The coronavirus pandemic caused the cancellation of countless events in 2020 across the MENA region. With very short notice, many large-scale events like trade shows and expos, careers and education fairs, and graduation ceremonies had to be postponed or canceled.
Quick-thinking organizations were able to move some events online; this was relatively simple for small-scale events by using popular video calling technology. However, businesses and institutions that already understood the benefits of virtual reality in events were also able to quickly and successfully replicate much larger events online.
Now, a post-pandemic world is on the horizon and the return of large in-person events is becoming more and more plausible. We look forward to the postponed Dubai EXPO 2020 later this year, for example. Yet events utilizing virtual reality have proved so successful that event organizers are seeing them as far more than a stop-gap solution for the pandemic and remain committed to holding events online.
Here’s why more and more organizations are moving their events wholly or partially to an online virtual events platform.
How a virtual event works
There is, of course, a range of options when it comes to virtual event platforms. However, by picking a reputable events platform, you can expect the following.
An interactive, multi-user system
A virtual events platform is designed to facilitate multiple users being able to interact in real-time, just as they would if they were attending in person. These platforms can connect thousands of users from all over the world, who can listen to presentations, attend seminars and Q&A sessions, visit stands, or mingle amongst colleagues.
A good platform can host up to 10,000 people, unlimited stands or booths, and countless presentations, videos, and other content. Plus, the event can be available through both web browsers and mobile app.
Immersive environments
Whether you wish to host a virtual trade fair, exhibition, conference, or ceremony, trust that the virtual environment can be as realistic and compelling as possible. You can recreate large exhibition and hall spaces, large auditoriums, and smaller, more intimate meeting rooms, trade stands, and booths. Stunning 3D elements can be added to make these spaces feel very lifelike.
Flexible, customizable events
When you host an event virtually, you don’t need to worry about configuring the space you’ve hired like you would in real life. The space is fully customizable so you can set it up exactly as you wish. In fact, everything about the event can be personalized, from registration pages to avatars.
Your event can also be fully interactive through the use of guest surveys and polls. Add an element of fun by gamifying your event through quizzes and competitions. E-commerce capabilities can be added as well as live-streaming and announcements.
Full networking capabilities
A good platform can offer voice calls, text chat and business card exchanges so that your guests can interact in much the same way as they would in person.
With face-scanning technology, your guests can create their own recognizable avatars too to aid more personal interaction with both existing and new acquaintances.
To be able to host a virtual-only event or a hybrid event
Complement an in-person event by holding a virtual element alongside, allowing you to invite more attendees and increase participation. Hybrid events are ideal for a world coming out of a pandemic and beyond, even once travel restrictions are fully lifted.
The benefits of virtual events in a post-pandemic world
While many people are keen to return to live, in-person events, there are many benefits to holding virtual events post-pandemic. In fact, virtual reality events can hit objectives that are out of reach for in-person events. Here’s why.
1. Reach more people
Even after current travel restrictions are lifted, there will still be a proportion of people who can’t or don’t want to travel. Think of all those people with other commitments to balance, those who can’t travel for medical reasons, and those who are concerned about the environmental impact of travel. With a virtual event, you can still reach all these people.
2. Use fewer resources
Virtual events use far fewer resources. Fewer employees are required, there is no venue hire to negotiate, there is less time needed to set up and takedown, and no travel is required. With these factors in mind, holding your event online may help you stay on budget.
Virtual events are straightforward to organize when you put your event in the hands of a good virtual events platform. More on this below.
3. Make your event more convenient for attendees
Without the need for travel and overnight accommodation, virtual events and conferences are nearly always more convenient for the attendees, for your own staff and anyone else involved.
In addition, virtual conferences can also move at a faster pace because of the ease of moving around the event. It may be possible to condense virtual events into shorter time periods and still get the same results.
4. Easy to get feedback and measure results
This is really crucial: When your event is held online, everything becomes more measurable. Use the right platform and it should be straightforward to extract insightful data on how your attendees interacted with the event. For instance, you could learn which areas were most popular, what inspired the most chat amongst attendees, and more.
The platform should be able to help you utilise data analytics so that you can measure the success of the event in detail as well as your return on investment, and then plan for future events.
What’s next?
The interest in virtual events certainly increased due to the pandemic. However, it is certain that their wide-ranging benefits mean that they will outlive any current restrictions on large in-person events. If you are interested in hosting an event either entirely virtually or as a hybrid occasion, then you will be pleased to hear that it’s simple to organize.
First, get in touch with virtual events platforms. They will be able to provide you with a demo and will want to learn exactly what your event is aiming to achieve. They will put together a response to your brief and once you are happy with the plans, you can give the go-ahead. After this, you can relax while the event is built and prepared for you.
AUTHOR BIO
Ahmed Tameemi is a serial tech entrepreneur, XR expert, and futurist, as well as the Managing Director at Outreal XR, an award-winning virtual, augmented, and mixed reality company. Pioneering in the creation of stunning extended reality (XR) experiences, Outreal XR delivers immersive digital realities that result in total emotional engagement. Their newest innovation, HoloFair, is a virtual events platform where users can connect with others in the 3D world.
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