NEXTLIVE enters into partnership with the Dutch event supplier LET'S GET DIGITAL
The digitalization of our society does not stop at the event industry. On the contrary: AI, Web3, and numerous innovative digital tools optimize business-related events, ensure brand experiences with noticeably more impact and ultimately increase the event ROI. One of these digital tools is offered by Let's Get Digital - a Dutch event supplier. Find out what's behind it in the NEXTLIVE #INTERVIEW with Benedict Schäfer.
Benedict Schäfer, Consultant at LET'S GET DIGITAL: "Sustainability is undoubtedly a key megatrend in the event industry, which we as an event supplier have firmly anchored as one of our core values."
A bunch of young, enthusiastic pioneers who all have one mission: To optimise live events and brand experiences while having a positive impact on people and the environment. Enthusiastic, reliable and transformative: these are the three most important core values at LET'S GET DIGITAL and that makes this event supplier the perfect partner for the realisation of virtual and hybrid events as well as for the implementation of live events and face-to-face events. And because we at NEXTLIVE were immediately impressed by LET'S GET DIGITAL, its team and its fantastic portfolio, we have entered into a partnership with this innovative event supplier.
LET'S GET DIGITAL is supporting the NEXTLIVE.FESTIVAL 2023 for event clients at the #RMCC, which we are organising in cooperation with Convention Wiesbaden. In the interview with Benedict Schäfer, consultant for the event market in the umbrella region, you can find out everything you need to know about the event supplier, especially how it can help you and your events.
Editorial team
Benedict, you are originally a Dutch company that has now also gained a foothold in the German event industry. How do these two markets differ when it comes to planning and realising business events and what do they have in common?
Benedict Schäfer
The markets in the Netherlands and Germany have both differences and similarities in the planning and realisation of business events. One difference, for example, lies in the cultural nuances and preferences. In the Netherlands, companies place more emphasis on interactive elements and having a good time - for example in the form of Get2Gether parties, while in Germany the emphasis is often on professional and efficient implementation - the aim here is to achieve the highest possible event ROI.
Nevertheless, there are similarities in terms of the increasing demand for digital event solutions. In both the Netherlands and Germany, event planners are increasingly looking for event options to reach their audience, create unique experiences and reduce the barrier of networking - all with easy and efficient implementation. Many event organisers also want to stand out from other events, be it through a professional check-in without a queue or new innovations such as an exhibitor rally. LET'S GET DIGITAL specialises in meeting the needs and requirements of both markets in the end-to-end development process.
Editorial team
The pandemic has pushed digital events like never before. In the wake of the coronavirus era, live events are back in demand more than ever. Does LET'S GET DIGITAL offer tools and services for live events as well as hybrid and digital event formats? What is the current demand for your services?
Benedict Schäfer
The pandemic has undoubtedly had a huge impact on the event industry and has driven up demand for digital event formats. LET'S GET DIGITAL was able to respond to this change in demand within a month by expanding our tools and services for hybrid and digital event formats. It was a very exciting time as we didn't have any virtual solutions before and live events were completely cancelled for almost two years. We are currently experiencing very dynamic demand, which varies depending on the type of event. Many companies are recognising the benefits of hybrid events, as they offer a broader reach and the opportunity to address both a live audience and virtual participants. At the same time, more and more live events are emerging that seek to redefine traditional events and use digital tools to take the event to the next level or reduce paper consumption.
Added value, networking, and matchmaking
Editorial team
AI, Metaverse, and Web3 are revolutionizing the world, and business events are no exception. Are you already using AI for your tools and, if so, how does this help the users of your tools for their events?
Benedict Schäfer
Yes, at LET'S GET DIGITAL we already use artificial intelligence in our tools to improve the event experience for our users. The integration of AI enables us to provide personalized recommendations for contacts, e.g. event attendees can fill in what they bring to the event or are looking for in the Connection Center of the mobile event app. The most relevant contacts are then automatically made based on the keywords. For example, a participant is looking for 'information on metaverse experiences'. If another participant offers this knowledge, they are automatically matched. AI support at this point helps organizers to give their attendees what they came for: real added value, valuable network contacts, and sustainable matchmaking.
We also use AI for our admin panel in the backend so that event organizers can simply ask questions to our AI event consultant. The consultant then responds like ChatGPT with the right answers based on our extensive knowledge base. This allows our customers to invest less time in setting up the tools and focus on the essentials: planning and implementing their event. Concerning the Metaverse and Web3, we are open to new technologies and developments and keep a close eye on these trends. We are ready to adapt our tools accordingly in order to integrate the latest innovations into our solutions. In this way, we ensure that our customers and partners can always offer their event participants the best possible event experiences.
Editorial team
One of the megatrends at NEXTLIVE.FESTIVAL is the topic of 'sustainability'. Event suppliers will have to become more sustainable in the future if they want to have a place in the marketing budgets of major brands and companies in the long term. How do you integrate sustainability into your company and what effect does this have on the customer events that integrate tools and solutions from LET'S GET DIGITAL into their events?
Benedict Schäfer
Sustainability is undoubtedly a key megatrend in the events industry, and we at LET'S GET DIGITAL have firmly established this as one of our core values. In our company, we pursue various approaches to integrate sustainability. This includes reducing our environmental footprint, promoting eco-friendly options and advising clients on how to create sustainable events. We rely on digital solutions that save physical resources such as paper and transport. Our mobile event app, for example, significantly reduces the need for printed documents. In addition, we offer our virtual event platforms, which enable companies to hold events without a physical presence, minimizing CO2 emissions from travel, which is automatically calculated in our tool. Of course, our servers are also powered by renewable energy and our badge printing is 100% FSC certified. We are meeting more and more brands and companies that want to organize their events in a CO2-neutral or even CO2-negative way. We are following this path - together on the way to Net Zero Carbon Events.
Editorial team
Another highlighted topic at the NEXTLIVE.FESTIVAL is the event ROI. Can event planners optimize their event ROI if they work with LET'S GET DIGITAL and if so, how do you make this measurable?
Benedict Schäfer
Yes, definitely! At LET'S GET DIGITAL, we recognise the importance of event ROI for event planners. At the end of the day, many events have a budget combined with multiple goals to get the most out of the events. The goals vary greatly: from financial goals, e.g. increasing sponsorship revenue or ticket sales, to brand reach and event impact. In the past, we have seen that many event clients have been able to offer their sponsors larger packages and sell larger packages beyond the app thanks to our sponsor functions such as the exhibitor rally, advertising placements and lead generation.
But it starts much earlier: the first impression of the event is actually created at check-in. Thanks to our fast live badge printing, event participants no longer have to wait and have a professional badge in their hands. Overall, all of our tools offer a better Unser experience for event attendees, who become fans of these events and are happy to return.
Editorial team
Thank you very much for the interview Benedict, we look forward to working with you at the NEXTLIVE.FESTIVAL on 21 November 2023 at RMCC Wiesbaden.
