Event Success

CHAPTER 21What an Event Platform Can (and Can't) Do for You

Your event platform will be the most important tool in your team's toolbox. But like any tool, it's only as powerful as the people and strategies behind it.

According to Rexson Serrao from Salesforce, in a conversation on the IN-PERSON podcast, “An event technology platform isn't the same thing as an event strategy. That is the number one thing to remember. If your entire strategy says I'm going to use Platform A to deliver the experience, you have a huge problem.”

In the past, event technology orbited around an in-person experience. These tools and services helped spread awareness; communicate key messages; and manage ticketing and registration, agendas, and more; but the event still took place in a separate, real-world environment. Some of the tools in the event experience manager toolkit were intended to facilitate an in-person experience, while others were squarely focused on just getting people in the door.

In a virtual or hybrid environment, the event platform is the venue. Just as they do for a physical venue, event experience managers are still responsible for filling a mostly blank space with all of the elements that will allow them to create a unique and memorable experience for attendees.

When shopping for an event platform, it's important to understand the resources that come with it and those you will need to bring to the table yourself. Just as your real-world event venue isn't responsible for designing ...