Of all of the urges, predilections, and addictions that social media has spawned, the most obvious is the “need for speed.” Where information is concerned, we want it now, we want it continuously updated, and we want to get it wherever we are. Trade show and conference attendees are no different than regular folk—the info consuming public. In fact, their time is at a premium on the trade show floor and the printed show/conference schedule is going the way of the dodo. What to do? Enter start up company, Triqle Event Intelligence, based in Amsterdam.
Triqle’s first product, “What’s On?” allows event organizers—from conference planners to film festival producers—to distribute constantly updated event information to attendees. The schedule is viewable across multiple devices including kiosks, mobile phones, and tablets. Each program item has a detail page with more information and useful links. Visitors can add items to their personal schedule and use a like/dislike button to show their preferences.
In addition to being a centralized information resource (event organizers can post messages or warnings such as a session room is full, for example), the information is searchable by location or theme (and other criteria determined by the event organizer), and can be shared on social networks. “By sharing their program on Twitter or Facebook, a visitor increases the chance of having interesting encounters at the event,” says Gerrit Heijkoop, partner at Triqle Event Intelligence.
Triqle’s (the company name comes from a South Ugaban word that describes the experience of time and means something like “unexpected”) solution helps event organizers control their events and communicate with visitors over multiple channels in real time. Plus, visitors’ interaction with the program provides relevant feedback. “We have become accustomed to getting immediate answers to every question, sharing our activities with friends, and relying on our mobile phones for everything. ‘What’s On?’ brings all of that together,” Heijkoop adds.
When you throw in the environmental benefits, “What’s On?” hits the trifecta of app attributes—green, mobile, and social. To imagine events going forward without a product like “What’s On?” or something similar, picture yourself in an airport with no arrival or departure screens on the walls. To confirm your gate number, you would have to a) look at your printed boarding pass and hope the correct gate number is listed, b) ask someone, c) go to the gate printed on your boarding pass and hope it hasn’t been changed. How does that sound?
The Take-Away: Attendees, like everyone, have the attention span of a gnat. If you want them to stay on your show floor or in your conference room, let them know what’s going on all the time. Then, let them share it with friends.
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