Event management software is a solution that helps companies to automate the process of planning, marketing, organizing, and analyzing promotional events. This type of software can be used for event registration, ticketing, seat allocations, and onsite operations management. It can also be utilized to conduct real-time surveys and polls to engage the audience and to use customer feedback to enhance future events.Show more
Event management software can be used to organize and manage conventions, trade exhibitions, academic and professional conferences, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) meetings. Top features include session management, barcode scanning, badge printing, guest list management, and venue management.
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To come up with this list of best event management software we have evaluated 378 various systems currently present on the market, studying their features, ease-of-use, client support, available integrations with other systems and mobile device support with our patented SmartScoreTM rating system. This list has been developed by Jenny Chang, our software expert dedicated to the event management software category.
CloudRank™ system is a unique algorithm that our research team uses to evaluate Event Management Software solutions in a detailed and accurate way. The Spring 2022 edition of the ranking was prepared by Jenny Chang, our leading expert in the field of Event Management Software, who has authored 1380+ product reviews in this category. The goal of CloudRank™ is to present an unbiased, multi-layered perspective on Event Management Software, considering a wide range of metrics and factors, and educating potential customers about both opportunities and challenges associated with each piece of software.
In order to achieve full objectivity the position in our CloudRank™ is based on:
We’ve calculated a score for each product based on the average experience shared by our users in their product reviews and arranged the list in three tiers. You can see the methodology below on how the calculations were made.
Regardless of their tier, all products included in our CloudRank™ are popular, quality products considered top-performers by our team of experts. Make sure you read a more detailed review of each solution to find one that will work best for your specific needs and budget.
Show lessMARKET POSITION
A score between 1 and 10 based on popularity and market reach of each product.
TOTAL score
A score between 1 and 10 based on the average of our Expert Score and User Score.
Market Position
A score between 1 and 10 based on popularity and market reach of each product.
Total Score
A score between 1 and 10 based on the average of our Expert Score and User Score.
CloudRank™ tier
Based on product's total score.
Rising Star
Contender
Front Runners
Here is a list of all 25 Event Management Software solutions evaluated with our CloudRank™ analysis. We have compared their features, user satisfaction, market presence and other key factors in an in-depth analysis you can find below:
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Our report covered 25 most popular products from the Event Management Software category. We’ve analyzed their features, performance, integration, customer support, pricing, and several other key buying factors and combined it with feedback from user reviews to come up with the current list of best solutions:
Eventbrite continues its reign as the top product for Event Management Software CloudRank 2022. The global self-service event management ticketing platform help businesses and event planners enhance live experiences. Founded in 2006, this U.S.-based company has served over 900,000 event creators in 180 countries. It is favored by many users for its high usability and its slew of best-in-class tools for organizing, running, promoting, and tracking events. More than that, many users laud it for its flexibility to organize simple and complex events alike.
Among its most impressive features include online registration and event ticketing management, which allow users to quickly collect the information they need from attendees as well as simplify the distribution of tickets. It is also equipped with robust payment processing options that let you accommodate multiple payment methods and even deposit ticket sales directly to your business bank account. Moreover, with its wide range of event reporting functionalities, users can easily measure the performance of their events and improve their strategies as they go.
As an end-to-end event management system, Eventbrite also provides users with other features, such as event promotions, email and social media marketing, as well as online sales management. With this at your disposal, you can streamline your processes and ensure that no aspect of your event gets overlooked. The platform even has highly rated iOS and Android applications that give you full access to your event planning materials while on-the-fly or while on-site, allowing you to be more hands-on than ever.
The only downside to the app is that it has limited merchandise sale functionalities. However, this may easily be remedied using Eventbrite’s open API system that allows it to integrate with virtually any other business application.
Most users of Event Management Software solutions confirm that in most cases these tools allow them to reach the following business goals:
The Spring 2022 version of the report includes a total of 25 Event Management Software products that were compared and analyzed by our team. We selected them based on the following factors:
The Rise of Virtual Events
The events industry has taken quite a blow from the current pandemic, with 72% of events companies indicating a large loss of revenue and 77.57% reporting that have furloughed staff. After all, with restrictions on public gatherings and limitations in local and international travel, it can be difficult to organize events, let alone convince attendees to come. With these concerns, many event planners/organizers have turned to live streaming as a solution. By leveraging large-capacity video conferencing tools and live streaming applications, companies are able to carry out seamless virtual events that people can attend from the comfort of their homes.
Plus, on a more practical note, this setup allows companies to save quite a lot of money. For a typical live event, only 5% of the budget is spent on programming and speaker fees. A good chunk of the expenditures often go to the venue, equipment rentals, and food and beverages. Virtual events eliminate these extra expenses without compromising the integrity of your event. As such, it may be safe to say that these digital get-togethers will be the new normal for many companies and we don’t see it going away in the coming years.
