Which event application to choose? Top 5 best-of-breed solutions
Looking for a new event app to organize your next event?
In an environment such as that of the events industry, where mobility and flexibility are required, a mobile application for Android or iOS tablets or smartphones proves to be an invaluable aid. Rich in features, this type of tool can help you manage your organization, check-in your guests or develop your networking.
The aim? Saving time and efficiency for the organizer, and an enhanced experience for visitors.
But there are so many mobile event applications on the market. How do you choose?
With the help of our selection of the best event apps.
Why an event planning app?
Before getting to the heart of the matter, let's briefly review the advantages of event apps:
- they are practical and save precious time, for example, by streamlining guest control at the entrance to an event;
- they enable you to work on the move, on a smartphone or tablet, as all you need is an Internet connection. Indispensable for your operations on D-day, when you and your teams are no longer in your offices!
- they facilitate general communication about the event, and many of them encourage various forms of interaction (exchanges between participants, meetings, questions to speakers, etc.) ;
- they help to convey a modern image of your business events to all stakeholders (guests, VIPs, sponsors, speakers, staff, etc.). Set yourself apart from the competition!
Selection of mobile event applications
First of all, you need to identify your needs, because there are many event solutions on the market.
Ask yourself a few questions beforehand:
- What specific objectives does your event application need to meet? Do you need a simple tool to facilitate your operations, or do you want to make a lasting impression by offering participants an innovative experience?
- Which functions, and therefore which apps, are best suited to your target audience, the nature of your event and your budget?
With these thoughts in mind, let's take a look at our selection of apps to inspire you and help you find your next event mobile app.
Eventbrite: access a complete ticketing system
Eventbrite has become one of the benchmark applications in this field, targeting both consumers looking for events close to home, and the professionals who organize them.
Eventbrite
Download the organizer version (Eventbrite Organizer) from Google Play Store or the App Store, and take advantage of its many features:
- Create your event page in just a few clicks, customize it and add all the information you need.
- Benefit from a particularly advanced ticketing system, as you can choose between several types of ticket:
- paid tickets, with prices adapted to the location (for concerts, for example) thanks to the customized seating plan option,
- donation tickets,
- free tickets.
- Communicate about your event (social networks, emailing, etc.) with promotional tools.
- Benefit from an analysis tool, with a real-time view, to obtain statistics (number of bookings and sales, for example).
The Eventbrite advantage: different rates and packages are available to suit your needs. But if you're organizing a non-paying event, this event-planning application is free, so there's no charge for this type of ticket.
Eventbrite
Haloha: animate and follow your community
Haloha is the application, available on App Store and Google Play, that enables companies to create communities and unite them around their events.
Haloha
How does Haloha work?
- Centralize the members of a community (customers, collaborators, partners, etc.) in a single space.
- Then create your events, which community members can easily register for via the application.
- Send personalized information and communications, or set up alerts in their calendars.
- Engage your community around your events: create discussions and polls relating to your themes... and not just during plenary sessions! The idea is to maintain the link, even beyond your events.
The Haloha advantage: this application lets you follow your community members as they attend your events, and get feedback on their level of satisfaction with them. This makes it easier to implement improvement strategies.
Haloha
Prezevent: manage your invitations and create interaction
Both a software application available in Saas mode and an application for mobiles and tablets, Prezevent is a complete event management tool.
Prezevent
Among the possibilities and advantages offered by Prezevent are :
- You can send personalized paper badges directly to your participants. Note that you can also print them on site according to actual need, which adds ecological value to your actions.
- Quicker and easier guest check-in by scanning the QR codes on the badges. This facilitates the work of your hosts and hostesses, and enhances the guest experience (no more long queues).
- Features that encourage interaction during plenary sessions. Involve your audience as much as possible, and let them interact live with the speakers (via Tweet Wall or SMS for those unfamiliar with the famous social network). What's more, it's easy to moderate all these messages, so you can distribute relevant feedback as quickly as possible.
The Prezevent advantage: take advantage of this all-in-one solution. Before the event, increase efficiency by managing registration and badge dispatch. During the event, increase guest satisfaction with smooth check-in and interaction.
Prezevent
WeezAccess: simplify admission control
Weezevent, which offers the WeezAccess mobile application, is an online ticketing and access control solution. WeezAccess has already proved its worth at high-profile events such as the Festival des Vieilles Charrues, Hellfest and TedX conferences.
© Weezevent
While Weezevent offers many services, such as a ticketing and reservation system, cashless payment and marketing, it's its mobile application that interests us today. Called WeezAccess and available on iOS and Android mobiles, it enables :
- Easy, fluid check-in of tickets at event entrances, by scanning the QR Code with your mobile device's camera.
- Download attendee lists for your own checks.
- Real-time access to detailed attendance reports and scan history. So you know how many participants are still expected, and manage your staff accordingly.
WeezAccess bonus: for those who don't use Weezevent software, the application also works with tickets distributed by other retailers such as Fnac, Ticketmaster or Digitick.
Who is George ? encourage networking through geolocation
The promise of the Who is George? event app? Improve networking, i.e. social interaction between participants during an event, and thereby increase their engagement.
Who is George?
But how does Who is George actually work?
- Create lists of participants (partners, speakers, visitors, etc.) according to your own criteria. Thanks to a system of tags, list members can then identify the people with whom they wish to exchange views. These exchanges can take place before, during or after the event, via a private chat.
- During the event, thanks to Smart Ruby connected badges (which you distribute, for example, at the event check-in), participants can geolocate and meet the profiles that interest them.
- On your side, you benefit from increased communication and visibility with the event menu: offer various services such as the event program, photo galleries, questionnaires and more.
- Thanks to the many profiles available on George, you'll obtain valuable data and statistics on your events and the engagement of your participants.
The best thing about Who is George? is an event networking application with an ergonomic, elegant interface that enhances the user experience and leaves a lasting impression.
Who is Georges?
Equip yourself with the best event solutions
After this overview of the most essential event apps on the market, we hope you've found the one that's right for your business and your ambitions.
To take things a step further, we also recommend that you take a look at our full range of event software, some of which can be used in conjunction with a mobile app.
Do you already use an app for your events? Don't hesitate to give us your feedback in the comments ;-)
Article translated from French