ABCey’s #TechTuesday: Make Event Planning Easier with Tech Tools!

#TechTuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. Today’s #TechTuesday features the 10 tech tools to make event planning easier!

1. Loopd

Make Event Planning Easier – Loopd

Loopd is a system that uses Bluetooth beacons placed around an event venue and chips guests wear around their neck to enable location-tracking for planners and guests. It keeps track of which exhibit booths and sessions attendees visit and also helps with networking! With one tap, guests are able to share contact information, so forget about shuffling around to pull out your phone! Additionally, guests can receive marketing materials and fliers from all the booths they visited via the Loopd app!

2. Hootsuite

Nowadays, every event planner turns to social media to promote their event, and we don’t blame them! It reaches large audiences and is extremely easy to use! The only downside is how many social media platforms are out there. With Hootsuite, you can manage all your social media platforms in one space, so you can close all your tabs!

3. Estimote

Make Event Planning Easier – Estimote

Ever wish the TV in front of you showed you exactly what you wanted to see? Estimote, with the help of Bluetooth beacons, can personalize content displayed on digital screens for guests! These beacons communicate with the smartphone in your pocket to show information based on your interests and buying habits. Now all your guests will have a custom experience and event planners won’t need to be concerned with irrelevant content!

 

4.  Eventbrite Organizer

Make Event Planning Easier – Eventbrite Organizer

Lines are a huge deterrent, especially check-in lines! Eventbrite Organizer helps cut the lines by allowing the user to scan tickets directly from their phone! Also, you are able to check real-time ticket sales and can even become a mobile box office!

 

5. SelfieSpott

Make Event Planning Easier – SelfieSpott

Instead of creating elaborate backdrops with only a small space for your event logo, event planners can design a graphic overlay with their event logo and some information on the back, if desired. SelfieSpott allows guests to receive their photos instantly and ready for social media by simply texting a number! Also, with their permission, planners can have access to the numbers for a follow-up!

 

6. Social Tables

Creating to-scale diagrams has never been easier, so put down those toothpicks and cut-out tables and pull out your computer! With the Social Tables software, you can adjust the placement of tables and also create a seating chart for your guests. You are able to customize every aspect of it to your liking, whether it be color, size, or label! It’ll make event planning easier by far!

 

7. Facial Recognition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3A9_XDirW4

Looking to amaze your guests and reduce check-in lines? Zenus has constructed a kiosk that will scan and display a guest’s badge upon their approach. If you prefer a less bulky option, their facial recognition software pairs with any device that possesses a camera, like an iPad! Check-in will be quick and your guests no longer have to waste precious time waiting to be checked in!

 

8. Slack

Make Event Planning Easier – Slack

If you find yourself switching between iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and other channels just to reach all your event staff, we recommend you try Slack! It’s a workplace messaging system that can help you keep all your communications in one channel. Also, you can create groups within the chat to help you keep organized!

 

9. Speecheo

Make Event Planning Easier – Speecheo

Ditch the pen and paper! Speecheo allows all your guests to take notes while simultaneously providing feedback to the speaker! Planners and speakers can see the most popular part of the presentation, and the audience can create bookmarks and record audio to later share on social media.

 

10. Dropbox

Make Event Planning Easier – Dropbox

Forget lugging around huge binders full of documents! Dropbox keeps all your necessary documents in one secure place. Access can also be shared among all your event staff to avoid losing printed copies and to be a little eco-friendly!

 

How will you make event planning easier?

 

We know that event planning can be extremely difficult and demanding. These tech tools are meant to help every planner be a little more organized and to make event planning easier! Are there any tech tools you use? Which ones did we miss? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!


3 Project Management Apps To Help You Stay Organized!

Our number one priority as event planners’ is organization! When it comes to organizing large groups of people over a couple of months, a project management app can be a lifesaver. Sometimes a to-do list just won’t cut it, and these apps are great for planners & conferences, businesses, or even personal use! Here are 3 project management tools that ABCey loves!

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1. Asana is a teamwork communication manager, which supports workspaces, projects, tasks, notes, comments and an inbox that updates information in real time! The app allows you and your team to plan and mange projects without having to use email.  The coolest part about Asana is that you can assign tasks to each member of the team, and get updates on the progress. This project manager uses workspaces to complete jobs without the stress of coordination. Cost: Starts at $50 for up to 15 team members, and prices increase as number of team members does.

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2. Basecamp is a project management tool that offers to- do lists, web based text documents, milestone managements, file-sharing, and time tracking and messaging. This is one of the most simplistic, easy to use project management softwares and is very good at keeping the user focused on the task at hand. We especially love all the project templates. Basecamp can handle any project that you throw at it with simplistic ease and make your project come together flawlessly! This app is well-known, and trusted by many! Cost: Free trial, and prices start at $20

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3. Trello is a lot like the Pinterest of web-based project management applications. The method they use for managing projects is known as “kanban” and was originally for supply chain management at Toyota. The projects are represented by boards and those boards contain lists and cards. These show progress by being dragged and dropped to mirror the flow from idea to implementation. Trello adjusts to your project, team and workflow to keep you organized.  CostThe basic service is free but upgrades and premium features are available for purchase

Each of these three project management softwares approach management in different ways, so check them out to see which one is the best fit for your team or your schedule. Let us know which one you use for your team, or any that we missed in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook!