Selecting the right in-person event platform to manage your onsite events is critical to their success. Especially because 95% of marketers believe that in-person events help achieve business goals (American-based event technology company).
But with so many options on the market, how do you determine which in-person event software is the best fit for your needs?
You want an in-person event platform that streamlines the event planning process, provides a smooth and engaging experience for attendees, and gives you valuable insights to improve future events.
In this article, we explore 15 of the top in-person event platforms to consider for your events. With the right one, you can craft memorable experiences for your attendees and gain key insights to strengthen your event strategy.
Want to go straight to the list of the 15 best in-person event platforms to find the one that suits your needs? Let’s go!
What Is An In-Person Event Platform?
An in-person event platform is the software and tools used to plan, organize, and manage live events. It is also known as in-person event management software, onsite event management software, or onsite event technology solutions.
These platforms provide event professionals the capabilities to handle event registration, website creation, email marketing, scheduling, check-in, badging, in-person event engagement, and event follow-up, to name a few.
There are many in-person event platforms available, ranging from free open-source options to enterprise-level software. The needs of your organization and events will determine which platform is the best fit for you.
Why You Need An In-Person Event Platform
Did you know that 91% of event organizers consider an in-person event platform crucial to the success of their events? (American event technology company).
In-person events have certainly made a comeback in 2023 after nearly 3 years of virtual-only. But now event professionals have had a taste of how event technology can help them achieve their business goals more efficiently, they are not rushing to get rid of digital event tools yet. On the contrary, according to Knowland, “68.7% of event professionals agree that using technology to improve the attendee experience is a trend with staying power”. And it’s not a trend worth missing.
“Most of our customers, particularly in the life sciences and pharma industries, who were hosting hundreds of virtual events during the pandemic have now re-added in-person to their event mix. But they’re still using an event platform to help with things like event marketing, registration, onsite check-in and badging, engagement, and post-event follow-up. They say it’s mainly because of the value they get from being able to send targeted communications to HCPs fast and collect big amounts of data in their CRM – usually Veeva. Their in-person event platform enables them to build better relationships with HCPs at onsite events than ever before.”
With costs rising worldwide but high pressure on event marketers to bring a positive event ROI, measuring event success is more important than ever before. According to a German-based event efficiency platform, “26% of event marketers lack the time to measure the success of their events.” That’s where an in-person event platform comes in. With detailed reporting and analytics that are not possible without, you can quickly show leadership how successful your events are through concrete numbers.
And finally, studies show that using event technology can increase planners’ productivity by 27% and increase attendance by 20%. This seems to be a common conversation topic with the event professionals we speak to on a daily basis.
The event organizers I talk to are stressed. They have so much on their plates with all the events they have to run each year! They’re often doing tasks manually, which takes up a lot of their time – thus costing companies a lot of money in human resources – and energy they would rather spend on building the best experience for attendees. So, they’re looking for a solution to make their lives easier, allow them to focus on high-value tasks, and help them hit their targets. That’s why in-person event platforms are a must-have.”
In summary, you need an in-person event platform if you want to:
- Drive higher attendee satisfaction
- Communicate with participants effectively
- Collect valuable first-party attendee data
- Measure event success efficiently and in a concrete manner
- Increase event team productivity
- Increase attendance
- Stay current with event industry trends (to beat the competition)
Benefits Of An In-Person Event Platform
An in-person event platform provides numerous benefits for both attendees and organizers. As an organizer, using a dedicated platform for your event helps ensure a smooth experience from start to finish. For attendees, a quality platform creates an engaging event that keeps them coming back.
Here are some other benefits of an in-person event platform:
Streamlined Planning
As an organizer, an in-person event platform simplifies the planning process by providing templates for tasks like creating the agenda, speaker bios, and promotional materials. Built-in tools allow you to easily manage registration, create badges, and send email campaigns to promote your event.
Targeted Marketing
A good in-person event platform also provides tools for promoting your event and driving registration. Features like customizable registration forms, email marketing, and social sharing make it easy to spread the word about your event and get more people to sign up. The more registrations you have, the more successful your event will be.
Easy Onsite Event Management
During the event, a platform gives you oversight and control. You can check people in, distribute name badges, and message attendees. Some platforms even offer mobile event apps to provide schedules, maps, and updates right to attendees’ fingertips.
