etouches Completes Integration of Loopd with its End-to-End Event Management and Sourcing Platform

etouches Completes Integration of Loopd with its End-to-End Event Management and Sourcing Platform
Award-winning Data-Driven Technology Enhances Real-Time Attendee Engagement and Event ROI

NORWALK, Conn., May 2017 – etouches, a leading global provider of cloud event management software and sourcing solutions, today announced it has finalized the integration of Loopd technology to create a first of its kind solution to manage every aspect of the event & meeting lifecycle including unprecedented visibility into real-time performance of live events. Combining an exclusive wearable smart badge with bi-directional CRM, data analytics, and mobile technology, Loopd transforms the attendee experience and provides data-driven insights that help meeting planners realize ROI and monetize their events. etouches will demonstrate Loopd’s full capabilities at IMEX Frankfurt taking place May 16-18, 2017.

etouches acquired Loopd in late 2016 to expand its ability to provide data-driven insights that help its customers improve events and attendee engagement in real time. With wearable smart badges and a data analytics engine, Loopd delivers engaging experiences for event attendees while enabling event planners to improve their event strategy through actionable data.

Loopd offers three key components that help event planners enhance attendee engagement and realize event success:

• Loopd Badge – Award-winning, wearable, smart badges enable fast and easy contact exchange, content collection, and registration for attendees, while capturing attendee interactions, session attendance, event flow traffic, and more all in a sleek, modern package. Small, but powerful, each Loopd Badge measures less than 1.5 inches around and weighs less than 5 grams. With Bluetooth LE connectivity and a two-month battery life, the Loopd badge offers several advantages over other technologies.
• Loopd App – With a branded, customized mobile event app, organizers can elevate the event experience for attendees, improve engagement, and increase post-event activity. Attendees can use networking features to discover nearby attendees and manage meeting requests.
• Loopd Engagement & Analytics – Intuitive, in-browser analytics engine allows event organizers to measure and optimize the value and impact of their events. Incorporating the data collected by the Loopd App and Loopd Badge, the analytics engine helps organizers understand attendee activity, attendee journey at the event, engagement, and overall event performance.

 

 

“People attend events to meet other people, network, and exchange information, but the manual process of collecting business cards and collateral to act on post-event is inefficient and unproductive,” said Brian Friedman, Loopd co-founder and director of product for mobile, data, and engagement for etouches. “Loopd improves the overall attendee experience by facilitating and simplifying the exchange of information and tracking and analyzing attendee engagement. With this integration, event organizers can focus on running great events while etouches captures and analyzes attendee data.”

Like the entire etouches event management platform, Loopd is highly flexible, allowing event planners to customize components and how they’re used based on the organizer’s budget and goals. Loopd Hubs are wireless sensors that can be placed at strategic points so organizers can see and measure attendance and traffic flow at a specific session or event. Organizers can easily deliver additional value to their attendees by providing event history, sponsor interactions, session information, speaker multimedia, contact information, and marketing collateral after the event – all collected with the Loopd Badge.

“Over the past several years, etouches has built out our event management solution through strategic technology acquisitions and product development with a focus on making events and meetings better for participants, planners, and sponsors,” said Shane Edmonds, CTO of etouches. “With the full power of our EMS platform and mobile event apps integrated with Loopd technology, etouches now offers an unrivaled solution that lets our customers measure every aspect of their event lifecycle, including onsite attendee engagement and satisfaction.”

Recently, etouches announced the company was acquired by HGGC, a leading middle market private equity firm. HGGC’s investment will help etouches expand its business and further invest in its market-leading cloud platform. More than 1,300 customers use etouches’ integrated event management and sourcing platform to organize and execute world-class events around the world. Over the past 12 months, etouches has executed 46,000 events totaling 5.8 million registrations.

A past winner of the IMEX America #IMEXpitch competition, Loopd will be on display at IMEX Frankfurt on May 16 at 4:30 p.m. at etouches’ stand #E660. For more information, visit try.etouches.com/getloopd/.

