A growing demand for event apps comes with a hefty selection of event app developers in the market. Do you know what you need in an app designed for your next conference?
JEREMY DUCKLIN
CROWDCOMMS
OWNER
Event apps today are much more than conference brochures; they are seeing more demand from end-users, who have attended events in Europe, USA and Australia and have seen the power of event apps in meetings and conferences. Organisers are starting to understand event app-related jargon, and looking more at the features of various solutions and the value proposition of suppliers. Print runs of brochures have also been greatly reduced, in lieu of environmentally-friendly event apps that can offer so much more.
With more options in the market, event organisers can now expect features such as audience response and surveys, interactive mapping, networking (closed email), gaming, advertising (brand, sponsor and exhibitor), security, personalised agendas and note-taking.
Some key points to note:
Analytic data
Knowing who visited, how long they visited and their global locations is important to enable content development. The navigation and preferences of delegates can also help improve future events. This data should be available in a single easy-to-read report.
Networking
Most delegates attend conferences and events because of the ability to network. Ensure that your app facilitates this in an easy but non-intrusive way.
Usability
Ensure that your app layout is intuitive and easy to navigate. A good app should not just be a copy of your website. Your provider should advise you on the best ways to present information, so that you can offer an excellent user experience and also maximise the exposure of the event, sponsors and exhibitors.
Vendor assessment
Choose a vendor who understands the time-critical nature of events, and not just a generic app developer. Ask for references and look at their previous work.
Know your jargon
Native App – An app that you download from the app store. A truly native app should be accessible when there is no internet connection.
Web App – An app that you access by entering a web address in your phone’s internet browser. HTML5 now allows web apps to be downloaded for offline use.
Device agnostic – An app you can access on any type of smartphone platform.
QR code – A square matrix bar code often found on print advertisements. Users use a QR code reader on their smartphones to scan a picture of the code, which then launches a website or app on the device.
Jeremy Ducklin established Crowdcomms in 2010 after recognising the opportunity for event organisers to benefit from the staggering uptake and capabilities of smartphones and web-enabled technology. For more information, visit www.crowdcomms.com