Networking Opportunities
High-quality in-person event platforms are designed to facilitate networking between attendees. Features like interactive maps, personalized schedules, and direct messaging in the mobile app make it easy for people with similar interests to connect. Some platforms also offer participant matchmaking capabilities that suggest potential new contacts based on mutual interests and complementary businesses.
Data Insights
The data and analytics provided by an in-person event platform are invaluable for optimizing your event and better serving attendees. During the event, the platform gives you real-time insights into attendance numbers, feedback, and more to make any necessary changes on the fly. You also gain visibility into elements like the sessions and activities that were most popular, feedback provided through surveys, and changes that could improve the experience for your next event. These insights allow you to craft an event that directly meets the needs and interests of your target audience.
To find out which metrics to measure at your events, check our our article Event Metrics: Measure Success with 19 Key Event Indicators.
Effective Follow-Up
After the event finishes, you can use your in-person event platform to follow up appropriately. Send post-event surveys to gather feedback, issue digital certificates of completion, and keep in touch with attendees to build your community. The connections and data from your event will help make the next one even better.
Memorable Experience
An engaging event platform creates an experience that leaves a lasting impression on attendees. When a platform is thoughtfully designed around the needs of attendees, it enhances their enjoyment and satisfaction. Things like an intuitive interface, useful tools like live polling and Q&A, relevant content, and opportunities for interaction all contribute to an event experience people will remember and talk about.
In summary, an in-person event platform is essential for organizing, promoting, hosting, and following up on in-person events. The right platform will save you time, minimize hassles, and help ensure your events are as impactful and memorable as possible for everyone involved. With so much at stake, you can’t afford not to have a dedicated solution for managing your events.
Key In-Person Event Platform Features
To help you achieve your goals, an in-person event platform should have a set of features that help you get the most out of its potential.
Here are the key features every in-person event platform should have:
- Registration
- Check-in, badging & attendance tracking
- Customizable mobile event app
- Participant matching & networking
- Personalized agendas
- Targeted push notifications
- Newsfeed & content sharing
- Polls, Q&A & word clouds
- Gamification
- Quizzes
- Activity feeds
- Reporting & analytics
- Integrations
- Lead capture
Some event technology companies, like SpotMe, offer professional onsite event services alongside their in-person event platform. If you want to create engaging in-person events your audiences love with no hassle, find out more about the battle-tested services we offer. We prioritize quality and excellence with event technology, so you can focus on the big picture.
How To Choose The Best In-Person Event Platform
According to Skift Meetings, two of the biggest challenges with event technology are engagement and integration. So, when choosing the best in-person event platform for you, we recommend ensuring it has ample engagement features and integrations that allow you to fully integrate it into your event tech stack and collect valuable engagement data to drive your next best actions.
Here are some other factors to consider when evaluating in-person event platforms:
Functionality
Consider the types of events you host and the functionality required. If you’re a life sciences or pharma company, you likely host a range of different events, from advisory boards to investigator meetings or satellite symposia. You want to find an in-person event platform that meets your different event needs. So find out what features the in-person event platform offers.
Customization
Can you customize the look and feel of the in-person event platform website and registration pages? Branding is important so platforms that allow easy-to-use customizations are ideal.
Integrations
Look for an in-person event platform that integrates with the other tools you use like email marketing tools and CRMs. Integrations reduce manual work, ensure smooth data flow between systems, and provide a seamless experience for both attendees and organizers.
Customer Support
What level of customer service and technical support does the in-person event platform offer? For enterprise events, 24/7 phone support and a dedicated account manager are highly valuable. Look for live phone support, quick response times, and expert representatives who understand event management.
Pricing
In-person event platforms are available at different price points based on the features and level of support. Consider your budget and how much you can invest in an in-person event platform.
User experience
The platform should be easy to use for both event organizers and attendees. An intuitive, streamlined interface will minimize frustration and ensure a good experience for all users.
Security
Data privacy and security are fundamental, especially if you work for a life sciences or pharmaceutical company. Make sure the in-person event platform meets all the security requirements and adheres to compliance standards.
