Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just automating simple tasks, but also complex decision-making and creative work. If that sounds like your job as an events manager, then read on to find out how to make sure you don’t miss out!

There are three main ways that AI is deployed in the events industry today. These are:
> Improving attendee experience
> Driving efficiency in planning and logistics
> Enhancing ROI for organisers and exhibitors
Let’s take a quick look at each of these individually…

Better experiences

Every event planner wants their guest’s experience to be as fun, valuable and hassle-free as possible. There are lots of ways that AI can be helpful with this.
This might be concierge chatbots and AR applications that help visitors navigate events more fruitfully, to personalized marketing extravaganzas. It can be used to predict the way footfall traffic moves around venues, in order to relieve congestion and keep everyone safe. And many event apps now integrate AI technology to predict what elements of an event will be of interest to an individual visitor and create a bespoke agenda just for them.
AI can also be used to dynamically control atmospheric elements like lighting, heating and air conditioning to ensure guests are as comfortable as possible.

More efficient events

For large events, AI can be used to dynamically plan layouts of facilities and staffing requirements. This means people and resources like refreshments vendors, cleaners and security staff are more likely to be in the right place at the right time.
Metrics around the event such as visitor numbers, preferences or behaviours can be more accurately modelled, for more efficient planning. For example, caterers can use it to predict what people are likely to eat, reducing the amount of food that goes to waste. And event venues use AI-powered environmental control systems that run more efficiently, resulting in less energy usage.
This means that events are not just more efficient, but also more sustainable!

Greater ROI

Right from the start, AI can be used to help organisers work out the best locations and time of year to host their events, in order to attract the biggest visitor numbers. Marketing costs can be reduced by using AI-enabled tools to target ads at those most likely to be interested in your event. It can also be used by exhibitors to capture data on attendees visiting their stand. And it can be used to predict the content and technology that’s likely to persuade visitors to engage.
At B2B events, AI experiences can be used as an attraction to draw visitors to your booth for interactive demonstrations, seminars, workshops and expert sessions.
All of this means that AI tools can ultimately be used to better understand visitors, react to their needs, which will hopefully result in higher quality leads and better returns.

How to get started with AI at your events

The truth is, we’re still at a very early stage when it comes to the transformative effect that AI is going to have on events and marketing in general. However many solutions are reaching maturity, and many of the tools we’ve talked about on this page are available today.
At Purple Roads we have an in-depth understanding of the range of tools and platforms that make up the AI events space. If you are an organiser or an exhibitor, Talk to us today about how we could bring a slice of the future to your next event or exhibition.