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Large regions and cities today face various increasingly complex tasks. This inevitably requires supra-regional thinking and action to find efficient solutions. For this reason, the City of Graz has established in its structure a special unit that deals primarily with various strategic projects within the framework of European, national, bilateral, and transnational funding initiatives. In this context, events also play a role in bringing decision-makers and stakeholders together to start an expert dialogue on interdisciplinary urban development topics.

As the head of the EU-unit of the City Graz, Christian Nussmueller is also responsible for planning these events. He has already used LineUpr for two events in 2019. In this interview, he will tell you what advantages and disadvantages a program booklet has in comparison to such an app, what the participants found particularly useful in this digital solution and when an event app is a useful tool to use. Have fun with this great customer story.

LineUpr: Hello Christian. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself.

Christian: I am the head of the EU-unit in the city of Graz and our main task is the strategic project development of the framework of European, national, bilateral and transnational funding initiatives in the areas of interdisciplinary urban development, urban regional development, sustainable mobility, urban freight logistics, climate protection, and world cultural heritage.

LineUpr: What role do events play for you?

Christian: We are required to organize smaller but also larger events in the mentioned subject areas with very limited public resources. The CIVITAS Forum 2019, as THE European Union’s annual event promoting innovative, sustainable mobility approaches in Europe’s cities, was the largest so far with more than 650 participants from 45 countries, 30 parallel sessions, 150 presentations, and 12 site visits.

LineUpr: What makes your events unique? Which target group do you want to address and what added value do you offer the participants?

Christian: The events organized by us are primarily intended to serve the purpose of building knowledge and exchanging knowledge in the field of interdisciplinary urban development to prepare the public administration for future trends and challenges.

LineUpr: If you compare a printed program with an event app, what are the advantages and disadvantages of both variants?

Christian: I think when you compare the two media, you quickly get to the point that humans are “creatures of habit”. Printed programs have been the standard so far and are therefore still in demand by certain groups of visitors, especially the older semesters.

Sponsors also still like to see their logos on a printed product. Nevertheless, for me, the advantages of the app outweigh those of the printed products. The main points are the possibilities of short-term program changes or offering information through the app and the better price when compared to glossy brochures.

LineUpr: Do you use the app to present your speakers with individual profiles?

Christian: We use this function individually, depending on the event and the available time budget.

LineUpr: How would you rate the creation of the event app with LineUpr? What do you like and what can we improve?

Christian: From our point of view, the usability of LineUpr is outstanding, as it is easy and intuitive to use and to fill with content.

Here are our suggestions for improving your product:

• more home screen options (e. g. more flexible menu creation in the sense of a hierarchical system)
• more icon templates
• directly integrated user statistics
• Upload of PDF documents (e. g. room plans)
• Schedule module: flexible color background design of program blocks (content, time, etc.)
• integrated Q&A and polling platform (ranking questions, etc.)

LineUpr: You have given us a lot of homework. But you are right in many areas and we are working to make much of it available soon.

When and how do you inform your participants about the event app?

Christian: We informed the participants about the prepared event app on average one to two weeks before the event by e-mail. We sent this info after we have fixed the agenda of the event and all session details.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Christian: The visitors reacted very positively to this digital information option.

There was a lot of positive feedback, especially on the aspect of saving resources and acting sustainable by largely avoiding hard copies.

LineUpr: If someone is thinking about using an event app for their event, how would you advise them? When is an app useful, and what are the disadvantages of an app?

Christian: From my point of view, you should first be clear about the number of participants in the planned event. I would consider using an app solution from about 100 participants onwards. The price-performance ratio of LineUpr is, in our opinion, just right.

LineUpr: Thank you, Christian, for the great interview. I think that your events are especially important for various stakeholder groups which are currently shaping our cities for future – politicians, industry, scientists, administration and last but not least the citizens. The CIVITAS Forum is a unique event in this context and I am very proud that LineUpr was able to contribute to a small part of it.

Of course, the EU-Unit of the City of Graz also has its digital contact point, so be sure to drop by on their website. But I can also recommend talking directly to Christian. Just write him on LinkedIn.

