Ben Lyden, Managing Director, XpoBay takes a look at the role of tech in events of the future.

XpoBay is an AIME 2023 tech partner. The team provides flexible Event Portal software to assist organisers with radically simplifying their events. In AIME’s case, XpoBay helps develop systems which make the exhibitor and hosted buyer experience a more seamless and integrated journey to AIME.

With over 20 years’ experience in the events and exhibitions industry working with some of the world largest organisers of business and consumer events, XpoBay’s Managing Director, Ben Lyden shared his thoughts on what event technology will look like in the future.

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If social distancing taught us anything it's that, as humans, we crave contact. Despite all the uncertainty that lockdowns brought, the research and data point to one thing: in-person events are here to stay. What role will tech play in the future of these events? One word, ‘interconnectivity’ - now more than ever, we need to develop systems and programs which work symbiotically to streamline and enhance the user experience (UX) for organisers and
attendees alike.

AIME maximises the UX by enhancing the relevance and value of interactions - the team connects people according to their unique interests and business goals. Key to their success is choosing the right combination of technologies to make the process seamless. Many all-in- one event software solutions promise to be a panacea, but the more complex an event, the more important it is to choose a bespoke mix of systems, or the right “tech stack”.

Choosing an appropriate tech stack starts with breaking down an event into sets of intelligent requirements, and then choosing the best software solutions accordingly. A useful acronym from the software world is MVP or ‘minimum viable product’. In the planning stage of the event, teams work out the minimum requirements based on the ideal journey of each participant type and then build a tech stack around the MVP concept. Once a successful
system is in place, teams can iterate and improve year-on-year.

By collaborating with events like AIME, we bring a unique insight into the technology needed to streamline many aspects of event planning - from registration to operations to event portals and more. Putting the right tech stacks to work is critical and will perform a vital role in the success of tomorrow’s events. As the flagship trade event in the Asia Pacific region, AIME is setting best-practice in this space - we are delighted to be working alongside a progressive team of industry trailblazers.

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The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) is the leading trade event for the meetings and event industry in the Asia Pacific region. AIME is where industry decision makers connect, create and do business. Applications for AIME’s highly regarded Hosted Buyer Program close 13 December 2022. Find out more: AIME website.