Trade fair stand software - The trade fair presence from the cloud

Exhibition stand at the “Exhibition as a Service” rate

We have all heard the term SaaS (Software as a Service) before and we have certainly used the “as a Service” concept both professionally and privately. In recent years, many industries have followed in the footsteps of software providers such as Microsoft, SAP, Adobe and others. Services are offered for rent. Means of transportation such as vans, cars or scooters are rented for the next trip; communication infrastructure, IT security - all of this can now be used as a service model.
In this blog article, we give you an insight into the “Exhibition as a Service” model and how you can benefit from online-only trade fair planning.

• Table of contents

  • What is the “as a Service” concept?
    
    • Examples of “Software as a Service”
  • What does “Exhibition as a Service” include?
  • Advantages of “as a service” models
  • Summary

What is the “as a service” concept?

With the “as a service” concept, certain services are made available to companies or private individuals in a rental relationship with, for example, a license sold. The users are therefore not owners, but merely users on the basis of a specific billing model. In addition to the terms SaaS, PaaS and IaaS, there is also the collective term “XaaS” for all solutions that are provided for rent.

Examples of “Software as a Service”

• Microsoft: Offers its product range in the cloud under the name Office 365. Office 365 offers the familiar Office applications, supplemented by AI-supported functions, chat-based collaboration, voice and video conferencing and the integration of files in Microsoft Teams.
• SAP: Offers a range of cloud applications and services to help companies transform in various industries.
• Adobe: Targets teams in marketing, analytics, advertising and e-commerce with its applications integrated into a cloud platform, including service, support and an open ecosystem.

What does “Exhibition as a Service” involve?

Exhibition as a Service is the holistic digitalization of your live marketing. Trade fair planning created online in a software with just a few clicks. This model includes all the services you need to plan, execute and analyze your trade fair appearance. A comprehensive Exhibition as a Service solution therefore offers you the following services for efficient event management from a single source at the touch of a button:

1. exhibition stand planning

In a web-based 3D exhibition stand configurator, you can put together your exhibition stand to suit the stand space booked and your requirements and book the corresponding exhibition stand systems online. You can access your own exhibition stand furniture and accessories as well as exhibition systems and rental furniture.

2. advertising material service and warehouse management

Advertising materials and exhibition systems can be stored with the provider so that the stock of your own exhibition accessories and advertising materials can be taken from the system in real time when planning new exhibition stands. This means that you do not need additional space for warehouse management, but can outsource it. This gives you an insight into which and how many trade fair materials you have and, if necessary, you can order new advertising materials or dispose of outdated graphics.

3. Print and graphics service

Another component of the “Exhibition as a Service” for your trade fair appearance is the ordering of new graphics via the cloud. These can be ordered online by uploading the print files to the cloud. These can be delivered to the venue or stored with the other exhibition materials.

4. Trade fair catering

Exhibition catering can also be booked for the stand in the cloud. From the coffee machine to cold drinks and snacks, individual items can be easily added to the shopping cart online to round off your trade fair appearance.

5. Logistics and assembly service

The transportation of the exhibition stand systems as well as the assembly and dismantling of the exhibition stand at the event location can also be booked. Before the exhibition systems and accessories are put back into storage after use at the trade fair, they should be checked for damage and graphics should be cleaned for possible soiling. Why not visit your stand builder's warehouse and let them show you these processes?

6. Success analysis

To ensure that the success of the trade fair appearance can also be measured and analyzed, event metrics sensors can be placed on the trade fair stand, which use WLAN technology to transmit the visitor numbers around the trade fair appearance to the cloud. These performance indicators can be used to evaluate the trade fair presence and optimize it for future trade fair appearances.

7. Expansion to include virtual trade fairs

The coronavirus pandemic has shown that live events have their place. However, trade fairs, congresses, etc. can also be used virtually as a complementary measure and are promising. Hybrid events - the combination of physical and virtual events - are understood as a masterclass. The stand construction company responsible for you should therefore also be able to construct virtual exhibition stands or events for you so that they can be used on your website.

Advantages of “as a service” models

“As a service” models ensure a high degree of flexibility and companies can create room for innovation without incurring high innovation costs. The following advantages of an “as a service” concept can be summarized:

• Outsourcing of essential IT systems ensures lower risk for companies and responsibility is shifted to the provider.
• Reduced costs due to usage-based billing, elimination of investment costs and regular maintenance work by the provider.
• Easy access to new technologies and applications, including regular further development of new features.
• Greater flexibility: applications are often web-based and therefore accessible at any time and from anywhere.
• Fast market launch of new services and rapid response to constantly changing market requirements.

Summary

• Exhibition as a Service can digitize and simplify a company's event management.
• Companies only pay for the functions they actually use.
• The costs for the further development of event resource management are borne by the provider. Companies benefit from new technologies and can react quickly to new market requirements.

Would you like to digitize your event management and benefit from “Exhibition as a Service”? Enquire about the services of our ExpoCloud software without obligation.