We are already looking forward to the next events with you.

The post LineUpr at the CIVITAS FORUM 2019 in GRAZ – A Conversation with Christian Nussmueller first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

Exercising is important. Not only our bodies, but also our spirits can be strengthened by it. Anyone who moves regularly knows what I’m talking about. But what kind of sport should you do? Countless people are confronted with this question. Team sports or individual sports? Maybe cardio instead of strength training? In each area, there are again many subcategories. Currently, a very popular style is functional training. This includes complex movements from different sport types with relatively few and small equipments.

Because people always live out this type of sports enthusiastically, there are now some events associated with it. One of them is the Functional Training Summit in Munich. It is co-organized by Gregor Karmann. He is the head of Marketing at Perform Better Europe. In this interview, Gregor tells us more about the Summit, how he used the app and how the participants reacted. Have fun while reading.

LineUpr: Hello Gregor. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and Perform Better Europe.

Gregor: My name is Gregor Karmann and I am currently the head of Marketing at Perform Better Europe.

We are the leading functional training experts in Europe. From the fascia roll to the finished Functional Fitness Studio, we are the competent partner. In addition to our products and studio equipment, we provide seminars and training programs for trainers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

LineUpr: You used an event app from LineUpr for the Functional Training Summit 2019. Please tell us more about this event.

Gregor: Once a year we organize the Functional Training Summit in Munich. More than 800 coaches from all over the world come together to learn with and from the leading experts in the functional training world.

We used an event app from LineUpr for the second time to give our customers an easy and quick overview of all questions about the event.

LineUpr: What strategies and tools did you use to address this target group? Do you attach particular importance to something special?

Gregor: We use a good marketing mix consisting of performance campaigns (Facebook, Instagram, Google), our internal channels (newsletter, social media, mail order) as well as co-operating with suitable partners and increasingly also influencer marketing.

LineUpr: Do you also use printed products to market the event or distribute information on-site? If so, which and why?

Gregor: Yes. During the event, we are increasingly using printed products for training programs and seminars.

LineUpr: Did you present your speakers with individual profiles in the event app?

Gregor: Yes, there was a shortlist of the Vita of the individual speakers and what their main expertise is.

LineUpr: Did you also present your sponsors and partners with their own profiles?

Gregor: Exactly. We presented them in profiles and included links to external resources in the app.

LineUpr: How would you rate the creation of the event app with LineUpr? What do you like and what can we improve?

Gregor: The creation is child’s play. I like everything and I have nothing to complain about.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Gregor: The feedback was very positive. The participants were able to find their way around easily and were able to create their own plans with the app.

LineUpr: You have already used LineUpr for two events. How has the handling/use of the event app changed over the two events?

Gregor: This development was also very positive. This year more of our participants/customers used the app than the first year.

LineUpr: Thank you, Gregor, for the great interview. Personally, I’m a big fan of functional training. And training in a group is much more fun than alone, so such an event is great.

If you want to be there next year, then have a look at this page. Here you will find all of the latest information about the next event.

We hope that it will also be with a LineUpr App again.

The post LineUpr at the Functional Training Summit – Gregor Karmann’s Experiences first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

Event agencies are the backbone of the event industry. Only they can stabilize the sector and enable each company and individual to carry out an event competently and successfully. Event agencies are also essential for LineUpr, since they give some organizers the idea of using an event app.

So we are all the more pleased that, with Chantal Hofstetter from MangEvent, we are finally able to welcome an agency to our interview after a long time. She used LineUpr in 2019 for the Swiss Quality Day. In this interview, Chantal tells us why she convinced her client to use an event app and how she specifically used the survey function. Definitely worth reading.

LineUpr: Hello, Chantal. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and the creative agency ManagEvent.

Chantal: I am an event manager at the creative agency ManagEvent in Ittigen (Bern). Together with the ManagEvent team, I organize various events according to customer requirements.

To crown events with new ideas and surprising effects, we rely on the power of creativity, accompanied by overwhelming inventiveness. “We” refers to the core team under the direction of company owner Christoph W. Meyer and a network of specialists in the areas of conception and strategy, consulting, communication, IT, artwork/design, stand architecture and stand construction, acoustics/sound, lighting, catering, and back office.