About etouches
etouches is a global leader in cloud based analytics and data driven end-to-end event management and venue sourcing solutions. The award winning open source platform delivers innovative technology solutions to streamline the event process, providing real-time data and analytics on event performance, customer engagement, and increasing measurable event ROI. Founded in 2008, etouches has assisted over 25,000 event professionals in planning, executing, and measuring their events. With a focus on event sourcing, registration, marketing, logistics, engagement, mobile, and data analytics, the company serves more than 1,300 customers including leading corporations, associations, agencies, and educational institutions globally. Headquartered in the United States, the company also has offices in the UK, Belgium, Australia, Singapore, and UAE. etouches is a portfolio company of private equity firm HGGC. etouches has experienced 50 percent CAGR over the past 4 years. Learn more at etouches.com.

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IMEX17 #Loopd #etouches #eventmanagement #MICEnews

etouches vervollständigt die Integration von Loopd mit seinem End-to-End-Eventmanagement und seiner Sourcing-Plattform

etouches vervollständigt die Integration von Loopd mit seinem End-to-End-Eventmanagement und seiner Sourcing-Plattform
Preisgekrönte, datenbasierte Technologie verbessert die Einbindung der Teilnehmer in Echtzeit und den ROI von Events

NORWALK, Conn., Mai 2017 – etouches ist ein führender globaler Anbieter für cloudbasierte Eventmanagement-Software und Sourcing-Lösungen und hat heute angekündigt, dass die Integration der Loopd-Technologie abgeschlossen ist, womit man eine derart erste Lösung zur Organisation sämtlicher Aspekte des Event- und Meeting-Lebenszyklus’ einschließlich unvergleichlicher Einsicht in die Echtzeit-Performance von Live-Events anbietet. Durch die Kombination eines exklusiven tragbaren intelligenten Badges mit bidirektionalen CRM-Systemen, Datenanalysen und mobiler Technologie transformiert Loopd die Erfahrung der Teilnehmer und liefert datenbasierte Informationen, die Veranstaltungsplanern bei der Verbesserung des ROI und Finanzierung ihrer Events helfen. etouches zeigt die volle Bandbreite der Fähigkeiten von Loopd auf der IMEX Frankfurt vom 16. bis 18. Mai 2017.

etouches erwarb Loopd Ende 2016, um seine Fähigkeit, datenbasierte Informationen bereitzustellen, auszubauen und somit seine Kunden dabei zu unterstützen, Events und Teilnehmerbeteiligung in Echtzeit zu verbessern. Mit tragbaren intelligenten Badges und einem Datenanalyse-Engine liefert Loopd faszinierende Erfahrungen für die Teilnehmer von Events und ermöglicht gleichzeitig Veranstaltungsplanern, ihre Event-Strategie mithilfe von verwendbaren Daten zu verbessern.

Loopd bietet drei Schlüsselkomponenten, die den Veranstaltungsplanern helfen, die Teilnehmerbeteiligung zu verbessern und das Event zum Erfolg zu führen:
·      Loopd Badge – Preisgekrönte, tragbare intelligente Badges ermöglichen leichten und schnellen Austausch von Kontakten, Sammlung von Inhalten und Registrierung der Teilnehmer. Gleichzeitig verzeichnen sie Interaktionen der Teilnehmer, Anwesenheit bei Veranstaltungen und Besucherfrequenz bei Events u.v.m. in einer eleganten und modernen Verpackung. Alle Loopd Badges, klein und doch leistungsstark, haben weniger als 1,5 Zoll – vier Zentimeter – Umfang und wiegen unter 5 Gramm. Ausgestattet mit Bluetooth LE-Verbindung und einer Batterielebensdauer von zwei Monaten haben Loopd Badges etliche Vorteile gegenüber anderen Technologien.

·    Loopd App – Veranstalter können mit einer an die Bedürfnisse angepassten mobilen Marken-Event-App die Event-Erfahrung der Teilnehmer verbessern, ihre Beteiligung erhöhen und Aktivitäten nach der Veranstaltung steigern. Teilnehmer können die Networking-Eigenschaften nutzen, um andere Teilnehmer zu entdecken und zu treffen.

