Printed tickets? Confirmation numbers and long check-in lines? Say goodbye to the event registration strategies of yore: Facial recognition and customized software-as-a-service solutions are taking center stage.

“We see innovative solutions focusing on the one thing companies do exceedingly well and integrating their tech with other best-in-breed solutions,” says Adrien Peterson, chief technology officer at EventCore, in an interview with Smart Meetings. “This opened up a whole new reality for event planners. They could create a bespoke event registration tech deck, a built-to-order solution to meet their event’s precise needs.”

But, as with any new technology, registration advances also come with a need for improved data security.

“Everyone is talking about the sexy technology developments around VR experiences, facial recognition, etc., but one area of advancement that must correspond with all these technology advancements is consumer data privacy and controls,” Petersen says. “Whether the data that is collected by these new technologies is considered any more sensitive than what has traditionally been collected, there is no question that these technologies—including facial recognition, thumbprint/grid and tracking by cameras—greatly increase the quantity of data that is being held. Event technology is evolving to meet these data concerns.”

What Should You Look For in an LMS?

So relevant. I know several #association leaders either developing their own system or trying to customize an out of the box LMS to fit their needs. Hope you all find this helpful. #association #learning https://t.co/OLVI0yN5WV

— ChrisZimmerCAE (@ChrisZimmerCAE) March 19, 2019

A learning management system, or LMS, can be fundamental to members’ professional development—but finding the software that fits within your organization can be challenging. Colleen Bottorff from the MemberClicks blog says a streamlined member experience should be your number-one priority.

“Without a great user experience, you’ll be hard-pressed to get anyone to actually use the system,” she says. “Find a platform that’s easy to navigate, loads quickly, and will match the look and feel of your existing website.”

Another LMS requirement? One that will pay for itself. “Adding software will always come with a cost, but an LMS in particular is poised to bring money into your organization, too,” Bottorff says. “A robust platform that can easily grant different levels of access is key: You’ll increase membership value by adding access to your benefits package, while earning nondues revenue with paid access for nonmembers.”

Other Links of Note

Keep your nonprofit tax compliant with these three tips from the Wild Apricot blog.

Considering a free membership model? It doesn’t come without risks, says member researcher Amanda Kaiser.

As the second-most visited website, YouTube holds a lot of marketing power. The Hootsuite blog outlines 23 effective ways to promote your organization’s YouTube channel.

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