Are there any benefits to virtual conferencing?

Digital events have seen two years of exceptional growth, but event planners have no idea what will happen as we work through 2022. 

It’s no secret that knowledge economy workers are suffering from “Zoom fatigue”, but the COVID-19 pandemic has taught some sectors to enjoy the ease of attending virtual conferences. A whopping 74% of poll takers in the sciences, for example, believe that even when the epidemic is over, scientific gatherings should remain virtual or at least include some virtual components. 

Despite technical difficulties and not being able to socialise in person, it seems many have been in favour of maintaining virtual conferences should Covid fade into the past tense. Let’s find out why.

BENEFITS OF VIRTUAL CONFERENCING

When a face-to-face meeting isn’t feasible, a virtual conference can be a terrific substitute. With the help of modern technology, virtual conferences can provide attendees with the same chances for professional development and information exchange as in-person conferences. Social interaction though tends to fall by the wayside.

1. Price

You will of course save money by holding your conference online instead of at a physical location.

2. No max limits

It is possible to have a virtual conference that can accommodate any number of participants and allow for a bigger number of exhibitors and sponsors.

3. Seen as cost effective

Attendees will spend less time away from their desks since they won’t have to travel. Increased registrations may be attributed to this and far-reduced ticket costs compared to conventional conferences.

4. Inclusivity

Many people who would normally be unable to attend a conference because of their physical location may now do so through virtual conferencing. Translation and captioning choices may be made more accessible and inclusive via the use of digital technology.

5. Kinder on the planet

Attendees’ travel, food waste, single-use display sets, freight, satchel inserts and hard-copy programmes all lead to a big environmental footprint at a typical conference, none of which is required when you meet online.

6. Convenience and adaptability

Virtual conferences are frequently shorter than conventional conferences, with fewer live sessions, and enable registrants to watch pre-recorded information at their own leisure, enabling attendees to more easily juggle responsibilities such as job, education or child care.

7. Intuitive networking

With just a few clicks, participants may connect with presenters, exhibitors and the rest of the conference over the internet. You’ll no longer have to go through a sea of people at a trade show to find the person you really wanted to see.

8. Analytics

A virtual conference platform can easily measure the number of attendees in each session, track leads for sponsors and indicate who interacted with what material for how long – often in real-time.

Now that the transition to virtual meetings has been successfully completed, conference planners must examine how to combine the best of both worlds by introducing virtual features into their in-person meetings going forward.