·      Loopd Engagement & Analytics – Mithilfe des intuitiven Analyse-Engine, im Browser eingebaut, können Event-Veranstalter den Wert und Effekt ihrer Veranstaltungen messen und optimieren. Der Analyse-Engine verarbeitet die Daten, welche die Loop App und die Loop Badges gesammelt haben. Er hilft den Veranstaltern, zu verstehen, was die Teilnehmer tun, wie sie sich auf der Veranstaltung bewegen, sich beteiligen, und was die Leistung des Events insgesamt ist.

„Menschen kommen auf Veranstaltungen, um andere zu treffen, Kontakte zu pflegen und Informationen auszutauschen, aber das alte Verfahren, bei dem man Visitenkarten austauscht und hinterher die neuen Kontakte anspricht, ist ineffizient und unproduktiv“, erklärt Brian Friedman, einer der Gründer von Loopd und Produktvorstand bei etouches für mobile Anwendungen, Daten und Teilnahme. „Loopd verbessert die Erfahrung der Teilnehmer insgesamt, indem der Austausch von Informationen und die Nachverfolgung sowie Analyse der Beteiligung einzelner Teilnehmer erleichtert wird. Mit dieser Integration können sich Event-Veranstalter auf die Durchführung großer Veranstaltungen konzentrieren, während etouches die Daten der Teilnehmer sammelt und analysiert.“

Loopd ist, so wie die ganze Eventmanagement-Plattform von etouches, äußerst flexibel und ermöglicht so den Veranstaltungsplanern, einzelne Komponenten an die Bedürfnisse anzupassen und dabei Budget und Ziele des Veranstalters im Auge zu behalten. Loopd Hubs sind drahtlose Sensoren. Diese werden an strategischen Punkten aufgestellt, damit die Veranstalter die Teilnahme und die Frequenz der Besucher bei bestimmten Veranstaltungen bzw. Events sehen und messen können. Die Veranstalter liefern somit den Teilnehmern ganz leicht einen Mehrwert. Der chronologische Ablauf des Events, Interaktionen der Sponsoren, Informationen zu den einzelnen Veranstaltungen, Multimedia für Redner, Kontaktinformationen und das Marketing nach dem Event – all das wird mit Loopd Badge erfasst.

„Während der letzten Jahre haben wir bei etouches unsere Eventmanagement-Lösung immer weiter ausgebaut. Wir haben strategisch Technologie eingekauft und Produkte weiterentwickelt. Dabei stand die Aufwertung von Events und Meetings für die Teilnehmer, Planer und Sponsoren im Vordergrund,“ sagt Shane Edmonds, CTO bei etouches. „Mit der ganzen Effizienz unserer EMS-PLattform und den mobilen Event-Apps, die in die Loopd-Technologie integriert sind, bietet etouches heute eine einzigartige Lösung, bei der unsere Kunden jeden Aspekt ihres Event-Lebenszyklus’ messen können, auch die Beteiligung und die Zufriedenheit der Teilnehmer vor Ort.“

Kürzlich kündigte etouches an, dass die Firma von HGGC erworben wurde, einer der führenden mittelständischen privaten Kapitalgesellschaften. Mithilfe der Kapitalbeteiligung durch HGGC kann etouches sein Geschäft ausweiten und weiter in seine marktführende Cloud-Plattform investieren. Über 1.300 Kunden benutzen heute das von etouches integrierte Eventmanagement und die Sourcing-Plattform, um weltweit Spitzenveranstaltungen zu organisieren und durchzuführen. Während der letzten 12 Monate hat etouches 46.000 Events mit insgesamt 5,8 Millionen Registrierungen durchgeführt.

Als Gewinner der letzten IMEX America #IMEXpitch Wettbewerb können Sie Loopd auf der IMEX Frankfurt am 16. Mai um 16:30 Uhr auf dem Stand von etouches Nr. E660 bewundern. Besuchen Sie für weitere Informationen try.etouches.com/getloopd/.

