Meeting Trends: Using Mobile Technologies to Boost the Bottom Line

If you have a smartphone, you’re probably familiar with mobile apps that save you time, simplify mundane tasks, or just entertain you with movies or games. We rely on our phones for much more than just talking or texting.

In the last year, mobile apps have also emerged as an innovative method of both generating revenue and reducing costs for meetings and conventions. In fact, a leading meeting industry publication has dubbed 2011 the Year of the Mobile App. Savvy organizations are realizing that mobile apps return a great deal of value for a relatively small investment.

The question we often hear from our clients is, How can we maximize our investment in meeting technology? Mobile apps are extremely attractive to conference sponsors, who realize that conference delegates spend countless hours on their smartphones – both during conference sessions, as well as in their free time.

Technology sponsorships offer much richer delegate engagement than traditional sponsorship opportunities. A mobile app used throughout the conference draws hundreds of page views, while single-use items like food & beverage or disposable giveaways are quickly forgotten.

Sponsors are willing to invest $10K - $25K or more to get their logo and message in the place that attendees are already looking. A single sponsorship pays for the app several times over – bringing in additional revenue well beyond the initial investment. Additional sponsorships and ads can also be sold to produce even more profit. Small investment, big return!

Computing in the Cloud: What's it all about?

The recent article in Meeting & Conventions Magazine talks about "cloud computing". The word 'cloud' has been coined to describe using Software as a Service or SaaS. SaaS means using software applications over the Internet through your browser rather than purchasing and loading software onto your computer. This is the future of sharing information and technology. No longer are we constrained by specific hardware or operating systems. Information in the 'cloud' is available 24/7 and 365 days a year. It is accessible from any type of computer, on all mobile devices and it is accessible from anywhere.

Meetings & Conventions calls this change a "dynamic shift" in mindset. The major software developers are moving their software solutions to the 'cloud'. Companies are storing their information outside of their offices because the it is available with ease and real-time sharing of the data is more efficient than ever.

No wonder that Conference & Logistics Consultants chose to build its new mobile conference navigation app, meetsmart mobile 'in the cloud'. Every conference organizer wants to know that their meeting data can be accessed easily and won't be disrupted by programming or platform issues. Conference organizers work every day to avoid surprises. What planner would want to have their conference navigation app derailed by a phone manufacturer upgrade right before their event?

"Cloud computing" is the way of the future. Manage your costs, keep control of your data, minimize software issues and put your information into all the hands of your audience. meetsmart mobile: Meeting Technology by Meeting Planners.