Event tech has advanced significantly since the beginning of 2020, and as live events return, it is continuing to play a key role when it comes to delivering seamless and engaging experiences to both attendees and exhibitors. Two new partnerships announced this week illustrate how event tech is becoming an increasingly important component at in-person events.
First, South by Southwest Conference and Festivals (SXSW) announced that it has selected networking and matchmaking platform Grip as its technology partner for its in-person event next month — its first in almost three years. The event will be hybrid, and SXSW plans to leverage the networking tool to help attendees — both in-person and virtual — make the most of their time at the event and make meaningful connections.
SXSW Chief Technical Officer Justin Bankston noted that they are “reinventing SWSW for 2022,” which involves leveraging this type of technology for the first time. "SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together," he said in a statement. "That's why we selected Grip. We wanted a technology partner that has a proven track record connecting conference participants so they discover more and walk away with an amazing, valuable event experience.”
Fellow UK-based event platform ExpoPlatform also announced a new partnership this week — the company has partnered with Crowd Connected, which provides indoor positioning solutions, to improve mobile app navigation at live events. The integration of Crowd Connected’s technology will make ExpoPlatform’s mobile apps location aware and will enable attendees and exhibitors to make use of helpful features such as navigation and wayfinding, location-based recommendations, and real-time data visualizations such as heatmaps.
“Our mission is to accelerate the digital transformation of the event industry through smart technology,” said ExpoPlatform CEO and Co-founder Tanya Pinchuk in a statement. “Crowd Connected’s credentials meant they were the natural partner for us when it came to the location technology component of our platform.”
Mark Maydon, Commercial Director at Crowd Connected, added: “ExpoPlatform’s focus on helping organisers create more valuable live experiences is completely in tune with our own approach. We’re delighted to be working closely with their team to help organisers deliver smarter, data-driven in-person events.”