The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction—and this giant network of connected things is helping us understand and improve the way we work and live. So for those who are event planners, here are the essentials you should know about IoT to effectively maximize it to enhance the attendee event experience.
General Background
Connected things include everything from cellphones, refrigerators, coffee makers, washing machines, wearable devices, and almost anything else you can think of and applications of IoT can be found in almost every business sector, ranging from finance, agriculture and manufacturing to healthcare, energy and transportation. So, it’s no surprise that it’s estimated that there are 1.6 billion IoT devices in the global workplace today; the analyst firm, Gartner predicts that there will be over 26 billion total connected devices globally by 2020. And as broadband internet becomes more widely available and more devices are being created with Wi-Fi and sensors built in, the cost of connecting is decreasing and the opportunities are increasing.
Collecting data has never been easier, providing unprecedented value to event planners, vendors and venue partners, such as opportunities to engage and communicate with business customers and partners more efficiently and effectively; make precise, strategic improvements to the next conference; and develop long-lasting relationships by identifying personalized touch points for communications.
With opportunities, come challenges and IoT is no exception. Any cybersecurity expert will tell you that it’s not a matter of if any given thing (or person) will be connected, but when—making it critical to stay informed on privacy and data sharing issues and up-to-date on your organization’s best practices for cybersecurity.
IoT At Your Next Event
Administration
Registration and check-in can be overwhelming for everyone involved, so consider using registration software that links to connectivities like BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), GPS or Wi-Fi which allows attendees to use their phones to easily check-in when they are around the venue and direct them to a location to collect their event badges, etc.
Many event planners are ditching peel-and-stick tags for smart name badges (and bracelets) that use RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), NFC (Near Field Communication) or BLE. While there is a higher cost associated with connected wearables, the advantages are almost endless, such as:
- Assist attendees in tracking visited exhibit booths
- Survey automation
- Event entry
- Cashless payments, such as Venmo and PayPal
- Share virtual business cards
Intelligence
With geolocation connectivities like Wi-Fi or smart name badges with BLE, event planners can track attendee patterns and generate a heat map of the event floor plan in real time, presenting the opportunity to identify attendee traffic patterns and venue floor navigation. This provides critical intelligence on points of interest; time spent in specific locations; high-traffic areas; and can help to improve the layout for enhanced attendee experiences at future events.
Data like this also makes for a great sales tool—it’s much easier for vendors to justify a higher priced booth or advertising location in areas that are proven to receive better exposure.
Messaging
By tracking movements through Wi-Fi, RFID, NFC or BLE, planners can push out information and notifications in real time with the most relevant messaging—this can include targeted marketing and personalized recommendations for a session or exhibitor booth near an attendee’s location.
Incorporating technologies like NFC into posters or printed program schedules makes it easy for attendees to get more information about the exhibitor/service/product by simply tapping their mobile device at the piece—providing attendees with immediate information, and planners with intelligence to create personalized profiles, based on where, when and for how long attendees stop at a location.
With attendees connected, event planners can send out messages after the conference or event has ended thanking them for attending, providing a link to the event survey, and notifying them that they will be receiving an email with the specific list of exhibitors they visited and information about their services.
Most cybersecurity experts agree that IoT is the driver of global change, as it allows for virtually endless opportunities and connections—this is extremely exciting for businesses and events of all kinds. Of course, as previously mentioned, with opportunities, comes a set of challenges, as the IoT opens up companies and individuals to more security threats and presents privacy and data sharing issues. As the value and magnitude of the IoT continues to increase rapidly, it is essential to stay informed on best cybersecurity practices—conveniences and opportunities are only valuable if you can effectively secure and protect the data and intelligence that you are gathering.
About Our Guest Author:
Guest blog post provided by Keppler Speakers, one of the world’s leading speakers bureaus that provides keynote speakers who inspire, inform and captivate event audiences with expertise spanning across business, world affairs, politics, entertainment, education, literature, sports and leadership.
Author, Theresa Payton
Former White House CIO, Cybersecurity Authority & Expert on Identity Theft and the Internet of Things
As one of America’s most respected authorities on Internet security, data breaches and fraud mitigation, Theresa Payton remains the cybersecurity expert companies turn to regarding efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures and understand the impact of the Internet of Things and the importance of securing Big Data. Payton was the first female to serve as White House Chief Information Officer and prior to that held executive roles in banking technology at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Currently the founder, president and CEO of security, risk and fraud consulting company, Fortalice, LLC, and author of two books focused on helping others learn about cybersecurity, Payton captivates audiences at her speaking events across the country with a fascinating narrative on the world of cybersecurity, including insight and methods critical to protecting organizations and information from rapidly evolving cyberattacks. Payton is represented by Keppler Speakers.
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