For many in the tech world it was the cancellation of the vast Barcelona expo MWC at the start of the year, which gave the first inkling of the disruption coronavirus would ultimately wreak on the world of business. And while some day-to-day work activity is returning to traditional locations, it’s fair to say that large-scale events will be the last thing to come back — if they ever do. So PGi’s pivot to virtual event delivery makes total sense, particularly in light of their online event portfolio, including Globalmeet Webcast, seeing a 350% increase in demand and 500% increase in attendance during the pandemic.
Everything event is online
Now that every event is an online event for the foreseeable future, many organisers have discovered that it’s not simply a case of firing up any old meeting space and hoping it goes OK. As Andrew Denlow, SVP Sales North America – Virtual Events / Webcast at PGi, explained, “there are probably 10 times as many entrants in the virtual event space than there were 12 months ago. But as our clients are learning, it’s hard to take a big physical event and simply switch it to virtual, if you have no experience in dealing with virtual events”.
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Andrew Denlow[/caption]
PGi’s 20 year track record in large-scale audio and video-based webcasting not only ensures quality in terms of the feed itself, but makes sure the message gets through, clearly and professionally — with operator-assisted support as required. This is as vital for internal events and messaging in these uncertain times.
Denlow said, “We’ve always done Town Hall type events for clients, pre-covid — usually a hybrid event in the HQ, and we take that video feed and get it out to all the offices around the country, around the world. Since March, CEOs have had even more need to communicate effectively with their employees, but they don’t necessarily have the ability to do professional video with a teleprompter and three camera crew from their home offices. So we have to make it smooth and easy for them, and bring PGi’s decades of experience to the table to give clients peace of mind, that the events they put on during this vital time to communicate are going to be really effective, even when “broadcasting” from their home offices.”
The future is hybrid
With the many advantages that online events bring, from cost and environmental factors to the on-demand asynchronous engagement they facilitate, Denlow is certain that all events are likely to maintain some kind of digital channel to them — even when circumstances allow otherwise.
