The talk on the MICE streets leaves little doubt of the challenges between the hard-core MICE buyer decision-makers and a myriad of software developers in particular. We are bombarded with every conceivable type of software gizmo to make the life of the event manager and their teams less onerous with far more time saving techniques than imaginable to meet even hitherto unknown outcomes.
Other important areas within corporations are equally nagged because of budget reduction techniques to save on a range of line items that can rip expenditure to virtual ribbons.
On-line applications to provide planners with more choice and outstanding ideas which benefit a myriad of different types of events can only enhance and add-value to the various planning tasks.
Let’s not dwell on the mobile device applications during a conference, while a speaker who has spent hours preparing his presentation – if not days- is overshadowed by 75% of the audience not taking-in a word by doing surveys or adding various comments to win a prize.
Why is it therefore that take-up is generally slow with a number of explanations required over and again for the technology advantages to sink in?
This scenario is similar to company directors who, on retirement, have severance packages which could keep a small town of a few thousand comfortably housed and fed for at least 10 years. These overnight millionaires build or buy a conference facility and assume to know how to operate a successful booking schedule to gain a return on investment greater than the best annuity fund.
Events and the organising thereof is not a one size fits all. Even those MICE supplier companies with a non-core event management section have lost the plot by venturing into unchartered planning waters. There are extreme differences between the various planning regimes and types of events. Large parts of planning are also dictated by a bevy of human beings with so many levels of knowledge and experience that it defies description.
Software developers including the overnight wealthy and non-core wannabe event companies should listen carefully to the industry as to why potential customers are not beating a path to their door. Quite simply it is having one’s nose (or ear) to the ground as to the make-up of what makes the event industry tick before venturing into a virtual no-man’s land.
Much homework is needed to avoid seriously high school fees.
