I love, love, love all things events and technology. If you can’t tell by my tweets, Facebook posts and all my other social media interactions, I love to talk about events and the tools that help us do what we do better. In June, I partnered with an organization called Pogby to bring you PlannerTech – an event technology showcase. This weekly blog series is going to help continue to expose you to new tools you need to be aware of as an event planner. Also, in case you missed it, PlannerTech could be coming soon to your area!
Today, we’re talking about Crowd Compass
Your name: Matthew Donegan-Ryan
Company/Tool Name: CrowdCompass
Website: http://crowdcompass.com
Twitter: @crowdcompass
Facebook: http://facebook.com/crowdcompass
What is the “problem” that your tool seeks to solve?
Event planners and their partners print and dispose tremendous amounts of paper products. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency named the meeting and event sector as the second most wasteful industry in America. With smartphone and tablet adoption increasing each day, mobile apps are making printing stacks of schedules, maps, brochures, coursework and other content less necessary every day.
CrowdCompass mobile event apps save time, money and natural resources by allowing event organizers to disseminate high volumes of content straight to attendees’ mobile devices. Instead of carrying around thick books, brochures, business cards or other printed materials, attendees simply download the event’s free, custom-branded, native mobile app to their iPhone, Android, BlackBerry or iPad. All the event organizer needs to do is upload maps, schedules and other show information to our online content management system, and their content will automatically download to their attendee’s smartphones and tablets.
What is the best audience for this tool? Corporate events? Social? Other? Large? Small?
Any event that must deliver information to their attendees can benefit from a CrowdCompass mobile app. Even events without that need can still benefit from a CrowdCompass app’s advanced features, such as an integrated Twitter feed, annotated city map, direct messaging and contact information exchange.
What does your tool help event planners do better?
By using a CrowdCompass app rather than printed guides, planners gain a cost-effective, flexible and easy tool for delivering content to their attendees in real time. CrowdCompass apps silently update whenever event content changes, enabling planners to update their content even during the event. Exhibitors can take responsibility for adding their own content to the app, saving the planner time.
How is your tool different from/better than the competition?
Many of our competitors create web-based apps that fail to function in wireless dead zones or crowded rooms. Our apps run natively on iPhone, Android, iPad and BlackBerry devices, enabling CrowdCompass apps to function with or without wireless internet access.
What is the single coolest feature of your product?
Our apps integrate maps, schedules, exhibitor listings and QR codes to make navigating events quick and easy. By tapping on the “location” button on a schedule item or exhibitor profile, the app directs the attendee to the appropriate booth or meeting room on the map. Organizers can also place QR codes around the event, which when scanned show where the attendee is on the event map.
Anything else we need to know?
Many of our clients have actually earned more money than they paid for their app by offering app-based sponsorship opportunities. Sponsors can be given banner ads, enhanced exhibitor profiles, timed announcements, preferred placement and more to help them engage their audience at the event.
