The Event Tech Landscape: Growing but More Confusing Than Ever

The industry is full of innovative solutions. But with so many options and no clear structure for comparison, especially among claimed “All-In-One” solutions, both buyers and vendors face a major challenge:

? How do event professionals confidently choose the right technology?

? How do vendors clearly communicate where their solutions fit?

The Problem: A Fragmented Market

Unlike other industries with defined categories and benchmarks, event tech remains a gray area for many professionals.

?? Buyers face confusion. Event organizers struggle to evaluate platforms efficiently without a shared framework. Many rely on word-of-mouth, trial and error, or what they think is extensive research to understand what’s available.

?? Vendors struggle to position themselves. Solution providers often?self-classify?without standardized definitions?based on marketing goals rather than clear categories. This leads to misaligned expectations and longer sales cycles.

?? The Default RFP Method. Event organizers often send out broad, unclear RFPs to an arbitrary mix of vendors based on a simplistic understanding of terminology—resulting in wasted time, irrelevant proposals, and mismatched solutions.

The Consequences: Lost Time, Lost Opportunities

Because there’s no universal standard for event tech categories:

? Event professionals waste time trying to decode platforms.

? Sales cycles drag out as vendors attempt to explain where they fit.

? The industry lacks a clear way to measure innovation and progress.

A Conversation Worth Having

The event tech ecosystem needs clarity. A framework for classification wouldn’t just help buyers—it would also allow vendors to better align their offerings with real-world needs.

?? How do YOU approach event technology decisions today? What has helped—or hindered—your ability to find the right solutions?

Would you benefit from a standardized benchmark, a simplified procurement method, to better understand your options? Comment below!

"GoLucid, LLC is a research-centric consulting firm specializing in event technology. We aim to simplify the complexity surrounding tech choices in the event industry."