Scalability
Choose a platform that can scale with your events. If you host a wide range of event types and sizes, look for an end-to-end platform that works for events of all scales. You don’t want to have to start looking for another platform in a short space of time if it doesn’t meet all your needs.
By evaluating platforms based on these key factors, you can determine which is the best solution for powering your in-person events. The right in-person event platform will provide the functionality and experience you need to create successful events.
How We Selected The 15 Best In-Person Event Platforms
Want to know how we put together our list of the 15 best in-person event platforms? Here are the criteria we based it on:
- Features: We looked for in-person event platforms that included the most sought features listed above.
- Capabilities: As well as features, in-person event platforms should offer other services in addition to the platform itself, such as event technology services and support.
- Customer reviews: We’ve explored the review sites G2 and Capterra to see what users say about these in-person event platforms.
- Independent research firm reports: We’ve read reports created by independent research firms about the best event technology.
- Event technologist opinions: We’ve spoken to numerous event technologists and listened to their views on different in-person event platforms.
Why You Can Trust Spotme With These Reviews
We have been in the event technology industry for over 20 years. During that time, we have helped our enterprise customers run thousands of events with our event software that welcomes 500,000+ attendees each month. We have worked with 200+ event production, event management, and medical communications agencies to help our customers deliver engaging events that have resulted in 10,000,000+ customer relationships. And thanks to our long list of integrations, we work with a variety of technology providers every day.
Find out more about SpotMe on our about us page.
The 15 Best In-Person Event Platforms
SpotMe
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
SpotMe is an in-person event platform that helps companies in high-touch industries like life sciences and pharmaceuticals to create engaging, personalized and compliant onsite events. Built for enterprise, SpotMe has all the in-person event platform features you need to ensure a smooth end-to-end experience for both organizers and attendees. From event registration, check-in and badging, and participant matching to a fully customizable mobile event app, engagement tools, and deep native integrations for in-depth reporting and analytics.
Thanks to SpotMe’s enterprise-grade security, enterprise deployment, 24/7 instant support, and white-glove professional event services, hosting flawless in-person events has never been easier.
SpotMe Key Features
- Event registration, check-in, badging & attendance tracking
- Customizable mobile event app
- Participant matching & networking
- Gamification, polls, Q&A, word clouds, quizzes
- Integrations, reporting & analytics
SpotMe Reviews
Cvent
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Cvent is an in-person event platform that streamlines the planning, execution, and analysis of in-person events. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools including venue sourcing, event registration, marketing, payment processing, onsite solutions, and performance analytics. It can be used for any side of in-person gathering, from small corporate meetings to large-scale conferences and trade shows.
Cvent Key Features
- Registration
- Marketing
- Check-in & badging
- Mobile event app
- Venue sourcing & design
Cvent Reviews
Webex Events
While Webex Events is predominantly known as a virtual meeting and web conferencing tool, it has recently started promoting itself as an in-person event platform too. With fully branded registration pages, an in-person mobile event app and other onsite solutions, Webex Events can power every stage of the event planning & execution process, no matter the event type.
Webex Events Key Features
- Payment processing
- Onsite ticketing & registration
- Exhibition management
- Floor plans / maps
- Networking
Webex Events Reviews
vFairs
vFairs is an in-person event platform for events of all sizes. With its mobile event app that has QR-based check-in, user management options, contact exchange, and networking features, your in-person events can run smoothly. Every vFairs event is supported by its customer service team, who is on hand to help every step of the way.
vFairs Key Features
- Event registration & ticketing
- Check-in gear & badging
- Mobile event app
- Onsite support
- Reporting
vFairs Reviews
Hubilo
Named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
Hubilo’s in-person event platform has all the technology and tools to help you host a lively onsite event. With a mobile app that allows you to streamline check-ins and engage participants throughout your event, Hubilo helps you create a positive experience. Hubilo’s in-person event platform also has a lead retrieval feature to give your sponsors more value at onsite events.
Hubilo Key Features
- Ticketing
- Engagement
- Mobile app
- Custom branding
- Analytics
Hubilo Reviews
Whova
Whova is an in-person event platform that provides a variety of tools, such as attendee check-in, name badge creation, and a mobile event app to enhance participant engagement. Its event app enables networking, agenda viewing, interactive polling, and real-time updates for attendees, creating a seamless and interactive experience. Whova’s in-person event platform simplifies the process of organizing and running in-person events.
