Newsletter 22nd August 2022
ICO Cuts IT Budget By Over?￡1.2m After the Pandemic
Despite the importance of technology during the pandemic, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has decided to decrease IT funding by more than ￡1.2 million between 2019 and 2022.
The data, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and analysed by the Parliament Street think tank, noticed the yearly IT spending each financial year since 2019/20 and the frequency of chatbot engagements for their new digital assistant.
The ICO has set aside money in its IT budget for virtual events, data protection, chatbots, and other areas. The budget for the most recent fiscal year, FY 2021/22, was ￡4,122,045, a 23% decrease from FY 2019/20, ￡5,379,990.
Despite the downsizing, the ICO created a chatbot digital assistant in September 2021. Since setting up the digital assistant, there have been 151,567 requests spanning 112,258 discussions about data protection costs and other expenses; September saw the most significant enquiries with 33,773.
Shoaib Aslam, the founder of EventsX, commented, "The pandemic was a huge' game changer' for many industries with people and businesses forced online and reliant on IT. As we transition out of the pandemic, organisations should be building upon their IT developments and budgets, not slashing them, as the technology holds the key to business success moving forwards."
Virtual and hybrid Events Are the Future
Virtual events will continue even when live events return due to their benefits.
The Advantages of "Dialling-In"
Despite the benefits of in-person events, virtual event providers have advanced. 65% of company decision-makers choose virtual or hybrid events. Here's why:
Dual Advantage
EventsX reported that 68% of business decision-makers want to attend a hybrid event soon. Face-to-face or online participation at hybrid events reduces geographical, financial, and time barriers. EventsX summarises presentations, speeches, and events, allowing participants to re-visit important moments or busy C-Level executives to stay informed.
The Future of Events
Virtual events have become more feasible; thus, the events industry needs hybrid in-person and virtual events. Streamlining event management, including sponsorship, increases participation and demand.
9 Virtual Event Tips
Let's go through the tips below to help make your next virtual function successful.
Project Management Software
?Events need project management software. You need a way to:
? Delegate tasks
? Set a task deadline
? Set task status
? Email/remind/notify those who need to know about task updates
Event Platforms
Choose a platform that helps you plan and promote events.
Set a Future Date
Virtual events must accommodate visitors from different time zones.
?When choosing a date, consider:
Sponsors and Partners
Sponsors and partners will help promote the event, so choose them early.
领英推荐
Speakers/Exhibitors
You may require speakers and/or exhibitors. EventsX has a virtual exhibition hall plus speaker stages.
Ticket-Selling Tools
Tickets commercialise?events. Using the correct ticket sales software simplifies event access.
Marketing Plan
Design a marketing strategy that promotes:
This campaign should use these channels:
Event Space
If your speakers and sponsors are set early, you may design the virtual event space at a later stage.
Platform Success Manager
?A success manager helps different backgrounds execute effective events and deliver their message.
Virtual Conferencing Benefits
More Attendees
Virtual conferences attract more people. Online attendees may save on expensive flights and hotels.
Environmentally Friendly
Virtual conferences cut carbon emissions and plastic waste since people attend from home.
Less complicated
Organising virtual conferences is easy; using an online conference software platform, you may plan the whole event from your chair.
Analytics Show What Works
Virtual conferences are great as everything can be monitored and analysed. A conference may deliver immediate statistics on popular sessions, interesting content, etc.
Engagement is Easier
Virtual conferences engage many people. Learning games or a scoreboard displaying how many events and chat groups a user attended may be gamified.
AI-Powered Networking
Artificial intelligence may pair visitors for mutual benefit. Guests may see whom they're matched with on their computer or phone. Technology may connect consumers to helpful expo displays, exhibitors and guests.
More Outbreak-Safe
During outbreaks, virtual conferencing protect immunocompromised participants. A hybrid event combines a virtual and a live event, allowing immunocompromised guests to watch from home.
Takeaway
Virtual conferencing's advantages will grow. They're inexpensive, diverse, readily analysed, and employ AI. Companies that desire in-person gatherings do hybrid conferences.