What’s the Meta? How technology will impact the future of corporate events

During the pandemic we unlocked the possibilities of technology and used digital platforms to continue to allow our clients to connect and inspire their stake holders, even when they couldn’t be physically together. One of the main things we took away from TechNExt 2023 was the idea that technological advancements are the most impactful when they keep real people at the heart of the process, so we asked our team where they think tech could give our delegates even more…

Creativity

With the advent of more established platforms for virtual world building, the sky is literally the limit when it comes to your virtual event venues! There is no reason to be limited by what is possible IRL, your event could be held anywhere in the world or you can surprise and delight your attendees with a completely new landscape, the only limit is your imagination. If you are running a hybrid event, why not build a digital replica of your event space and allow people to interact with your on-site teams in real time – something that might not always be possible to accommodate in the real world. Want to hold your event on the moon? Go for it!

Sustainability

At BeaconHouse we are always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the planet when it comes to our events, and this includes how we adopt technology to combat issues like our carbon footprint from unnecessary travel. Hosting some, or all, of your event in a virtual world could be the answer to costly plane tickets as well while addressing environmental concerns at the same time. Alongside exploring options for virtual worlds, you could also look at current mainstream technologies such as live streaming events – advances in internet speeds and 5G are making video and streaming easier than ever.

Inclusivity

Not everyone is able to attend events in person, and if you are looking to have a truly inclusive experience it is important to represent every voice in the conversation. Giving your delates the option to experience an event through a VR headset, or similarly without, at home could be the answer to engaging with previously hard to reach audiences, while digital ways to participate in conversations could allow the quieter voices in the room to be heard and open the floor up to previously unheard ideas. In recent years there have been huge step forward when it comes to using tech to bring people from around the world together – but language barriers can sometimes cause a problem. Consider using a live translation solution to make sure everyone is welcomed and included.

Learning through data  

With every event we want to learn from the data collected on site to make the next experience even better for the people attending. Advances in wearable technologies are now allowing corporate events teams to collect and study delegate data including how they move around the venue, how long they spend in each session or even emotions during different parts of the experience. At the moment this tech could be built into a lanyard or wristband but with a bit of creative thinking the trusty feedback form could be a thing of the past.

World-Class Speakers

If ABBA can do holograms, why can’t we? We all want our delegates to come away inspired and motivated from our events, and often it is the key note speaker who does just that. But what if they didn’t have to be there in person? In the future holograms could be delivering the ideas at corporate events, allowing a people outside of major cities access to the biggest names and the newest ideas and their much more exciting than a video call!

Remember that just because the tech exists, it doesn’t always mean it is the right solution for your business – consider Jurassic Park, just because we can doesn’t mean that we should! It all come back to people. When adopting new technologies, it is important to consider if the digital space inclusive for all ages and work with an expert to make sure it is immersive, innovative and as engaging as the IRL event.

At BeaconHouse Events our team is always one step ahead of the latest trends and advancements in the sector. If you would like to talk to one of the team about your goals for 2023/24 or how events can form part of your strategy, give us a call on 0191 691 3456 or email info@beaconhouse-events.co.uk.