LineUpr: What types of events do you typically organize?

Chantal: Typically, we organize meetings, openings, and VIP events in the b2b and b2c area.

In the area of ContEvents (events with content: community affairs) we design corporate, public, and private events.

Events are always live. For them to make an impact, we develop ideas that run like a golden thread through the performance. Ideas where sometimes less is more and sometimes a complete firework of surprises must be ignited until the sparks of passion jump. The joy and euphoria that accompany the development will be felt at your event.

Discretely in the background, we ensure that your event is successful from A to Z. We are the directors as general contractors who professionally manage a whole team of specialists from all required disciplines: IT, building infrastructure, logistics, security, transportation, catering, music and artistic productions, etc. You can entirely focus on your guests during your event. Everything else is left up to us. And if something unpredictable happens, we never say “that’s not possible”. Instead, we find a solution.

And: we are independent. We guarantee an objective, neutral organization that is not influenced by any third party interests.

LineUpr: You used LineUpr for the Swiss Quality Day? Did the idea for the event app come from you or the customer?

Chantal: The idea came from us. Our long-term customers have the utmost confidence and are therefore committed to our ideas. We aimed to use a tool that is easy to use and makes sense for the conference.

LineUpr: While we are on this topic. Does it often happen that customers approach you directly with the desire to use an event app, or does this notion come from you?

Chantal: It depends on the occasion. At conferences, it makes sense to work with an app. As an event agency, it is our job to be informed about the current apps and topics and to discuss these with our customers. If we find that an app could be suitable for the occasion or the handling of an app can be facilitated, we address this issue, of course.

LineUpr: Let’s get back to the Swiss Quality Day. What is this event about and what information and content did you communicate through the app?

Chantal: The Swiss Quality Day – The Knowledge and Networking Forum in the Kursaal Bern.

Quality has led the Swiss economy to success. It is more important than ever before in the face of change. Quality managers are, therefore, even more, challenged. The Swiss Quality Day is an essential forum for helping people with their professional careers. It opens up new perspectives of quality through inspiration, creativity, and curiosity.

We use the app to communicate the program as well as the speakers. Sometimes we may also publish CVs or other exciting information about the speakers. With the app, you can find your way around before, during, and after the conference. We also use the app like Live-Ask. Our participants can ask questions about the presentations via the app.

LineUpr: When and how did you inform the participants about the app?

Chantal: Participants are informed about the app in the last newsletter shortly before the conference. At the conference itself, they receive all the access data again so that they can ask questions via the Live-Ask-Tool and are generally well informed about the daily routine and the conference.

LineUpr: Did you also use the survey features in the app? If so, what kind of questions, and how did you integrate the survey results into the event?

Chantal: We used the survey features for our Live-Ask. The participants could easily ask their questions about the presentations. The TV presenter, Daniela Lager, then received the questions and sent them to the speakers after the respective performance, during the short question and answer session.

LineUpr: How did the visitors react to the app?

Chantal: Everything went well with the app. The visitors seemed to have no trouble asking questions about the app. On this year’s questionnaire, participants were asked for their opinion about the app. The evaluation was excellent.

LineUpr: Which tips would you like to give other organizers for using LineUpr?

Chantal: Although LineUpr is a good, well-arranged app, you still need to introduce it to the users. It is best if you do it yourself before the event and again at the event. Thus, misunderstandings can be avoided. It is also important that someone leads the surveys (Live-Ask) during the event. The event should be entered as early as possible into LineUpr, so that it can be tested in advance to see if everything works as desired.

LineUpr: Thank you, Chantal, for the great interview. We are always very curious about how event agencies work. As you said before, you still have to tell customers about the latest technologies and developments. This is undoubtedly a great balancing act between the desire to try something new and the obligation that tools or new strategies have to bring a tangible added value at the end of the day.

If you are looking for a creative agency in Switzerland, just visit ManagEvent online. And if you want to see what comes out at the end of a collaboration with ManagEvent, then just have a look at the pages of the Swiss Quality Day and the Food Day.