Über etouches
etouches ist weltweit führend in cloudbasierten Analysen, datenbasiertem End-to-End-Eventmanagement und Sourcing-Lösungen. Die preisgekrönte Open Source-Plattform bietet innovative technologische Lösungen, um den Event-Ablauf zu optimieren, Daten in Echtzeit und Analysen zu Event-Performance, Teilnahme der Kunden zu liefern sowie den messbaren Event-ROI zu verbessern. Seit seiner Gründung 2008 hat etouches schon mehr als 25.000 Fachleuten aus dem Veranstaltungsbereich geholfen, ihre Events zu planen, durchzuführen und zu messen. Die Firma bedient heute mehr als 1.300 Kunden, wobei der Fokus auf Event-Sourcing, Registrierung, Vermarktung, Logistik, Teilnahme, mobile Anwendungen und Datenanalysen liegt. Zu den Kunden zählen führende Konzerne, Organisationen, Behörden und Institute aus Forschung und Lehre in aller Welt. Der Hauptsitz befindet sich in den USA. Vertretungen sind in England, Belgien, Australien, Singapur und in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten. etouches ist eine Portfoliogesellschaft der HGGC Kapitalgesellschaft. In den letzten 4 Jahren hatte etouches eine durchschnittliche jährliche Wachstumsrate von 50 %. Erfahren Sie mehr auf etouches.com.

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#etouches #Loopd #Eventmanagement #MICEnews

Technology and business grow together at IMEX America

Technology and business grow together at IMEX America
Budding technology companies to compete for business boost

Meetings industry professionals at IMEX America this year can discover the latest innovations set to impact the way they do business. Many of these innovations will come from the technology sector according to nearly 40 per cent of meeting professionals.

The survey of nearly 1200 respondents by the IMEX Group revealed that 40 per cent of hosted buyers, 34.5 per cent of visitors and 37.5 per cent of exhibitors thought technology would deliver the next big innovation. New apps, virtual meetings and meeting room technology were all cited as examples of how event technology innovation is making an impact across the industry.

Meeting professionals can preview some of the technology set to make waves in the industry at the #IMEXpitch taking place 18 October at IMEX America. Event technology start-ups have the opportunity to showcase their products to an audience of event professionals at the show, which is held 18-20 October in Las Vegas. Applications are now open for the #IMEXpitch, culminating in five finalists competing in a live head-to-head pitch competition.

Each company has five minutes to put forward its product, including the concept, features and unique selling points, to a live audience. The winner, chosen by an expert judging panel, will receive a free space on the Technology Pavilion at next year’s show in addition to press and marketing exposure.

The independent expert judging panel all work with event technology on a daily basis and are always looking out for the latest developments as one of the judges, Tara Thomas, co-founder of The Meeting Pool, explains:

“IMEX has a long history of being at the forefront of showcasing event tech. The competition is truly where the industry looks for the latest innovations changing the game for event professionals and is also an amazing opportunity for startups to attract significant attention and buzz around their products. I’m excited to be involved this year, and to see what I know will be an incredible lineup of companies.”

The Meeting Pool is also powering the TECHknowledge Area at IMEX America where experts will deliver targeted technology sessions, TECHbytes, answering questions on hot topics such as Snapchat, Slack, OneNote and wearable technology, and guiding visitors through the latest tech in the Gadget Lab.

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, commented:

“Technology has long led the way in innovation, particularly in the meetings sector. This innovation often comes from start-ups entering the industry and we see many interesting ideas from new businesses through our #IMEXpitch competition and across the showfloor.”

Buyers at IMEX America can meet the experts behind the latest innovations in a series of TechTours running throughout the show. By meeting with selected exhibitors on the show floor, they can discover some of the companies who are leading the way in technology impacting the meetings and event sector.

For more information about the #IMEXpitch and to submit an application please visit http://www.imexamerica.com/events/imexpitch/

For more information about the TECHknowledge Area at IMEX America, please visit http://www.imexamerica.com/events/education/show-floor-education/techknowledge-area/

IMEX America 2016 takes place 18 – 20 October in Las Vegas. For more information about the show please visit http://www.imexamerica.com

Tech start-ups present their solutions for the meetings industry at #IMEXpitch

Tech start-ups present their solutions for the meetings industry at #IMEXpitch
Five technology start-ups from across the world have the opportunity to showcase their products to an audience of event professionals at IMEX in Frankfurt this year.

