Regardless of what types of events you plan or how skilled you are at event planning, keeping pace with technology trends is a must. Long-term partnerships with tech vendors help you build trust and mitigate investment volatility. However, trusting your tech partner blindly and never checking to see what the market has on offer may doom you to failure.
Changing and evolving toolkits for automated event management can cause major transformations in the way events are powered. While the technology of badge pre-printing was widely used during onsite registration just a few years ago, today it has been completely displaced by automated, on-demand printing. To understand how you can ensure positive attendance experiences at your events, you should stay abreast of the current trends and choose an event management toolkit that resonates with them.
If you don’t want to have to kill an important event simply because you failed to pick the right technology, this review of the top 10 best event management software in 2018 is for you.
1. GEVME
A fully integrated event management and event marketing software, GEVME is a handy instrument for powering all event processes from one place. By “all event processes”, we mean a full lifecycle of any event—whether it’s a large-scale trade fair or a business seminar. To create tailored experiences at your events, you can use a custom set of GEVME apps or the full toolkit, which covers website builder, email marketing, registration, onsite, survey, and mobile apps. Such flexibility makes GEVME a perfect choice for different user segments. Whether you only need to build a branded event website or need to plan a full event journey, you get the instruments you need.
It’s also worth mentioning that GEVME is one of the leading solutions in terms of onsite registrations management. Based on your particular requirements, the onsite team will build personalised hardware configurations and check-in set-ups and will support your event on the ground.
Usability
The variety of pre-made templates and forms, as well as great integration capabilities, ensure excellent usability. Check out this recent user review from G2 Crowd: “The product is very user friendly. We use a fixed template to make our event planning easier, but there is also the option of customizing our event registrations whenever required.”
Features
1. Event website development
2. Email marketing
3. Online event registration and ticketing
4. Self-registration capabilities
5. Onsite check-in management
6. RFID solutions
7. Automated badge printing
8. Event listing
9. Lead capturing
10. Survey solutions
11. Content-driven event apps
Pricing: From $3.50 per registration
Average rating: 4.5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted, Open API
2. Cvent
Cvent is a premium-priced event management solution with five functionality packages: venue selection, event planning, attendee engagement, performance tracking, and optimisation of processes. The platform currently has over 180,000 users, with the majority of clients coming from large corporate sectors. From venue sourcing to ROI estimation, Cvent can cover all your event needs.
Usability
Cvent has strong integration capabilities and can work with any platform you already use. In terms of a learning curve, it’s quite steep since functionality packages embrace a huge array of capabilities. Here’s what a user says about Cvent on Capterra: “It is difficult to navigate and not very intuitive. I frequently find myself searching for the field I need or calling support because I have an issue I can’t solve….” However, with personal success managers assigned to user accounts, you can expect all the ongoing issues to be solved quickly and efficiently with Cvent.
Features
1. Meetings management
2. Venue sourcing
3. Website development
4. Online and onsite registration solutions
5. Email marketing
6. Exhibitor and speaker management
7. Robust event reporting
8. Live polling and surveys
9. Group contact management
Pricing: From $6 per registration
Average rating: 4.5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted
3. Eventleaf
Eventleaf is an event management solution developed by Jolly Technologies. You can utilize Eventleaf as a web-based platform or as a desktop application. Set up the registration→sell tickets→capture leads — this is the basic flow that shapes Eventleaf’s functionality. The key perks include its capabilities for launching multi-language event websites, customizable registration forms, and great branding solutions. Keeping pace with the latest onsite registration trends, Eventleaf also offers such progressive tools as RFID and face recognition.
Usability
The Eventleaf toolkit is the perfect solution for those who are just getting acquainted with event management systems. Here’s a user review from Software Advice: “It was my first time using a product like Eventleaf Online. If you need to create an event and do not have any clue on how to do it, Eventleaf is just for you!”
Features
1. Website development
2. Badge management
3. Online ticketing
4. Self-registration capabilities
5. RFID solutions for onsite registration
6. Social media promotion
7. Customisable surveys
8. Sponsorship and volunteer management
Pricing: From $500 per year
Average rating: 5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted, on premises
4. Favro
For event planners that manage large teams or just want to introduce some automation into their organizations, Favro is the best fit. From simplified workflow management to the aggregation of massive data sets, Favro helps you manage multiple projects from one place.
Usability
Favro is quite flexible in terms of integrations and built-in support capabilities. According to one reviewer, “I’ve tried other similar solutions in the market, and nobody adapts so nicely to an agile/scrum development process.”
Features
1. Workflow management
2. Task assignment and tracking
3. Multiple view boards
4. Time reporting
5. Board and card templates
6. Built-in support for Scrum, Kanban, and more
Pricing: From $34 per month per 5 users
Average rating: 4.5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted, Open API
5. Weemss
Weemss is an event management software that specializes in awards management. A robust ticketing system and incredibly intuitive interface make it one of the top solutions for small-scale awards event organisers. The platform has integrated modules for submissions, judging, public voting, abstracts, and grants management, which can all be aligned with diverse scenarios and formats.
Features
1. Flexible ticketing
2. Seat reservation and floor planning
3. 10 payment methods available
4. Event website development
5. PIN-protected web pages
6. Onsite event registration
7. Abstracts management
8. Application submission
9. Public voting and judging
10. Contest analytics
Pricing: 2.5% per paid ticket (ticketing), 3.5% per paid entry (awards)
Average rating: 4.5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted
6. Aventri
Formerly known as etouches, Aventri is a good event management software for Enterprise, SMB, and agencies of various sizes. The toolkit embraces solutions for event website development, meeting management, integrations, venue sourcing, and more. Aventri could be a good choice for you if networking management is a focal point for your events. Its smart tag technology helps event planners track session attendance, facilitate contact building, and measure event value in real time.
