Choosing an event software can become a cumbersome process if you do not have a clear strategy. There are so many choices out there and you would not want to end up with a mediocre solution that you’ll have to do away after one year. Here are four tips that you may follow if you’re looking for a conference management software.
- Conduct your research well.
The first step to do in narrowing down your choices is to conduct an extensive research. Look for software review websites and see how end-users feel about a solution. Do not forget to check if the reviews were left by legitimate sources as well. When it comes to software, an older company does not always mean “better”. Some software companies run out of budget after years of operation and can no longer update their solution. If you see newcomers during your research and if you are convinced that they can do a job as well as industry leaders, include them in your pursuit.
- See if customer support channels are available.
Another very important thing to consider when looking for an event software is the quality of customer service that you are getting. When looking at a company website, check if you can get phone, email and chat support. Some companies are dodgy in a sense that they are unreachable after you have signed the contract. Communication channels must always be available for any question or concern.
- Tailor the solution according to your needs.
It is also important that you know your needs first before you start looking for an event software. By doing a needs assessment, you would know exactly what features can be beneficial to your work as an event organiser. If you already have existing solutions, also check if the software provider accepts APIs and other integrations. This way, you can work on a singular office environment and not have to import or export data all the time.
- Consider your budget.
Last but not the least, it is important to consider your budget when looking for an event software. If you think that a cloud-based solution can truly aid you in event management, look for ways to convince your company to widen their budget for event technologies. These tools are considered as investments, in the long run, since they make event management easier to handle. The more efficient you are in organising events, the more following you get from attendees. You may also consider the purchase of mobile solutions in your budget such as the event management app.