Finalists have been selected for the #IMEXpitch which takes place during IMEX in Frankfurt, 19 – 21 April.These up-and-coming companies offer innovative technology for the events sector and are set to go head-to-head in a live pitch competition at the show. The finalists are:

• eventbaxx www.eventbaxx.com – digital goodie bags
• Grip www.getgrip.io/grip-event-matchmaking – networking for startups
• Interactio www.interactio.io – simultaneous interpretation via a smartphone
• Mash Machine www.mashmachines.com – a musical instrument enabling players to create music by placing and moving blocks on its surface
• Qmeeto www.qmeeto.com – an all in one management tool

Miguel Neves, Senior Online Community Manager, IMEX Group explains: “There is plenty of innovation in the meetings industry, much of it coming from start-ups, and we’re keen to reward and recognise these new and exciting companies at the show.We also hope to give attendees a quick way to learn about the latest event technologies and how they can support their events.”

Each company has five minutes to put forward its product, including the concept, features and unique selling points, to a live audience of up to 60 attendees.This competition is part of the IMEX education program and will take place at the Inspiration Hub on 19 April 2016 at 16:00.
The winner, chosen by an expert judging panel, will receive a free space on the Technology Pavilion at IMEX in Frankfurt 2017 in addition to press and marketing exposure.The six judges are all individuals who work with event technology on a daily basis and are heavily involved in the latest developments.They will select the winner at the #IMEXpitch final held at the show. The selection criteria covers ease of implementation and practicality, innovation and sustainability among other factors.
One of the judges, Christine Fuchs from the social fox, is also leading specialised tours on technology during IMEX, offering visitors a snapshot of the latest event tech solutions from across the showfloor.

A new feature at IMEX in Frankfurt this year is the TECHknowledge Area where experts will provide practical technology solutions and hands-on experiences.  With their fingers on the pulse of the event technology space, these experts can discuss solutions for event planning, budgeting, productivity, sourcing, travel and other areas.

The TECHknowledge Area features a TECHbar where attendees can test out a range of event tech solutions, event apps, gadgets, wearables and more in a sales-free zone. Scheduled TECHbyte sessions are also available for valuable one to one advice.
For further details about this see http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/events/education/show-floor-education/techknowledge-area/
For further details about #IMEXpitch see www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexpitch

Tech start-ups to compete for business boost at IMEX in Frankfurt

Tech start-ups to compete for business boost at IMEX in Frankfurt
Applications now open for #IMEXpitch

Event technology start-ups have the opportunity to showcase their products to an audience of event professionals at IMEX in Frankfurt this year.

Applications are now open for the #IMEXpitch, culminating in five finalists competing in a live head-to-head pitch competition at the show.
Each company has five minutes to put forward its product, including the concept, features and unique selling points, to a live audience of up to 60 attendees. The winner, chosen by an expert judging panel, will receive a free space on the Technology Pavilion at IMEX in Frankfurt 2017 in addition to press and marketing exposure.
Last year’s winner was InitLive, a software company from Ottawa, Canada, which pitched its all-in-one software solution for event staff and volunteer management on mobile devices.
The six judges are all individuals who work with event technology on a daily basis and are heavily involved in the latest developments. They will select the winner at the #IMEXpitch final held at the show. The selection criteria covers ease of implementation and practicality, innovation and sustainability among other factors. Meetings industry professional, Christine Fuchs from the social fox, one of the judges and self-confessed ‘social media marketing geek’, explains:
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing great ideas and fun tools which are self-explanatory in usage and real assets for meetings and events. Major digital trends like augmented reality, the internet of things or full service / market research apps are already changing the meetings industry as we know it. In general, developments in the digital world will never be as slow as they are today. Therefore, we need ideas and tools that are fast forward and flexible. So I’d be curious to see ideas functioning like a chameleon: swiftly adapting to the surroundings to perfectly fit in!”
This competition is part of the IMEX education program and will take place at the Inspiration Hub on 19 April 2016 at 16:00.
The deadline for applications is 1 March 2016. For further details see www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexpitch

 

AT IMEX AMERICA 2015

AT IMEX AMERICA

TODAY: Monday, October 12, 2015
AND TOMORROW: Tuesday, October 13, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS
Issued at 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday, October 12

TODAY
Smart Monday, powered by MPI drew hundreds of participants to high class educational sessions on a diverse range of key topics delivered by MPI, IAPCO, ICCA, ASAE, HSMAI, DMAI, SITE, GBTA, GMIC, PCMA, IAEE and ECM. The feedback was terrific; people found value in the day.

