eventPower's COO Sharla Warren on AI and the Evolving Event Landscape
eventPower is proud to announce that our very own Chief Operations Officer, Sharla Warren, was recently featured in an article by ConventionSouth magazine. The piece, titled "Hi, Tech: How AI and other event technology tools can make planners’ jobs easier", delves into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the events industry and highlights eventPower's strategic position in this evolving technological landscape.
Navigating Government AI Security Concerns
A focus of Sharla’s discussion was the cautious approach of eventPower's government clients toward integrating AI into their events. These organizations prioritize security above all else, which often leads to hesitation regarding new, data-driven technologies like AI. She emphasized that eventPower addresses this critical need for trust and data protection through rigorous standards. eventPower has successfully achieved SOC 2 certification, an essential differentiator that provides a high level of assurance to guarded organizations, such as the government agencies eventPower serves, confirming that their data security controls meet the highest industry standards.
AI-Powered Matchmaking and Exhibitor Connection
Beyond security, Sharla highlighted the practical, attendee-facing benefits of AI, particularly its powerful matchmaking capabilities. AI-powered event applications are revolutionizing networking by offering data-driven suggestions for which attendees are most likely to benefit from a connection, thereby significantly increasing the potential for meaningful business interactions.
The process of connecting attendees with relevant exhibitors has also undergone a dramatic transformation. For years, attendees could apply basic filters to exhibitor lists. However, AI technology has made this process vastly superior in speed and precision. Instead of relying on human intuition or simple keyword searches, AI pulls detailed information directly from attendee registration data, which provides a far more accurate and nuanced understanding of an attendee's interests and needs. This sophisticated analysis allows AI to generate a highly personalized, targeted list of must-visit exhibitors for each attendee based on their unique registration profile.
The Post-Pandemic Digital Adaptation
Sharla shared compelling data demonstrating the massive acceleration of digital adoption spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. She cited a recent event managed by eventPower, where an astonishing 80% of the 1,000 attendees—800 individuals—downloaded and actively utilized the eventPower mobile app ShoApp. This level of engagement was used not just for viewing the agenda but also for interacting with other attendees. She noted that an 80% download rate would have been virtually unheard of in the pre-pandemic era. She believes that the mass influx of technology necessary to sustain events during the lockdown effectively forced attendees across all demographics to adapt to and become proficient with digital tools, leading to permanently higher engagement rates.
The Resurgence and Advancement of Virtual Events
In the five years since the onset of COVID-19, the capabilities for hosting virtual and hybrid events have advanced dramatically. Sharla noted that the connectivity issues that plagued digital meetings at the height of the pandemic are now rare occurrences. Technological improvements, such as the use of advanced equipment like OWL 360 cameras, are now better able to capture the full environment of an educational session or keynote speech, delivering a richer, more immersive experience for virtual participants that more closely mirrors the in-person reality.
The Future: A Hybrid and Virtual Dominance
Looking ahead, Sharla predicts that uncertain economic forecasts combined with growing travel restrictions—whether due to cost, corporate policy, or environmental concerns—will compel event planners to lean more heavily into virtual and hybrid models. “That’s already happening,” she stated, adding, “It’s going to be a mix. You’ll see hybrid events come back and more virtual events.”
Learn More
eventPower is at the forefront of this digital evolution. Our technology is continually being updated, and the integration of AI is a key part of how our offerings are evolving. To learn more about how we can support your organization with secure registration services, our advanced virtual and hybrid event platform, and our innovative mobile app (ShoApp) technology, please request a demo with us.
You can read the full ConventionSouth magazine article featuring Sharla here.