Source: Statista
AI-Powered Event Planning
Over the years, the application of artificial intelligence has continually expanded. It is used by industries, ranging from IT and app development to marketing and social media management. In the realm of event management and planning, it is being incorporated in numerous event management platforms and strategies. Often, it appears in the form of engagement tools that allow you to segment attendee demographics and match each segment with event newsletters that will speak to them the most. Other applications include the use of chatbot technology to optimize inquiry response and the automatic translation of voices during virtual panels. In more rare cases, it has also been used for facial recognition to expedite event registration processes.
Taking these into consideration, AI has definitely been helpful in advancing new and innovative event management strategies. As such, adopting them is something that companies and event organizers should do in the near future. However, it is best to note that these event tech are not only expensive but also complicated to use. So, it is recommended that companies spend time learning on how to make the most of them before investing.
Source: EventMB
Importance of Mobile Apps for Events
In this day and age, smartphones are every individual’s best friend. They’re used for school, work, entertainment, shopping, and navigation. Moreover, research shows that 6 in 10 people use their smartphones at events and social gatherings. While this may mean that you’ll have distracted attendees at your live event, this may prove to be in your favor if you have a mobile app dedicated to the event you organized.
Mobile apps can be used to provide attendees with a detailed itinerary of the event so that they can plan the activities they want to join. Some have also incorporated live polls and surveys in these apps to get real-time feedback from participants. Moreover, this can be used for any event-related notifications and announcements. These said, having a dedicated mobile app for events such as conferences, seminars, and trade shows can allow you to create a more unique and engaging experience for attendees. Many event organizers have already started using this strategy, with the number of apps used for events experiencing a 20% growth year-on-year since 2017.
Event management tools can be used to plan, organize, and manage a range of events. Therefore, it is an essential asset for small business organizations and event management companies. But how can they do knowledgeable comparisons to select the best event management software solution given the high number of good quality programs out there? To help them, we have prepared this buyers guide which details the list of features to look for and the important aspects to consider to find a suitable event management software app for their requirements.
You can start your search for the best event management software system by registering for the free trials or demo offered by leading event management software providers. This will enable you to check out each platform’s features at no cost and gauge whether it is a good fit for your needs. You will also get a better understanding of what is event management software in general. Visit the websites of the following popular platforms to find out if they offer a free trial: Bizzabo, Eventbrite, Cvent and Eventleaf. These products have been given high rankings in our event management software reviews that provide a good comparison of the key functionalities of these apps.
Event management tools cater to the following businesses:
Small businesses and medium-sized companies: These companies have a limited number of employees and look for niche apps in their industry. For conducting online events, you need a system that offers event reporting, event marketing, online registration management, and ticketing features. For holding onsite events you need features such as sessions managements, badge printing, barcode scanning, onsite visitor management, guest list management, and venue management.
Big enterprises: These companies often host onsite events that are linked with simultaneous online events. They should look for a solution that synchronizes online and offline event registration. The best deal would be to select a system with a modular suite so that you can select appropriate modules for your needs.
The following are common types of event management solutions:
Task and object relationships
The software can create relationships between various event activities. As a result, if you make a change to one object it will trigger notifications across a range of tasks and objects. For example, if you increase your capacity by 50 attendees, you will be alerted to the problems caused by this change in other objects such as parking and accommodations.
Online registration and payments
Leading event management apps can manage the backend for registration and online payment. Some solutions can even automate website creation or provide a control that you can embed into an existing website. The software can then access this data and include it in analyses.
Venue selection
The software can help with site selection. Many systems have inbuilt venue selection tools that can interface with online resources. You can provide the criteria based on which the software automatically filters out unsuitable sites. Plus, the app can also score venues keeping in mind their compatibility with your requirements.
Social media and email marketing
Event management software can also be used for marketing management. Social media and email play a vital role in commercial and corporate events. Event management tools include features such as email undeliverable rates, one-click opt out, automated population of contact data, marketing templates, and more.
Use of beacon technology for attendee management
Beacons are based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology and they can help to personalize the customer experience. For example, when an attendee walks into an event, you can provide them a customized welcome message and an app notification that gives a guide map of the event venue. Beacons can also be used keep attendees engaged and enable them to interact with other attendees, which can increase your registrations for future events.
Big data analytics
You need to go beyond merely gathering basic attendee registration info. Big data analytics allows you to track attendees’ online activities and learn about their shopping preferences and social media engagements. You can use this type of analytics to collect and scrutinize this data so that you can offer personalized content to customers and event attendees.
