Welcome to 2015. Another year filled with promise and potential. An opportunity to re-organize your life and get back on top of the game before the year takes over. Like many event planners, you’ve probably resolved to figure out this “technology” thing that everyone seems to be talking about so I’ve put together this guide to help you understand some of the big trends to be on the lookout for in 2015. I’d recommend taking a bit of time this month to research a few of these topics and see how you can implement some of them at your upcoming events. Forcing yourself to test out new technology trends is the most effective way to get the experience you need to make technology a driving force in your life and your events.

We will be featuring a new trend over the next few weeks to inspire you.

TREND PREDICTION #1: DATA
TREND PREDICTION #2: MOBILE PAYMENTS

SEAMLESS PLANNING

We’ve all been looking for a more integrated event technology company that will help us manage our registration, event website, planning process and attendee management. Several companies have tried to create this process, but since events are all so different, the products haven’t exactly met our needs. However, I think this will be a big year for this category. Companies have learned a lot about what planners are looking for and how we work so expect to find more robust management tools in 2015.

Our Techsy Tip: If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop, make sure you have a very good sense of your entire planning timeline. When you evaluate a new product, make sure it’s designed for the type of events you are planning. Yes, you can rig a special events management site to work for your corporate retreat, but when your entire planning is wrapped up in a single tool, you’re much better off finding something that was designed for you. Don’t try to fit a round peg in a square hole. Make sure you test the platform for every single part of your planning process before you transition to a new event management tool. You don’t want to end up with an event that’s 60% planned on a platform that can’t successfully execute the task.