Digital Engagement Platform: The Future of Hybrid & Virtual Events

COVID-19 impacted the ways employees communicate, travel, and attend events

Shifting To Digital Engagement

Communication
In March 2020, employees in the US communicated mostly by
Email: 26%
Video calling (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.): 20%
Regular phone calls: 17%
Messaging platform (Slack, Google Chat, etc.): 12%
Audio conferencing line: 7%
Other: 18%
Travel
In 2022, 42% of frequent business travelers said they will “never return to the road”, compared to 39% in 2021
In 2022, business travel’s share of hotel room revenue is expected to drop to 44%, down from 53% in 2019
Events
In 2020, 70% of physical events were switched to hybrid or virtual
In 2022, digital events remain popular
40% of events are planned to be virtual
35% of even are planned to be hybrid
72% of professionals plan to attend virtual events at least as often as they attended physical events before COVID-19
Audiences moved to digital platforms
Zoom
From 2019 to 2020, daily meeting participants grew 35X
More than 45 billion minutes of webinars hosted in 2020
Microsoft Teams
From 2019 to 2022, annual users grew 13.5X
894% growth from March 2020 to June 2020
Online interaction can bring frustration and fatigue

Poorly Designed Digital Platforms Create Challenges

Employees using video conferencing often experience
Technology issues: 50%
Poor communication: 40%
Problems with virtual meetings: 34%
Loss of productivity: 17%
The amount of eye contact and participant face size on screens during video chat is unnatural
Each participant is looking at everyone, regardless of who the speaker is, creating a stressful experience
Large face size on screens leads to hyper-aroused state
Seeing yourself in real-time during video chat on screen is draining
In daily life, we don’t go places with a mirror in front of us at every moment
Constantly looking at your reflection increases self-criticism
Higher cognitive load in video chats
Non-verbal communication in face-to-face interaction is easy to interpret
In a video chat, participants must think about staying in the frame and exaggerating their responses
Despite the challenges of interacting digitally, people prefer attending events online
Of people who attend 10 or more events every year
46% attend online events
13% attend physical events

Businesses Need Virtual Events

Time-Saving
Employees don’t need to travel or make a commute
Video reduces travel and commute for 46% of businesses
Reduced Costs
Businesses can save on transportation expenses
Businesses can cut travel costs by 30%
Increased Productivity
Employees can allocate extra time to other tasks
Video conferences can increase productivity by 89%
Increased employee engagement
Employees feel more connected to the company culture
41% of users believe video conferencing has increased team member engagement
Improved Focus
Participants are less likely to multitask while on video calls, than on phone calls
Only 4% of participants multitask during a video conference, compared to 57% on a phone call

Businesses can incorporate the benefits of online meetings and various trends in technology to create a more exciting event

Hybrid Events

Separate experiences in which two audiences are connected by the content they’re accessing
72% of attendees believe they will get more value from attending a hybrid event, than an physical event
Goal: Create the best experience for each audience
Main event
Virtual or physical
Could be marketed as a VIP experience for a limited number of attendees
Virtual component
Offer educational content in virtual form
Allow content to be watched for a limited time after the event has ended

Gamification

Can boost event engagement and improve overall outcomes
Gamification improves retention by approximately 40%
How to gamify your event
Test attendees on the features of a product in a showroom
Reward attendees for mentions and posts on social media
Create a list of milestones for attendees to complete

Metaverse

An immersive experience for attendees, whether through virtual, augmented, or mixed reality
74% of adults would join or consider joining a metaverse
Immersive experiences: Navigate a ditigal world and interact online in a manner similar to the real world
Advanced learning: Access the best experts from anywhere, in a single click — with real-time interaction and visualized tools
Event planners can take steps to improve event quality and keep attendees engaged

Tips For Creating The “Wow” Factor

Differentiate your event from cookie-cutter events — Use customized graphics and layout
Design the event program before selecting a virtual platform
Consider moving beyond one-off events to a persistent interactive experience
Offer access to a library of on-demand breakout sessions
Minimize extra activities to reduce distractions and maintain engagement
Create a digital campus where participants can attend events, discuss ideas, and network
Facilitate networking through polls, chat, and Q&A features
Physical events aren’t going away — businesses are excited to reach new audiences through hybrid and virtual events

Learn more about the future of online gatherings at engagez.com