I wrote this post for the Map Your Show blog this week.

With a vaccine out in the wild, it’s just a matter of time before we see more in-person events. The hope is real, and we’re excited that interest in our onsite mobile app is returning. I’d like to share a few things that I think will become the new normal in the event mobile apps this year.

COVID-19 Plans

When large events return, it’s a certainty there will be requirements and restrictions on the federal, state, county, municipal, building, and/or event level. We know how important it is to have a smooth registration and entry process. Mobile apps can help. Having clear guidelines for exhibitors and attendees about masks, vaccinations, exposure will be extremely important. Daily symptom/exposure in-app surveys could allow an express lane for entry. Whatever the process is for your show, don’t forget about your app!

Contactless

I miss handshakes as much as anyone. But there is more and more discussion going on about contactless functionality to keep us safe. Adoption of QR codes will increase. Attendees could collect and favorite products by scanning codes. Exhibitors might offer virtual business cards this way. Self-service, contactless check in processes, tracking education credits, even basic contact tracing are all possibilities here. And mobile offers a clear solution.

Location

If you’ve cancelled or postponed an event in the past year, you’ve at least considered going virtual. Some amazing solutions have been deployed to help people demo, host meetings, and communicate new ideas from afar. But what happens when shows return? How do you juggle virtual and in-person? In-person attendees have much different needs. People in the building need to know where an exhibitor’s booth is. Virtual attendees need product videos and chat instead. Because of this new segmentation, you might offer your in-person attendees special content, information, and functionality, all enabled by detecting location in the mobile app.

Engagement

Our mobile app has always been focused on the on-site experience. When events do return, attendees will have high expectations to justify the new risks and difficulties. More than ever, people who are at your show deserve an amazing discovery process. Creating engaging features and content will be critical to success. We’ll see more individualizations in notifications and recommendations. We’ll see event apps take pages out of success stories like Clubhouse and TikTok. There is plenty to explore here, and I’m really excited to dig in.

I hope you enjoyed my post, if you ever want to discuss or brainstorm your mobile app needs, please reach out!