is meet this requirement. music to my ears. Cloud #7: New indoor technology will computing is here, although positioning options continue to get interconnectivity still poses a will provide better cheaper and challenge sometimes. Most of event and exhibition easier to use us are using Dropbox, Google indoor way finding and Apps, etc. Many users make mapping. This one I have the development cost and running costs highlighted because through the potential ‘cheap’. Running registration software for as of improving the ROI for exhibitors the little as US$20 (R169.52) a month is a reality. organiser can introduce differential pricing #2: The iPads and tablets will make to specific stand positions based upon flow paperless conference binder a reality. Last patterns. This is nothing new to the fast
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MEETINGS SA | JAN/FEB 2013
moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The layout of a retail outlet is scientifically designed where nothing is done accidentally and everything has a purpose based upon consumer behaviour. So, the design of an exhibition stand or the overall exhibition can follow similar principles. Such information and methodologies are considered a trade secret. Through technology, these secrets are about to be unlocked allowing the exhibition industry to learn from the FMCG sector. #13: Despite the increased use of virtual meetings technology, face-to-face meetings and tradeshows will remain viable. This is clearly good news for us. While webinars and virtual meetings continue to increase in number and participation, no one can dispute the value of one-on-one interaction through formal exhibiting and the informal networking opportunities that these provide. That being said, the traditional exhibitions and meetings of yesterday are evolving rapidly, so it’s time to brush up on the new technologies and ensure they’re included in your preparations. Tomorrow is here. www.compex.co.za