Whova Key Features
- Mobile event app
- Content sharing
- Engagement
- Networking
- Sponsor & Exhibitor Info
Whova Reviews
Splash
Named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Splash’s in-person event platform guarantees a seamless end-to-end experience. It has timed sequences of branded emails to prevent attendee drop-off and with the Splash Host App, it’s easy for attendees to check-in and self register. It also offers a live check-in count and onsite badge printing to save you time and money.
Splash Key Features
- Templates
- Scheduled emails
- Splash Host App
- Onsite badge printing
- Data sync
Splash Reviews
Swapcard
Swapcard has an in-person event platform that makes it easy for event organizers to plan and execute onsite events. With a smart registration solution that uses AI, you can customize the attendee experience so they can get the most out of sessions and networking opportunities. Swapcard’s in-person event platform also qualifies and ranks leads for sponsors and exhibitors so they too can get the most out of your events.
Swapcard Key Features
- Registration
- AI solution
- Networking
- Lead capture
- Integrations
Swapcard Reviews
Bizzabo
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Bizzabo is a platform designed to manage, grow, and maximize in-person events. The in-person event platform supports every aspect of event planning, including ticketing and registration, email communication, event website creation, onsite check-in, and event analytics. Additionally, Bizzabo offers networking tools and a mobile app to enhance attendee experience, making it a powerful solution for in-person event management and attendee engagement.
Bizzabo Key Features
- Check-in & badging
- Real-time check-in data
- Plug-and-play app
- Networking
- Meeting scheduler
Bizzabo Reviews
EventX
EventX is an in-person conference platform that helps conference organizers run smooth onsite experiences for attendees. With pre-event tools such as registration and ticketing, an event app for fast check-in and effective lead capture, as well as post-event surveys and follow-up emails, you can manage the entire in-person conference journey on one platform.
EventX Key Features
- Registration
- Automated emails
- Check-in & badge printing
- Event app
- Lead capture & retrieval
EventX Reviews
BigMarker
BigMarker is a fully customizable in-person event platform that helps companies run digital-first, branded onsite events. With well-designed registration pages and a white-labeled mobile app, your brand will shine with BigMarker. Provide a smooth experience at conferences, summits, all-hands, trade shows, and job fairs.
BigMarker Key Features
- Registration
- Self-service check-in
- Badge printing & scanning
- Attendee companion app
- AI-powered networking
BigMarker Reviews
6Connex
Named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Although primarily a virtual and hybrid event platform, 6Connex also brands itself as a simpler in-person event platform. It has a range of tools to market, manage, and measure onsite events. Its Eventory app is separated into different sections depending on the user. This in-person event platform can help with everything from pre-event promotion to post-event analytics, but in a simple way.
6Connex Key Features
- Event planning workflow management
- Ticketing
- Registration
- Event app
- Live event environment
6Connex Reviews
Accelevents
Accelevents’ in-person event platform makes onsite event set-up and management easy. With a smooth registration process, robust lead capture tools and easy-to-use apps, it’s a powerful tool to host in-person events. Accelevents also has an integrated approach to simplify the process of planning, executing and analyzing in-person events. You can customize registration, stay productive, and keep audiences informed and engaged with this in-person event platform.
Accelevents Key Features
- Registration
- Check-in
- Mobile app
- Integrations
- Analytics
Accelevents Reviews
Swoogo
Swoogo is an in-person event platform with the fundamental tools you need, whether it’s your first time running an in-person event or you’ve run many in the past. Swoogo’s superpower is streamlining the organization of every type of event, from registration and session scheduling, to post-event data reports. Its in-person event platform helps event marketers build embedded registration, email automation, a sponsor portal, and speaker resources.
Swoogo Key Features
- Marketing automation
- DIY website
- Customized registration
- Check-in & badge scanning
- Exhibitor management
Swoogo Reviews
Swoogo integrates seamlessly with SpotMe. Find out how to create incredible in-person events that are managed by Swoogo and engaged by SpotMe. Learn more.
Rainfocus
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Rainfocus helps you grow and scale with its in-person event platform by helping to deliver onsite events of all types and sizes. With efficient and badging to make a great first impression with attendees and a unique way to streamline attendee gift distribution, your onsite participants will remember your event experience.