Adrienne Tooley, Meeting & Event Manager, Koncept Events, said, “When you’ve been in the industry a few years, you want something new and more advanced. Smart Monday and IMEX offer very high caliber, high-level speakers that are in strong touch with what’s happening in the industry.”

“To have a whole day before the show to come in early and get education here at Smart Monday is great,” said Lanie Collins, Marketing Association & Event Manager at Nicola Wealth Management. “Since I‘m the only one in my company who does meetings, it is terrific to be surrounded by and talk to other people who just ‘get it’, and I also get credit for what I am learning towards my CMP.”

The first MPI morning keynote session of the week, which was sponsored by New Orleans CVB/New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, was presented by Lee Papa on “How to Live and Lead Mindfully.”

The second PCMA Business School at IMEX America, sponsored by Synchronicities, was presented and led by Bob Kulhan, a professor at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. It revealed how to leverage improv techniques in the office.

Gabriela Marquez, BCD Travel M&I, Mexico, “This session has really encouraged me to break from my comfort zone and prompted fresh thinking. It was also a fun way to network and the interactive nature of it helped to break the ice with fellow participants. I’ve learned to really listen, not to judge, and to take risks.”

Association Focus, the exclusive event presented by ASAE and ICCA and attended by around 180 association executives, provided a broad range of valuable tailored education and peer networking opportunities. This will be followed by Association Evening, sponsored by SLS Las Vegas, at the stunning Foxtail Nightclub where invited exhibitors will join the delegates.

Thelma da Sousa of the Pacific Coast Oto Ophthalmological Society said, “This is the third year I’ve been here because there is so much you can learn. The content and range of the sessions is superb. There are so many that I want to go to that I wish there was more time.”

1,200 buyers and suppliers are going to Site Nite North America at the new Omnia nightclub, Caesars Palace.

TOMORROW
New exhibitors: There will be more than 80 new booths with exhibitors from all corners of the world, including Guam and Taiwan from Asia, Hungary and Zagreb from Europe, Paraguay and Ecuador from Latin America, plus Cincinnati, Oklahoma and Wisconsin from the U.S., to name just a few.

New education features: Magician Tim David will be the MPI keynote speaker. Sponsored by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, he will explore the “Human Connection – A Lost Art in a Noisy World.”

The new Play Room, sponsored by Play with a Purpose, will provide short, hands-on “quirkshops” around creativity, a theme incorporated throughout the program.

A new resource on the show floor, TECHnexus, will provide buyers with hands-on experience of the latest technologies and is available every day in the tech area.

The #IMEXpitch Event Technology Startup competition will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the Inspiration Hub. A short list of five companies will pitch their ideas to industry experts.

Meditation Room: New for this year, this device-free area hosts regular sessions on yoga, mindfulness and meditation as well as provides quiet spot to recharge.

Press Conferences: There is a packed program of press conferences taking place at the Press Center and covering a wide range of destinations, venues and initiatives.

PRESS CENTER – sponsored by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
The onsite Press Center is located on Level 1 – Casanova Room 501 – The Venetian® | The Palazzo® Congress Center.

It offers: free Wifi, laptops and work stations, latest news from the show, its exhibitors and partners, mobile phone charging point, complimentary refreshments.

You can reach the PR team during the show at the Press Center or on the following numbers:
Press Center Onsite – (702) 691-8608
Emma Ward – (214) 883-7586
Jen McNeil – (214) 587-3819
Chris Lewis – (469) 404-6690

Useful weblinks
Latest IMEX & Exhibitor news releases – www.imexamerica.com/press/news-releases/
Press images – www.imexamerica.com/press/images-audio-video/
At a glance schedule www.imexamerica.com/events/at-a-glance/schedule/