We are already looking forward to the next events with you.

The post LineUpr in Action – Chantal Hofstetter of the Event Agency ManagEvent and the Swiss Quality Day first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

Today we have two experts united in one body as a guest on our blog. On the one hand, Steffi Fichte is a trained event planner but on the other hand, she is also an expert in marketing and digitalization. At Communardo, Steffi can combine both talents optimally and looks after both the events and the marketing. So you can look forward to exciting insights on digital events.

Communardo was also one of our first customers that we were able to accompany with an event app. Since 2016 you can find our apps at the #DWSC. In the interview, Steffi tells us more about how they use our app and what added value they see in it. Have fun while reading. ?

LineUpr: Hello Steffi. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and the Communardo Software GmbH.

Steffi: I have been working for Communardo since May 2018 and I work in marketing here. One of my main tasks is the organization of the Digital Workplace Summit by Communardo (#DWSC). As a trained event planner and media and industrial manager, I am able to combine events with marketing well at Communardo.

The Communardo Software GmbH based in Dresden is a specialist and provider of software solutions and consulting services for the digital workplace to optimize the communication and cooperation in companies.

Motto: “Successful together. Intelligent solutions for modern work. ”

LineUpr: You host the Digital Workplace Summit every year. What happens at this event? Which target group do you address and what added value do you offer the participants?

Steffi: The #DWSC is the conference for digital workplace strategies, transformation, solutions, and technologies. It takes place annually, with the venue varying each year. In 2019 it will take us to Hamburg on 13.11.2019. At this event, over 30 user presentations will be presented to the guests, this means that companies talk about their experiences with the Digital Workplace. In addition to the lectures, networking is at the forefront of our event. More than 250 users and experts will come together at this conference to exchange views on the various facets of modern digital work.

LineUpr: Which channels and strategies do you use to address your target group?

Steffi: We use a variety of social media services such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Xing. We also have a newsletter to share information. Of course, we also present relevant information about the #DWSC on our website. We also use Eventbrite as a ticketing tool and advertise the #DWSC using AdWords.

LineUpr: Do you also use printed products for marketing the event or for distributing information on-site?

Steffi: Yes. In advance, we use postcards which we distribute at other events and give away at appointments with customers. At the #DWSC we distribute “save-the-date” tickets for the next #DWSC and we also publish advertising material throughout Communardo. Besides, I must admit that, parallel to the app, we also have the program in printed form. Although we can already reach the majority of our guests with the app, some simply prefer the printed program, so here we use a two-pronged approach.

LineUpr: Let’s get to the digital aspect now. Back then you were one of our first customers and even used us during the test phase for the Summit. Thanks again for your trust. What was the decisive argument for you to use an event app for your Summit?

Steffi: We are a digital company and therefore we always want to use digital channels. This also applies to our events. Also, the app impressed us then and now by its functionality. All of the event information is clearly presented in one place and always up to date. We can show our sponsors and use surveys and feedback to evaluate and improve our event afterward.

LineUpr: How do you use the app before, during and after the Digital Workplace Summit?

Steffi: In advance, we inform all of our participants through a mail about the event app. We also advertise the app on the printed program guide and it is talked about during the opening speech and during each session. The latter is especially very helpful.

In the app, we then use the usual. We communicate our constantly updated program to the speakers, present our sponsors with profiles and also use the feedback survey.

LineUpr: How did your attendees react to the app?

Steffi: I think the feedback was quite positive. So far we have not actively asked for feedback on the app. But we always get some “Likes” during the lectures. This allows us to assess well in advance which topics are of particular importance to our guests. Unfortunately, our feedback survey is not being used as well as we would like. That’s a shame, because the feedback would undoubtedly be very helpful for future events.

LineUpr: Which top three tips would you like to give other organizers for the use of LineUpr?

Steffi: Promote the app! People need to know that you are using an event app to benefit from the advantages and added value. Feedback surveys help you plan your next event – this app makes it easy for you to create such surveys. Do not create the app just before your event. The app can also be used in advance by the guests. This will give you a first impression of your visitors.