Usability
Users love Aventri for its simplified ticket purchase set-up: “Aventri is very user-friendly and easy to explain to someone how to use the registration.”
1. Features
2. Registration management
3. Data visualization and reporting
4. Smart tag technology
5. Task management
6. Survey solutions
7. Venue sourcing
8. Real-time attendee tracking
9. Mobile event apps
Pricing: Available on request
Average rating: 4/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted
7. Ticket Tailor
Looking for a platform that helps you sell tickets directly to your target audience? Then look no further. Ticket Tailor is an online system that facilitates event registration without charging any fees for booking. The beauty of this solution is that event organisers can basically use it for events of any size, from multi-day conferences to corporate awards events. This means you can sell thousands of tickets without needing to share your income with any third parties. Ticket Tailor is your perfect choice if you’re an organiser of recurring events. The platform is actively used by companies like TEDx. However, the service doesn’t cover the full event lifecycle, which means you’ll need to complement your toolkit with extra solutions for website development, email marketing, and more.
Usability
Ticket Tailor has a 5/5 ease-of-use rating on Capterra. Users report Ticket Tailor is easy to integrate into an existing website.
Features
1. Website creation and management
2. Ticketing
3. Management of confirmations and reminders
4. Events calendar
5. Discounts management and customisation
6. Integrated online payments
7. Custom design of electronic tickets
8. Social media promotion
Pricing: From $25 per month
Average rating: 5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted
8. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is a cloud-based event management platform that integrates a range of features, including ticketing, meeting management, and robust solutions for website development. It’s also an internationally known event listing platform that has been used to promote over 50 million events annually. You can use Eventbrite for free when you organise an event with free admission, which makes the platform a good choice for non-profit and small-scale organisations.
Usability
According to Eventbrite clients, the platform is perfect in terms of setting up a ticketing process quickly and efficiently: “It was super simple in organizing my public event and getting people invited. This is especially true in a free event.”
Features
1. Attendee and badge printing management
2. Conferences, seminars, trade shows, and meetings
3. Guest list management
4. Registration management
5. Social promotion
6. Surveys and feedback
7. Ticketing
Pricing: From $4.50 per ticket
Average rating: 4.5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted, Open API
9. Wix
The development of a responsive event website is a starting point in any event lifecycle. Wix is a perfect addition to your event management toolkit if your goal is to create a functional website using pre-made templates and content blocks. Customisation capabilities are terrific, and you don’t need to have any design or coding skills to make it work. In addition to robust website creation features, Wix also offers a set of extra solutions for the collection of RSVPs and guest list management.
Usability
The idea behind Wix is to make an easy-to-use service both for businesses and self-employed event planners, graphic designers, or any other random user: “The ease of use that leads to getting a web page set-up in minutes, also the depth of customization that allows you to get your personal identity and everything resulting in a professional looking web page.”
Features
1. Website development and customisation
2. Ticketing
3. Integrated payments system
4. Group posting
5. Post management
6. RSVP collection
Pricing: From $4.50 per subscription
Average rating: 4.5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted, Open API
10. idloom-events
An easy-to-use online platform that you can integrate with over 750 third-party tools, idloom-events is a great find for event-planning beginners. The key functionality packages of idloom-events cover event website development and management of registrations. If you want to test your event management skills by organising a small-scale event, this would be a good choice. Basically, a user needs to take five simple steps to get started: create an account, set up an event, build and publish an event website, collect registrations, and manage a registration list.
Usability
The solution was rated #1 Most User-Friendly Event Management Software in 2018 by Capterra.
Features
1. Event website development
2. Attendee and badge management
3. Ticketing and onsite event registration software
4. Payments and invoicing
5. Hotel reservations
6. Email marketing
Pricing: From $115 per month
Average rating: 4.5/5
Deployment: Cloud-hosted
Choosing the best solution for your event needs
Since the event-planning market continues to grow, you won’t have any problem finding a range of effective event software solutions. What’s really challenging is understanding how specific features within a software can correlate with your expectations and needs. It’s not only that either. To maximize the impacts of your event, you should focus on solutions that have a good cost-quality balance, work well with your existing infrastructure, and keep pace with current tech trends.
That being said, the criteria you use to choose the best software should not be based on features but on the value that a particular solution can bring to your event.
Considering the role of technology in the modern M&E industry, we recommend paying particular attention to tech capabilities that will shape attendance experiences. Here is a set of trending tools you should look into:
- Attendance management and tracking in real time (event apps, live polling, push notifications, etc.)
- Advanced connectivity solutions (mesh networks, Wi-Fi on the fly)
- Tools to maximize engagement (VR/AR solutions, social media walls)
- Business networking tech (lead capturing apps)
- Robust check-in configurations (self-check-in kiosks, on-demand badge printing)
- Digital assets for improved attendance experiences (RFID, face recognition, wearables, event apps)
This top 10 list of event management software is our attempt to help you understand the capabilities you should utilize at your events in 2018. If there’s another super cool software that you think should be listed here, feel free to provide it in your comments!
1 comment
Thomas, great choise! Thanks for sharing! what would be your top pick from above mentioned?
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