Participating in tradeshows is an ideal way for businesses to create brand awareness and discover new leads. These events provide a viable means of reaching diverse audiences who gather together to learn about new advances in a particular industry.
It is however wondered if technological advancements have made tradeshow exhibits obsolete; whether there still a need for face to face exhibitions with the ease of access to communication and information.
The Center for Exhibition Research reveals that tradeshows continue to grow – for 9 quarters (in a row), tradeshows have seen growth in terms of attendance, and it is forecasted to increase further from 2013 to 2015.
Capturing the attention of these growing attendees is no easy feat. Each business want decisions makers to take notice of their offerings, and the competition can be fierce depending on the magnitude of a trading event. It is possible for companies to apply some of the following technological advances to engage with high-level buyers and prospective customers:
Tablets and tablet stands
iPads, Nexus and other tablets are new technologies driving effective engagement to booths. Tablet display stands offer an interactive opportunity where customers are able to enjoy a more private and personal engagement experience; a large video wall depicting details of a company isn’t able to offer the same level of interaction and privacy.
Even though the concept of tablet technology in tradeshows is new, they are changing the trend of engaging with audiences on the floor. Several companies have been integrating handheld technologies as sales tools for lead generation, surveys and capturing buyer data. Also, an iPad acts as a powerful engagement tool when connected to presentation screens, courtesy of its apps and other features.
Mobile apps
Apps provide the ability to drive visitor actions as well as create favorable outcomes for exhibitors and organizers, including brochure and PDF download, shortlisting, order management and lead generation. And the DoubleDutch Mobile Event App further highlights how companies utilizing branded mobile applications exclusive for tradeshows can engage customers while streamlining operations for company executives.
For example, tradeshow apps feature a built-in mechanism for competitions that allow exhibitors to make competition entry forms with questions of their own liking. The competition drives visitor engagement and helps the company to create their own database from prospects in attendance. It is also possible for companies to make money with a branded mobile conference app at tradeshows; they can do this by allowing branding from sponsors within the app and by selling app sponsorships.
Point of sale systems
POS systems incorporate smart devices as well as applications to engage attendees. They are perhaps the most advanced way for exhibitors to take orders and process payments from tradeshow visitors. The latest models can save orders for offline processing, so companies in attendance can even engage customers without an internet connection.
Exhibitors integrating point of sale systems will also ease the order taking process for booth representatives by removing the tedious task of manually writing orders. Visitors would be able to use POS systems for seamless access to product data of any brand, as well as the items in stock; this will make them feel more educated and empowered.
Feel free to share thoughts on these technologies in the comments section below
