‰ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
“Jetson”-Age Tools Click with Big-Event Planners TRADE SHOWS EXPERT SHARES 3 CUTTING-EDGE NEW TECHNOLOGIES temperature.” Her favorite feature? At the a visitor’s badge is scanned. “At the end of MOST OF US THINK about technology on a end of a long day, rather than walking from the event, you can quickly see who your hotmostly two-dimensional plane as we flick our way one device to the next, shutting off each, you test leads were and send them an e-mail or from screen to screen on touch glass. But today’s press just one button and turn everything off postcard before you’ve even left the event,” tech includes applications that are far from flat, while walking out the door. Windham says. says major-events expert Ann Windham. For planners who’ve been hamstrung by “What if you could control all primary aspects • Post-show: SALES LEADS FOLLOW-UP: Seventy percent of exhibitors who capture sales leads personnel cutbacks in recent years, these new of major events like trade shows, big weddings, at trade shows don’t collect qualifying infortools are lifesavers, she says. “The days of ‘The and awards ceremonies through your iPad or mation, according to the Center for ExhibiJetsons’ has arrived.” smartphone; imagine shutting everything down tion Industry Research (CEIR). Scanners at the end of a long and exhausting night by collect only the most basic data from visitors pushing one button on your phone – that’s just to each booth, and there’s no way of knowsome of what’s possible with today’s software,” ing whether they were a “hot” lead ready to FOR MORE INFORMATION: Ann Windham is says Ann Windham, president and CEO of Imagbuy or someone who stopped by for the free the president and CEO of Imagine Xhibits, Inc., ine Xhibits, Inc. (imaginexhibits.com/events). T-shirt, Windham says. Now, however, event a full-service trade show marketing company Lights, climate control, projectors and monimanagement software allows exhibitors to that offers custom design exhibits using modutors, curtains, fountains, and much more can lar components. include qualifying information every time be controlled with an app, and the data that you take away from trade shows can be used to quickly follow up on sales leads, she says. Windham shares three of her favorite new technologies: • Pre-show: EVENT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE: This one-stop source for managing every detail about your event – from FedEx tracking numbers to vendor contact information to photos from the show – even allows you to manage multiple events from any location. “In the past, we carried all the details for each show in one huge binder. If you were at a show in Texas and someone called with a question about the show in Oregon, you wouldn’t have that information handy,” Windham says. Event management software relies on cloud storage, so members of your team can access it from their smart phone or iPad no matter where they are. Another benefit: You’ve got just one place to input all that data. Advancing knowledge and certification of fluid power professionals. • During the show: REMOTE SENSORS: Sensors built into the walls of an exhibit allow you to FLUID POWER CERTIFICATION = A SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT WORKFORCE: control all of the electronics from your smart• Hydraulics - Specialist, Technician, Mechanic • Engineer • Pneumatics - Specialist, Technician, Mechanic • System Designer phone or iPad. Not only does it save time, but • Connector and Conductor it’s also an easy way to add valuable theatrics during a demonstration. “Say you’re standing THE INTERNATIONAL FLUID POWER SOCIETY at the back of the room and you realize the (IFPS) is a non-profit professional individual member organization devoted exclusively to speaker can’t be heard, you just turn up the the promotion and advancement of Fluid Power Technology. volume on his mic, right from your your iPad,” Windham says. “Or, if you want to create speCall 800-308-6005 or visit www.ifps.org cial effects using lighting and room temperafor more information. ture, you can dim the lighting and drop the www.fluidpowerjournal.com www.fpef.org
CERTIFICATION. EDUCATION. PROFESSIONALISM.
CIRCLE 471
SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR DIRECTORY 2014
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