When walking into a corporate event, what’s the first thing attendees typically see? A check-in table with name cards ready to go or an on-demand badge printing station. In the more distant past, it may have been a table with “Hello, my name is:” stickers. Then we advanced to pre-printed labels attached to the end of a lanyard. Thanks to advances in event technology, wearable event badges received an upgrade and are now capable of doing more than just providing a name.
Today, event badges can be equipped with RFID technology, unlocking a slew of capabilities designed to streamline the logistics of large corporate events and provide event planners with detailed information about their guests. In turn, this valuable data can be used during the event to adjust on the fly and help prepare teams for successful events in the future.
Quick Links
Smart event badges are wearable pieces of technology that can streamline several event-related processes. These tools are often equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, allowing the badges to communicate with other devices. Badges are assigned various tags, such as contact information, which are then shared when the RFID system is connected to touchpoints, such as entryways and kiosks.
In other words, RFID event badges are like touchless key fobs. When they’re close to an associated touch point, an action is instantly triggered. This might look different across events, depending on what you want the badge to do. Event planners can use these tools to both streamline processes and gather data as they see fit.
With smart badges, many functions can be quickly automated. Not only can this potentially reduce the need for on-site staff, but it also makes for a smooth attendee experience. Now, processes that once required working with an employee can be done instantly, just by connecting RFID event badges to desired functionalities.
Interested in session attendance? Event badges can be used to track who attends an event during a conference and what activities are most popular. Once the conference is over, this information will be useful to determine where resources would be better allocated for the next event. Plus, event badges reduce long check-in lines. All your guests need to do is swipe or tap their RFID badge, and they’ll instantly be accounted for.
Event badges loaded with attendee contact information can help make lead capture quick and easy. When attendees tap or scan their smart badge, the information is transferred to the event’s lead capture software or database. Event organizers and hosts can then easily view and analyze participant data and gather information about interests and more.
For large corporate events, some sessions, speakers, or workshops may require restricted access. Luckily, as guests register for those activities, their event badge can be updated with accessibility to grant entry. All attendees need to do is locate the associated touch points – which may be a floor stand, tabletop display, or a handheld device from a member of the event staff – and walk into the session. This can reduce time waiting in lines. Plus, this can help ease security concerns.
Creating captivating event experiences requires keen attention to detail, right down to the event badges. Badges that reflect your event theme and brand can add to the cohesion of the entire event, ensuring everything feels consistent from a design aspect. From a first impression during check-in to networking interactions, these badges provide a tangible and consistent representation of your brand. Attendees will appreciate the attention to detail, creating a sense of unity and professionalism.
Event badges can also be a tool to gather immediate data about event activities and attendee behaviors. As guests attend speaker sessions or use their badges to gain entry to different areas within the conference, this data will be collected. Once the event is over, data will be ready for immediate analysis.
When it comes to gathering data, event planners need to find new ways to learn about their attendees as we currently prepare to enter a cookieless world. Plans for Google to phase out third-party cookies mean you might need to look to new avenues for data collection. Event badges can help solve this problem by gathering contact information, session history, and location information.
Clearly, event badges are capable of much more than sharing a name. These wearable pieces of event tech are changing the way both large and small corporate events are conducted. Organizers can instantly gain access to insights that will shape future events or even help organizers make adjustments on the fly. If they see that one activation is crowded, they could make an announcement to direct traffic to a less crowded activation – you could even send out push notifications via your event app. Further, if event planners see a high demand for a certain speaker, you may add new sessions for the following day with that speaker.
Additionally, event badges can promote engagement among attendees. Here are a few examples of event badge trends that are emerging among event planners:
How can event speakers and coordinators quickly communicate with guests? New smart badges are incorporating light-up features that instantly send messages to attendees. A flashing light might signal that an event is starting soon or a meal is about to be served. Another option with this kind of technology is coordinating lights to add an element of fun by creating a light show among audience members.
One of the most valuable benefits of corporate events is the opportunity for networking. These gatherings are perfect for getting to know like-minded people and making new connections within your industry. However, sometimes networking can be overwhelming. With artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, event badges can help similar people find each other. Event badges that use AI tools can create recommendations for people who have similar professional goals or interests and group them accordingly for networking sessions.
Another great feature of AI technology in event badges is itinerary creation. Based on attendee profiles connected to the badges, AI tools can generate custom itineraries that can include recommendations for sessions when there are openings in an attendee’s schedule or optimal times to grab food between activities.
RFID and near-field communication (NFC) aren’t new technologies, but they can be implemented in new ways. For example, we might soon see event badges loaded with money to be used during the event at stalls, markets, or vendor tables. Event planners might even load these cards with money ahead of time that can be used to make purchases on branded items, vendor shops, and high-value swag bags. By using badges as a means of cashless payment, guests can have seamless experiences as they navigate different activities.
Old event badges once led to a buildup of waste, ultimately leaving an impact on the environment. As companies make strides toward sustainable practices, they are also looking at ways to improve their event tech in order to be more environmentally conscious.
In some cases, event badges can be reused or recycled, which reduces the amount of waste your corporate event produces. Event badges can also be made from biodegradable materials. At Bishop-McCann, we produced an event where we implemented sustainable badges that were made from plantable seed paper! Attendees even sent us images of the flowers that grew from the badges they planted. Not only was it environmentally friendly, but the flowers also acted as a reminder of our client and their event.
Similar to the sustainability trend, events can even go badgeless. Eliminating the need for event badges minimizes the amount of waste being produced and also reduces manufacturing costs for event organizers. Instead of a physical badge, organizers opt for a digital badge that lives on smartphones or other mobile devices.
To do this, a digital card would be available in smartphone wallets, in the same way that Apple Pay and Google Pay are used. Alternatively, event planners might select an event app that includes digital event badges. So, all of the same functions that we’ve just talked about in event badges can be accessed on devices that attendees are already utilizing.
To plan a successful event, you need data to help you make informed decisions. Event badges are an excellent way to seamlessly gather data about your attendees without manually entering information. With this data, you can identify which sessions were more popular than others.
Then, your team can plan for the next corporate event based on previous attendees’ experiences, replacing less-attended sessions with speakers and sessions that were more popular. With this knowledge, you can fine-tune itineraries and design activities that promise high attendance rates. A refined event experience will help you craft personalized experiences – ones that will resonate well with attendees. In this way, you can better gauge the success of your event and plan even more successful ones in the future.
These advancements in event tech are unlocking insights for event planners and creating more enjoyable, engaging experiences for attendees. To generate these insights and inform your future events, you need to gather data quickly and easily, and that’s where event badges truly stand out. If you’d like to learn more about event badges and other event tech to include at your next conference, reach out to the expert event planners at Bishop-McCann today!