LineUpr: Thanks for the nice interview Steffi. We were able to gain great insights into your event planning. This will undoubtedly help other organizers.

Take part in the #DWSC and experience the feeling on-site. More information can be found at Communardo. Besides, of course, Communardo is also represented on the relevant social media platforms. Visit them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and XING.

We are already looking forward to the next edition of the #DWSC.

The post Event Apps for Conferences – An Interview with Steffi Fichte from Communardo first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

Is my house or apartment barrier-free? A question that becomes more and more important with age. Many home builders or apartment seekers have been ignoring this question for far too long. Maike Zimmermann is someone who comes into contact with this topic professionally. She is responsible for the digital offerings and the online area of the bfb barrier-free building business area at the media company Rudolf Müller.

Since 2017, she has been using the LineUpr App for communication at this conference. This interview will tell you why the app is being used for the third time, why paper products are still offered to some participants and what exactly an event app does. Enjoy reading. ?

LineUpr: Hello Maike. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and the media company Rudolf Müller.

Maike: The Rudolf Müller Media Group is one of the leading specialist information providers in the fields of planning, construction, real estate, and trade marketing. We used the LineUpr app for the business area “bfb barrier-free building”.

LineUpr: What role do events play for you?

Maike: Events are becoming more and more important to us. We offer a variety of formats: from seminars and workshops to conferences including trade show or exhibitions. The imparting of specialist knowledge and the practical implementation, as well as the exchange of experts and participants among each other, are the center of attention.

LineUpr: Who is the target audience of these events and which channels and strategies do you use to reach them?

Maike: In the field of bfb barrier-free building, we address all building contractors, mainly architects, specialist planners, experts, and anyone who comes into contact with the structural provisions on accessibility. We reach our target audience largely via our newsletter and our website, but also via printed media such as through our magazines.

LineUpr: Do you also use printed products to market the events or to distribute the information on-site? If so, which and why?

Maike: In advance, in addition to the app and digital marketing, there is always a program flyer that reaches our potential participants in various ways. It is, for example, published in journals, distributed at other events or explicitly sent.

Why not exclusively digital? – To reach our target group as completely as possible, we consciously rely on a media mix. Although the focus of our marketing is digital, we find that some of our customers are quite analogous on the move. Both are also on site, for example, printed conference materials and digital conference materials in PDF format so everyone can enjoy their favorite format.

LineUpr: You have already used LineUpr twice for the barrier-free building conference. How did you learn about LineUpr and what was the decisive argument for you to use an event app?

Maike: I looked at the app after LineUpr specifically emailed me and presented the app. At the time we were not explicitly looking for an app – also because of the costs, as it was a new event format with an initially small budget. The excellent price-performance ratio of LineUpr persuaded us to give it a try. The handling is easy and comfortable. Almost everything is customizable so that the app can be well adapted to our needs and design ideas. We use the app every time now.

LineUpr: How did you use the app before, during and after the conference?

Maike: We use the app especially in advance to have all information about the event bundled in one place, which can then be referred to for interested parties. It, therefore, helps with marketing, but the already registered participants can also always be kept up to date through the app and can be informed about any changes. We refer to the app in our newsletters, on our website, and on all advertising material. Also, the app informs guests about the participating manufacturers in the specialist exhibition.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Maike: The app was very well received by our sponsors and exhibitors, as it provides a presence both before and after the actual event. We did not receive targeted feedback from participants, but the app was used very diligently. (We should probably ask at the next conference, good idea ?)

LineUpr: Has the event or organization changed somehow because of the event app?

Maike: No, so far we have mainly used the app as an information tool. On-site during the event, it was not used, for example, for surveys, downloads, etc.

LineUpr: Which top three tips for the use of LineUpr would you like to give to other organizers?

Maike: Include the app early enough so that it can be used before, during and after the event. Otherwise, the usage itself is very self-explanatory and logical.

LineUpr: Thank you for the great interview Maike. We’re seeing increasing digitalization at construction events, but you’re definitely a few steps ahead of the usual events in this field.

If you’re interested in Maike’s events, be sure to visit the barrier-free building website or visit XING.

