Must-Have Features of Event Management Software

Comprehensive Event Planning Tools

Registration and Ticketing Solutions

Choose software with comprehensive scheduling, task management, and budgeting tools to streamline event planning and avoid missed deadlines or budget overruns.

To quickly and easily connect with the right venues and suppliers for your events, it’s important to have access to live venue and supplier sourcing like iVvy Marketplace, with instant search and booking functionality.

A seamless registration process enhances the attendee experience right from the start. Your ideal event management software should offer customisable forms, secure payment processing, and automated emails.

Additionally, integrated ticketing solutions that support various ticket types, discounts, and promotional codes can significantly boost registrations while providing valuable data for targeted marketing efforts.

Attendee Engagement and Networking Features

Robust Analytics and Reporting

Your chosen event management software should include features that enable you to increase engagement before, during, and after an event. One of the must-have features of event management software is social integration. Event attendees can share their attendance with social connections and see who else in their network is also attending.

Live polling and event feedback surveys will also help you to increase engagement throughout your event while receiving valuable feedback from attendees.  

How can you measure the success of an event? The answer is in your data. Understanding what aspects of your event management went well - and what could be improved next time - can be achieved with event management software that offers robust analytics and reporting capabilities.

Being able to collect and view real-time data on performance, budgeting, and marketing can help you pinpoint areas of success, challenges, and opportunities for further development.

Integration Capabilities

Mobile App Support

No software operates in isolation, and event management software is no exception. One of the most must-have features of event management software is being able to integrate with other tools and platforms, such as CRM systems, point-of-sale systems, and property management systems.

Integration enables seamless data flow across systems, improving efficiency and providing a comprehensive view of your event's impact on broader business objectives.

A dedicated event mobile app enhances the attendee experience by offering easy access to schedules, speaker information, and networking opportunities.

Look for event management software that includes or integrates with mobile app solutions to provide attendees with all the information they need at their fingertips, alongside features like push notifications to keep them informed in real time.

Customisation and Branding

 Marketing Tools: Email and SMS

When selecting event management software, choose one that allows for customisation. A uniform look and feel adds to your professionalism while maintaining consistency with your event's unique branding and theme.

Customisable templates for event websites, registration forms, and email communications will also ensure every interaction with your attendees reinforces your event's unique identity and messaging. 

To make your event successful, you must let people know about it. One must-have feature of your event management software should be marketing tools like email and SMS.

Using contact information you have in your system, you can send emails and texts to specific groups of people. This makes it easy to provide information about your event relevant to their interests. The best part? You can automate some of these channels like email to save time.

Enhanced User Experience

Travel and Accommodation

As an event professional, you want a platform that's easy to use. Event management software with an intuitive interface can help create a successful and enjoyable event experience for everyone involved.

Intuitive event management software features like drag-and-drop site building make it easy to use the software's capabilities without requiring extensive training. This ease of use improves productivity and reduces the time it takes to launch an event. 

As an event manager, you will be the one to arrange flights, coordinate transportation to and from the venue, and reserve accommodations for attendees.

To simplify the process, choose event management software that integrates with travel and accommodation systems. This feature will allow you to keep all information in one central platform, making it easier to manage It will also allow you to reserve accommodation blocks.

Financial Management and ROI Tracking

Continuous Improvement Through Feedback

Financial management tools are vital for budgeting, tracking expenses, and measuring the return on investment (ROI) of events. Event management software should include robust financial tracking features, allowing for real-time budget updates, expense reporting, and financial analysis. Understanding the financial impact of events will help the business to justify expenditures and make informed decisions.

Post-event feedback is invaluable for continuous improvement. Software that facilitates the collection and analysis of attendee feedback through surveys and social media integration, can provide insights into what worked well and what could be improved. This feedback loop is essential for refining event strategies and enhancing attendee satisfaction over time.

Scalability

Finally, scalability is a critical consideration. Whether you're organising a small workshop or a large conference, your chosen event management software should be able to handle the scale of your events without compromising performance. Scalability ensures that as your events grow in size and complexity, your software can grow with you, offering a consistent level of efficiency and support.