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 2011, I partnered with an organization called imbookin 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 Babker
Your name: Cruce Saunders
Company/Tool Name: Babker, the Simple and Reliable Can-Do Staffing Too
lWebsite: www.babker.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BabkerOwl or www.twitter.com/LuciOwl (Live Help/Tip Owl Support)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BabkerOwl
Google+: http://tinyurl.com/babkerGoog
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/
What is the “problem” that your tool seeks to solve?
We’re all about saving time. For far too long event planners, caterers, and managers have been bogged down communicating with their contacts or employees when they’re trying to staff an event that they just booked. Every event planner knows that it can be a nightmare, texting and emailing 20 servers, when you need 4, for an event that’s in three days…when you’re still trying to coordinate food, linens, and supplies. Then they start calling back and they keep calling, long after you’ve staffed your event. Babker changes everything.
With Babker you simply create an event invitation once, with all the details, Who you need, When you need them, Where they need to be, and How many positions you have…and our Smart Owl Technology does the rest. Babker seamlessly texts and emails everyone in the group that you picked, say for example “Servers w/Weekend Availability”, and invites them to work your event. They each get all the details and have a chance to accept or decline. Even better, once you’ve filled your positions for the event, Babker automatically notifies anyone else who responds that this event is staffed and thanks them for their time…you’ll never waste another minute on staff after you’ve already filled the event
Babker also features VIP Mode, where you can plan out who is notified first. Do you have a star bartender that you really want for this event, or every event? All you have to do is let Babker know and our Smart Owl Technology will prioritize the event invitation to your best contacts and give them user defined periods of time to respond, exclusively, giving you the highest chance of booking your best.
What is the best audience for this tool? Corporate events? Social? Other? Large? Small?
Babker was designed with the catering and event planning professional in mind. We’re priced to fit any business size with plans starting at just $7.00 a month. We can handle staffing events with hundreds of staff or events where you only need one. Our system is as dynamic as your schedule is, ready to adapt, and reliable. Babker is especially useful on short notice events or when employees call off. We can respond and start helping you staff in 30 Seconds or Less.
What does your tool help event planners do better?
Staff of course! We eliminate the archaic manual emailing and texting, response tracking and paper lists of yesterday and replace it with simple and reliable Smart Owl Technology. Our system saves you time and eliminates double booking and forgetting key contacts, all while still maintaining control over your event.
How is your tool different from/better than the competition?
There is nothing quite like Babker on the market today. There are some calendar programs that try to be dynamic, but they fail when compared to the simple and reliable dynamic staffing solution that Babker offers. We’re not replacing event planners and we’re not the next “Day Planner”. We’re simply the most effective, time saving, simple way of staffing your events. Our price is affordable, our service is reliable, and our team is dedicated to your satisfaction. We’re based in Austin, TX and provide the hospitality service you expect and deserve.
What is the single coolest feature of your product?
VIP Mode, hands down. Our Smart Owls know who to send your event to first, what to do if they respond, who to invite next if they decline, and when to open up the event to more people if the top candidates don’t reply soon enough. How cool it that? I know some real life personal assistants who couldn’t staff events the way Babker and VIP Mode do.
Anything else we need to know?
Our team is excited to help you save time. It’s our reason for creating the Smart Owl Tech, it’s our reason for creating Babker, and it’s why we’re going to make sure that you have a great experience. We’re excited to close our extensive 18-month BETA and launch to market with our Professional Edition this August. And we’re especially grateful to Liz and all the help and advice she’s given us along the way. As a special Thank You, if you’re a Liz King follower and you follow us on Twitter, @BabkerOwl, then we’re offering a 30% discount off of our already low pricing. Just type in “LIZKING” when you’re signing up in the coupon code box and you’ll start saving money when you’re saving time.
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