We are already looking forward to your next events and to how we can support them with LineUpr.

The post Event Apps for Conferences – Experience of the Rudolf Müller Media Group first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

How does direct selling work? Which strategies do Tupperware and Vorwerk use? Andrea Rose can answer these questions. She is responsible for events at the German Direct Selling Association (DSA).

In 2018, the DSA first used an event app for its most important event, the DSA Direct Selling Congress. In this interview, she tells us more about what she was looking for in an event app and how the participants of the congress responded to the app. Again, a great customer story with exciting insights for us. ?

LineUpr: Hello Andrea. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and the German Direct Selling Association (DSA).

Andrea: The German Direct Selling Association (DSA), as an association of the German Direct Sales industry, represents the interests of well-known direct selling companies, such as Tupperware, Avon, and Vorwerk. We have 55 member companies that distribute household goods, building materials, food, wine, cosmetics, jewelry and accessories, pet food and energy services, among others. There are more than 850,000 independent distribution partners throughout Germany who sell goods and services worth more than € 17 billion to end consumers. I have been responsible for the events of the DSA for three years and have been working in this exciting sector for over 25 years. Before I went to the DSA, I worked in marketing for various direct sales companies.

LineUpr: What role do events play for the DSA? What events does the DSA organize?

Andrea: Direct selling is a people business. Personal relationships and communication play a significant role. DSA events give our members the opportunity to exchange ideas, engage in intensive networking and inform themselves about trends in the industry. Events are crucial for successful association work. Once a year, the industry meets at the DSA Direct Selling Congress, our most important association meeting. Also, within our committees and working groups, we organize other meetings to discuss industry-relevant topics.

LineUpr: Which target groups do you address with these events and which channels and strategies do you use to reach them?

Andrea: The target groups of our events are first and foremost our members and cooperation partners, but also potential members and guests from science and politics. We contact them directly by e-mail and through our association’s media.

LineUpr: You used LineUpr for the DSA Direct Selling Congress. How did you hear about us and what was the decisive argument for you to use an event app?

Andrea: First and foremost, we were looking for a tool for our polls. During my research, I came across LineUpr and was thrilled with the product, the price-performance ratio, and the first-class support.

With the app, we could always provide our participants easily and uncomplicatedly with the latest information. In addition, it relieves us of critical organizational tasks.

LineUpr: Have you used event apps in the past? If so, what are your experiences with it? If not, what has been against such apps so far?

Andrea: So far, the costs, the development effort and the safety aspects of our members have been against using an app. Many are not allowed to load apps on their company phones. The LineUpr shortcut also solved this challenge.

LineUpr: How did you use the app before, during and after the congress?

Andrea: We sent the link to the app – along with a short guide about downloading the shortcut to your smartphone – with the invitation to the DSA Direct Selling Congress.

Under “Info” we put some organizational information and a link to the hotel, through which the participants could conveniently book their rooms.

Of course, we also published the agenda.

The “Surveys” were most important to us because we used them for our polls and feedback at the end of the event.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Andrea: The visitors to the DSA Direct Selling Congress were very enthusiastic, especially because the surveys worked so well and quickly. Some want to use LineUpr for their own events.

LineUpr: Great. ? We want to grow daily and provide our customers with a better experience, what features do you wish for the app and why?

Andrea: In the DSA, some members have more than one vote, which makes the evaluation of votes difficult. It would be a huge relief if these weighted votes could be reflected in the “Surveys” section.

LineUpr: Which top three tips would you like to give other organizers using LineUpr?

Andrea: The “Surveys” section offers many ways to make events interactive. We have decided to use them even more for the next events.

LineUpr: Thank you for the great interview, Andrea. There were some interesting aspects here. We want to improve our survey feature further, so feedback is always very important.

More information about the DSA is available on their website and Twitter. Besides, the DSA has also prepared fantastic explanatory films for you about their work.

We look forward to your next events and to how we can support them with LineUpr.