Rainfocus Key Features
- Check-in kiosks
- Onsite badging
- Attendee gift distribution
- Lead management
- Mobile app
Rainfocus Reviews
Rainfocus integrates effortlessly with SpotMe. Find out how to manage frictionless events with Rainfocus while driving best-in-class engagement with SpotMe. Learn more.
Why SpotMe Is The Best In-Person Event Platform
When it comes to organizing engaging in-person events, every interaction is important. 72% of event organizers agree that in-person events are a crucial part of their marketing strategy. SpotMe helps you stay one step ahead of the competition by providing you with an onsite event management software that drives high attendee satisfaction, collects valuable first-party attendee data, and increases team productivity.
Here are some reasons why SpotMe is the best in-person event platform:
Engage Participants Like Never Before
SpotMe delivers an end-to-end in-person event platform so you can create a personalized journey for attendees that will spark engagement. 10 of the top 20 life sciences and pharma companies, including GSK, Sanofi, and Takeda, use the SpotMe event app to create engaging digital-first in-person event experiences that are fully compliant and secure.
With its wide range of interactive in-person event platform features, event organizers can engage attendees before, during, and after events. This leads to stronger, longer-lasting customer relationships. Meanwhile, attendees enjoy relevant and engaging content that’s right at their fingertips at your onsite events.
Get First-Party Insights Fast With Deep CRM Integrations
Events are one of the few remaining sources of first-party data. And with onsite events being the most popular format, in-person event platforms are the only way to get these valuable insights. SpotMe collects hundreds of event metrics and feeds them automatically into your CRM system/MAP. This way, you don’t have to manually extract data.
With deep, vertical-specific CRM/MAP integrations, you can view all the rich engagement data collected when participants use SpotMe’s in-person event platform. You can view the entire participant journey – from the average time spent on the event app, and the average number of interactions per visit to the features they used most and the path they took through the event app. As a result, you can understand participant behavior and follow up with the most appropriate next best action.
SpotMe Is Always On Hand To Help With Your Onsite Events
Having an in-person event platform that is easy to set up and use for both you and your attendees is critical for organizations that run many different types of events every year. Leading life sciences and pharma companies such as Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Roche don’t just choose SpotMe for its intuitive in-person event platform. They also choose it for the exceptional onsite support services we offer alongside it.
With 100+ certified event professionals worldwide, 20+ years of event technology training, and excellent customer NPS scores, our support team is always on hand with their industry-specific event expertise to help you deliver great events.
Give SpotMe’s In-Person Event Platform A Try
SpotMe‘s fully branded and compliant in-person event platform is designed to create engaging events that audiences love. By equipping yourself with the digital tools you need to keep attendee engagement high and gain detailed insights into participant behavior, you can build lasting customer relationships at scale. And with our battle-tested professional services, delivering smooth onsite events with a flawless user experience has never been easier.
Join the 12,000+ event builders from high-touch industries who use SpotMe to run better events. Request a demo today.
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FAQ
What is an in-person event platform?
An in-person event platform, also known as onsite event management software or technology solutions, offers comprehensive tools for planning, organizing, and managing live events. This includes capabilities for event registration, website creation, email marketing, scheduling, check-in, badging, engagement, and follow-up. Available in various forms from free open-source to enterprise-level software, the choice of platform depends on the specific needs of an organization and its events.
Why do you need an in-person event platform?
An in-person event platform is essential because it significantly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of organizing and managing live events. Key reasons include:
- driving higher attendee satisfaction,
- enabling effective communication with participants, and
- collecting valuable attendee data.
It also allows for efficient and concrete measurement of event success, increases event team productivity, and boosts attendance. The use of such platforms helps event professionals stay current with industry trends, ensuring competitive advantage. This is particularly vital in today’s environment where event organizers face high pressure for positive ROI and efficiency, amidst rising costs and the need to blend digital tools with in-person experiences.
What are the best in-person event platforms?
- SpotMe
- Cvent
- Webex Events
- vFairs
- Hubilo
- Whova
- Splash
- Swapcard
- Bizzabo
- EventX
Disclaimer: To get the links to the statistics and insights shared in this article, feel free to reach out to us at marketing@spotme.com.
