The main objective of any event is to bring together different people with common goals and to enable effective communication between them. Until now, face-to-face events have been the only option. However, with the advent of technology, virtual events are widely accepted as part of communication and collaboration efforts.
Companies use various virtual event management platforms to host webinars, conferences, meetings, trainings, etc. According to statistics, in North America, internal team meetings / trainings are the most common type of meeting activity, with 17% of the market in 2020. On the other hand, internal team meetings / trainings represent 19% for Europe, 16% for Asia-Pacific and 19% for Central / South America.
Although companies have recognized the efficiency and effectiveness of virtual events, there are obvious differences between virtual and in-person events.
Virtual events vs in-person events
The world around us is changing with technology and so should you. You might think that virtual platforms are only capable of hosting certain types of events with limitations on the number of participants, so you can’t go wrong.
Today, technology has made it possible to host not only online meetings and training, but even trade shows and other business networking events. All you need to do is choose an online event platform that gives you the facilities you need with the flexibility to adapt to your changing business needs.
What are the advantages of hosting virtual events?
Profitability
Online events save costs not only for hosts, but also for attendees. Event planners can save money typically spent on venues, hotels, food, and other overhead costs. As a result, 34% of planners see increased footfall as the most positive outcome of going virtual, followed by lower overhead (27%).
On the flip side, traveling to other cities / countries, as exciting as it sounds, can be a big expense for frequent attendees of in-person events. For these people, online events are a cost effective means of communication. In addition, you can reach a larger audience even if you are on a limited budget with effective planning and online event management.
Flexibility
Modern organizations no longer have location constraints. They have become truly global with their offices in different parts of the world. Thus, they must meet the communication needs of all these employees, regardless of their location and time zone. Virtual events offer these companies the opportunity to organize an event that meets the needs of the attendees, eliminates language barriers where applicable, and designs a truly unforgettable virtual experience. Also, some of the virtual event management platforms allow you to record events so attendees can review content when they need it. Therefore, 90% of event marketers plan to invest resources in virtual meetings on an ongoing basis.
Event analysis
It is often difficult for an event planner to measure the success of an event, even for an in-person event. However, with little help from event analysis, one can gauge audience engagement, which content / speaker received the most views, and what part of the event stimulated attendee participation, etc. . The analysis helps organizers better understand audience behavior and make better decisions in the future.
Conclusion
It is obvious that virtual events are here to stay and will pave the way for more innovative means of communication for businesses around the world.
Interesting Related Article: “5 Types of Virtual Events Your Customers Want to Attend This Year”