Virtual & Hybrid Events Solutions
The rise in hybrid events
Over recent years, we’ve seen growth in virtual events such as webinars, online conferences and even online award ceremonies. Virtual events grew even more in 2020 when the global pandemic halted the ability for organisations to host in-person events.
While many of us still enjoy an in-person event, often a virtual event allows for higher attendance from those who perhaps can’t travel to an event location due to time, finances or travel restrictions. As with anything there are pros and cons to both formats of events, which is where hybrid events come in.
Put simply, hybrid events are events hosted both in-person and online, meaning registrants have the option of how they want to attend. The event is organised with both types of attendees in mind so a hybrid approach can remove many of the cons of in-person and virtual events, while taking advantage of both their pros, creating a well-rounded, satisfying attendee experience.
Why choose a hybrid event?
A hybrid event can increase attendee numbers, reduce the chance of event cancellation, reduce costs, and improve attendee experience. Some of the benefits include:
- Wider audience reach by opening your event to everyone regardless of location, travel or budgetary restraints.
- Flexibility to adjust plans if circumstances change, e.g. technology goes down or physical events are restricted due to Government guidelines.
- Reduction in travel costs and environmental impact due to fewer attendees travelling to your event, and fewer members of your event team needed on-site.
- Improved business productivity. Hosting internal meetings or training workshops as hybrid events means less employee travel and more time to focus on their day-to-day tasks.
- Greater sponsorship opportunities due to increased audience reach and sponsorship options such as live-streaming sessions or virtual drinks receptions.
- More metrics. With events platforms such as Cisco Webex Events, you can review data such as how participants engaged with your event and when they dropped out of sessions.
Talk to the experts
Hosting a large- or small-scale hybrid event and need some guidance on the right technology for you and your business?
We’re offering complimentary 1:1 consultancies with our experts for a limited time only.
Considerations for your event
Your hybrid event may be a conference targeting participants in the thousands, or an internal meeting for <10 people across the world. Here are a few of our considerations based on the size of your event…
Large scale events
If you’re planning a professional online event or corporate meeting for participants in the thousands, then you’ll benefit from a dedicated online events platform.
Leading platforms such as Cisco Webex Events and Microsoft Teams live events offer all the features you need to run a large-scale event – video, audio, screen sharing, Q&A, polling, chat and so on.
The most important thing to bear in mind is choosing a solution that’s established in the market, which offers reliability, scalability and expert support.
Small scale events or internal meetings
For events or meetings involving smaller numbers, you can get away with using a paid collaboration solution such as Cisco Webex Meetings, Webex Teams, Microsoft Teams or Zoom. All enable virtual attendees to participate in a physical event, using features such as video, audio, content sharing and chat.
You can make it even easier for physical and virtual attendees to interact by investing in your on–site equipment. For example, swap your standard whiteboard for a digital whiteboard (Webex Boards) so that virtual attendees can brainstorm alongside people in the room.
Why choose N4Engage?
We’ve been providing collaboration solutions for over a decade, drawing on our in-house expertise and strong relationships with industry-leading vendors.
Cisco Cloud & Managed Services Program (CMSP) Provider
As a close partner of Cisco and one of only a handful of organisations to hold Cisco Powered Hosted Collaboration Service (HCS) accreditation, you can be sure we know our Cisco products. We regularly undergo rigorous third-party audits of our operations, verifying that we have the expertise to provide reliable, secure and supported collaboration solutions.
Microsoft Certified Partner
A trusted Microsoft Partner, we hold certifications including Microsoft Azure Expert MSP, and Microsoft Tier Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Direct Partner. These enable us to deliver a true hybrid platform, with extensive capabilities across Azure public cloud, as well as services deployed in our own UK-based data centres. Services include Microsoft 365 or Office 365 licences, and our Direct Routing and Teams Call Recording solutions utilising Microsoft-certified technology.
Talk to the experts
Hosting a large- or small-scale hybrid event and need some guidance on the right technology for you and your business?
We’re offering complimentary 1:1 consultancies with our experts for a limited time only.