Comments on: Things I don’t get (preparing for PCMA 10) http://blog.crowdvine.com/2010/01/10/things-i-dont-get-preparing-for-pcma-10/ Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:46:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Stubbleblog » Blog Archive » 164 Things http://blog.crowdvine.com/2010/01/10/things-i-dont-get-preparing-for-pcma-10/comment-page-1/#comment-1786 Stubbleblog » Blog Archive » 164 Things Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:53:32 +0000 http://blog.crowdvine.com/?p=486#comment-1786 [...] writing 22. The Real Lessons from Twitter 23. Things I don’t get (about the event industry) 24. Desiging the ultimate contact form in Rails 25. Top 100 event twitter accounts 26. Some Notes [...] [...] writing 22. The Real Lessons from Twitter 23. Things I don’t get (about the event industry) 24. Desiging the ultimate contact form in Rails 25. Top 100 event twitter accounts 26. Some Notes [...]

]]> By: Dale http://blog.crowdvine.com/2010/01/10/things-i-dont-get-preparing-for-pcma-10/comment-page-1/#comment-1560 Dale Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:00:54 +0000 http://blog.crowdvine.com/?p=486#comment-1560 I find to often the people are writting to a select group-- themselves. If your no part of the association it become difficult to understand the layout of the show. Not that is anything different, but their just don't know how to present the data that is user friendly. I find to often the people are writting to a select group– themselves. If your no part of the association it become difficult to understand the layout of the show. Not that is anything different, but their just don’t know how to present the data that is user friendly.

]]> By: tony http://blog.crowdvine.com/2010/01/10/things-i-dont-get-preparing-for-pcma-10/comment-page-1/#comment-1480 tony Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:18:08 +0000 http://blog.crowdvine.com/?p=486#comment-1480 @Dave Thanks for that insight. I think that example, of layers of business rules, is something that's supported by the current sales-staff-heavy suppliers as well. When you charge by the hour the incentive is to say yes to every customization. I don't see many people searching for solutions that simplify these issues. I think that's one of the major untapped opportunities in the event software space--but it pretty much requires that you organize your company without a traditional sales staff. @Jeffrey Thanks for the encouragement. I asked all of these questions repeatedly at PCMA and came away thinking that a lot of them really do need to be challenged, and in several cases, saw places where we could be the company to do it. @Dave Thanks for that insight. I think that example, of layers of business rules, is something that’s supported by the current sales-staff-heavy suppliers as well. When you charge by the hour the incentive is to say yes to every customization. I don’t see many people searching for solutions that simplify these issues. I think that’s one of the major untapped opportunities in the event software space–but it pretty much requires that you organize your company without a traditional sales staff.

@Jeffrey Thanks for the encouragement. I asked all of these questions repeatedly at PCMA and came away thinking that a lot of them really do need to be challenged, and in several cases, saw places where we could be the company to do it.

]]> By: Jeffrey Cufaude http://blog.crowdvine.com/2010/01/10/things-i-dont-get-preparing-for-pcma-10/comment-page-1/#comment-1471 Jeffrey Cufaude Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:07:55 +0000 http://blog.crowdvine.com/?p=486#comment-1471 You're dead-on about the poor design of so many conference websites. I spent 20 minutes last week trying to find the full schedule of a conference only to find I buried several links down. You'd think they might want that easily accessible off the conference home page. Keep questioning some of the assumptions that have the industry in its current state. Many of them are not tied to any current realty, but are simply reflective of past precedent. Jeffrey Cufaude, @jcufaude, Idea Architects You’re dead-on about the poor design of so many conference websites.

I spent 20 minutes last week trying to find the full schedule of a conference only to find I buried several links down. You’d think they might want that easily accessible off the conference home page.

Keep questioning some of the assumptions that have the industry in its current state. Many of them are not tied to any current realty, but are simply reflective of past precedent.

Jeffrey Cufaude, @jcufaude, Idea Architects

]]> By: Dave Lutz http://blog.crowdvine.com/2010/01/10/things-i-dont-get-preparing-for-pcma-10/comment-page-1/#comment-1468 Dave Lutz Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:23:54 +0000 http://blog.crowdvine.com/?p=486#comment-1468 Tony, interesting post! I used to run the largest registration and lead retrieval company in the country and do consulting for one of the leading SaaS registration solution providers. No question that there are a lot of players in that space, but there are only a handful that play well in each segment. My guess is that you will see quite a few providers exit the business in 2010. The small guys can't compete with the medium to large companies. Many of the major shows/conferences have an incredible amount of business rules that need to be applied to their registration solution. Associations will often make one off deals with exhibitors or members that need to be handled through customization vs. configuration. Some want those rules to bridge between the housing and the registration process. Some want real close ties to their membership system. Larger shows need to outsource to handle the substantial requirements of onsite registration, credentialling and lead management. Slowly, but surely though, best practices are being adopted and configurability and commoditization is getting closer. I think you're going down the right road by having a solution with an attendee focus. 2010 is definitely the year of the attendee. If you can win the adoption game, you win the race (as long as you can monetize/maximize each opportunity). The reason everything is expensive is that our industry is notorious for passing the cost on to the exhibitors. The host organization often pays significantly reduced $'s to their Exhibit service contractor, A/V company, or registration vendor because they are receiving a high % of their revenue off the backs of those exhibitors. Your solution for PCMA definitely had one of the better adoptions that I've experienced to date. Congratulations! I'd love to see a case study with use analytics. Looking forward to meeting you at PCMA. Dave Lutz - @velchain Velvet Chainsaw Consulting Tony, interesting post! I used to run the largest registration and lead retrieval company in the country and do consulting for one of the leading SaaS registration solution providers. No question that there are a lot of players in that space, but there are only a handful that play well in each segment. My guess is that you will see quite a few providers exit the business in 2010. The small guys can’t compete with the medium to large companies.

Many of the major shows/conferences have an incredible amount of business rules that need to be applied to their registration solution. Associations will often make one off deals with exhibitors or members that need to be handled through customization vs. configuration. Some want those rules to bridge between the housing and the registration process. Some want real close ties to their membership system. Larger shows need to outsource to handle the substantial requirements of onsite registration, credentialling and lead management. Slowly, but surely though, best practices are being adopted and configurability and commoditization is getting closer.

I think you’re going down the right road by having a solution with an attendee focus. 2010 is definitely the year of the attendee. If you can win the adoption game, you win the race (as long as you can monetize/maximize each opportunity).

The reason everything is expensive is that our industry is notorious for passing the cost on to the exhibitors. The host organization often pays significantly reduced $’s to their Exhibit service contractor, A/V company, or registration vendor because they are receiving a high % of their revenue off the backs of those exhibitors.

Your solution for PCMA definitely had one of the better adoptions that I’ve experienced to date. Congratulations! I’d love to see a case study with use analytics.

Looking forward to meeting you at PCMA.

Dave Lutz – @velchain
Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

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