Not using social media
Don’t restrict yourself to merely printing a brochure about the event. Go online and make use of social media to market your event and gain more attendees. Using social media is a much more engaging and personalized way to communicate with your users and customers compared to snail mail.
No live streams
If you do not stream your event live, you will be missing out on a big marketing opportunity. The main advantage is users who do not have the time to attend your event as well other interested parties can view it live from anywhere. Plus, you can post the recording online so that anybody can view it anytime. Live streaming has become a big business and YouTube has recently started using it which increases the SEO opportunities.
Open-Source
This allows you to completely customize how your software will look and run. However, while usually available for free, solutions with this deployment option often requires users to have extensive technical know-how. That said, it may be ideal more for those with in-house developers or business owners who have a tech background.
Cloud-Hosted
With this deployment option, everything is stored online either on the vendor’s server or yours. Meaning, you can access the program as long as you have an internet connection. What’s more, the vendor usually takes care of all system updates and troubleshooting. The downside to this, however, is it can cost more in the long run with its recurring subscription fees and you might find your data more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
On-Premise
Software solutions offering this deployment type allows you to install the program within your office computers. This lets you work on your event planning offline as well as helps you keep your company assets secure. The only problem with this is that coordinating with clients and vendors will require you to rely on other platforms and you will be responsible for configuring the platform and updating it from time to time. Moreover, the one-time proprietary licenses for these types of solutions are often pricey.
Hybrid
This deployment option brings together the reliability of on-premise tools and the convenience of cloud-hosted platforms. By opting for this, you can work on your event management efforts offline and keep your company data secure. At the same time, you will still have the flexibility to be able to access your documents and monitor event management processes on the fly.
Event management systems, as you have read above, offer plenty of ways to make event planning as seamless as possible. However, they are not silver bullets that magically help you execute successful events. Remember, these platforms are only as good as those who wield them.
That said, aside from picking out a solution that meets your requirements and falls within your budget, you should also put in the effort needed to learn them. Take the time to understand the ins and outs of your chosen platform and find out how to configure it to your preferences. This way, you can use the platform to its full potential and make the most out of your investment.
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Infrastructure plays an important role in a SaaS software. If there is an outage, you would not be able to access the platform. So, you should pay good attention to the system’s infrastructure when considering SaaS providers.
Many firms fail to ask their shortlisted SaaS vendors questions about disaster recovery, service level agreements (SLAs), and security. These are crucial infrastructure factors that need careful consideration when evaluating a vendor.
SaaS is straightforward to subscribe to. All you need to do is go the website and buy a suitable package for the required number of users. For this reason, many firms pay attention only to the price of the system and not to infrastructure considerations. They may also think that careful evaluation is not necessary since it is so simple to get started quickly.
But you need to be prepared for situations as such as the SaaS provider going out of business or their website going down. You need to have contingency processes in place to tackle these situations to make sure they do not have a harmful impact on your firm. It is easy to subscribe to a SaaS solution, but think about the impact on your enterprise if the solution is withdrawn by the provider.
The best event management software is monday.com. While primarily a collaboration platform, this cloud-hosted solution is flexible enough to handle almost any type of project, including event planning. It comes equipped with different types of execution boards such as Gantt charts and Kanban as well as various communication tools such as @mentions and email notifications. With these, it is easier to delegate tasks and keep all your team members in the loop regarding your event management efforts.
Another great thing about this tool is that it can serve as a single source of truth for your team. You can use it to store all the documents, images, and other files pertinent to the event you’re planning. Furthermore, this lets you create deadlines for each task so that your team members know when to wrap up their tasks.
Using event management tools will allow you to streamline the way you work and ensure that no details fall through the cracks. To help you further understand how these platforms can help you out, here’s a list of benefits that this technology has to offer:
Not all event management systems are created equal. Some offer an extensive feature set while some only provide the basic tools. There are also solutions that come with industry-specific functionalities. However, among the most common features that these platforms share are the following:
While all event management tools are created for ease-of-use, some definitely stand out more than others. One good example of this is Eventbrite. This comprehensive event planning platform comes equipped with a straightforward interface that’s easy to navigate even for tech-averse users. It can be used to handle complex and simple events, making it great for businesses of all sizes. Moreover, it comes with powerful features that will help you manage your events from start to finish.
With this platform, you can create event listings quickly using a drag-and-drop functionality so there’s no need for extensive technical know-how. It also brings together event registration, ticket management, and marketing management in one hub so you don’t have to rely on multiple platforms to get your work done.
Last but not least, it comes with an event dashboard that not only helps you get a bird’s eye view of the event planning process but also gain actionable insights from real-time reports on your metrics. With this, you can make data-driven event planning decisions without spending too much time on data consolidation and analysis.
Here are some of the best free event management platforms that you might want to consider:
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