The post Event Apps for Congresses – Experiences of the German Direct Selling Association first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

The focus of today’s interview is Christian Strebe. He works for Univations and supports young start-ups in their development. We got to know Christian for the first time in 2016 and convinced him about LineUpr through a pitch contest. Since then, Univations uses LineUpr for their Pitch Day.

In the conversation, Christian tells us more about pitch day, how and why he uses an event app from LineUpr and what he wants for LineUpr’s future. Have fun while reading. ?

LineUpr: Hello Christian. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and Univations.

Christian: Hello. My name is Christian Strebe and I’m a Project Manager at Univations and help start-ups succeed. Univations is an affiliated institute at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg and is active in the field of knowledge and technology transfer. In this role, for example, we implement several projects for the university, the state of Saxony-Anhalt or the federal government. One of them is the Investforum Start-up Service, where the primary goal is to help start-ups with capital acquisition.

LineUpr: In this context, you are the Organizer of the Investforum Pitch-Day. Tell us something more about this event.

Christian: We organize the Investforum Pitch-Day once a year, in order to consciously attract the attention of investors to Saxony-Anhalt. It’s a classic matching event where start-ups meet investors. The start-ups, which we advise all year and make investor ready, present themselves together with start-ups who apply for regular participation.

LineUpr: As far as I know, the Pitch-Day is one of the most significant start-up events in central Germany. How did you develop this status with so much competition?

Christian: We have been organizing the Pitch Day since 2009. We were the first to offer an event of this kind in central Germany. Today it looks different, which is good. The scene in Central Germany is quite small and the participants know each other and support each other. We’ve managed to get many investors to value our event in terms of quality. Besides, we put a lot of love and commitment into the preparation of the teams and the event, and both the investors and start-ups notice this.

LineUpr: You have already used LineUpr for the third time at the Investforum Pitch-Day. What was the decisive argument for you to use an event app?

Christian: And we will use LineUpr again this year! We always think about how we can easily communicate event information – organization, agenda, location, etc. – together with information about the start-ups and investors to the participants at the event. In the past, we spent the weekend before the event preparing our magazine – which took a lot of time and nerves and which already became outdated right after printing. Today’s event apps are much more comfortable.

LineUpr: Great. ? Have you used event apps before? If so, what were your experiences?

Christian: We used an app for the first time in 2015. We wanted to make everything sophisticated, the participants should communicate with each other through the app and arrange meetings at the event. Our experiences were very sobering. In addition to the very high price, the operation was in terms of content maintenance a disaster. Furthermore, we needed a lead time of 8 weeks so that the app could also be published in the stores. Then updates always had to be downloaded and in the end, hardly anyone used the app because you had to sign up for it and the matching function did not work either.

When you applied to participate at the Pitch-Day 2016, I was immediately impressed by the app. The simplicity was convincing and everything worked great at the premiere in 2016.

LineUpr: How do you use the app before, during and after the Pitch-Day?

Christian: Since we have a closed group of investors and start-ups, we communicate the app with password protection about two weeks before the event. First of all, we enter the information of the selected start-ups and then link them to Onepagers and Pitch-Decks, which are stored on our servers. Only the investors have access to these via a password. This allows investors to identify the start-ups with which they want converse in advance. On the day itself, we point out program items via the app’s push function and officially thank our sponsors, for example. This year, we also want to make the public vote for the best start-up through the app. After the event, we conduct a survey through the app to collect feedback.

LineUpr: How do your visitors react to the app?

Christian: We’re integrating questions about the app into our survey, and so far, almost everyone has praised it and found it entirely sufficient. On the day of the event, we see a lot of people who use the app. The uncomplicated access to all relevant functions and the good operability are very much appreciated.

LineUpr: We want to grow daily and offer our customers a better experience, what features do you wish for the app and why?

Christian: I think it would be good if you could divide a program point into more small sections. Especially for pitch sessions, it’s important to be able to allocate extra time to different start-ups assigned to a session. Also, some want to use a matching function. Maybe it would be enough to offer another optional feature that says I would like to talk to this person or company. Since the user does not register, the app would automatically have to recognize this request, manage a predefined slot and push both parties to one place at a time. It might also make sense to create two or more versions of the event app to provide specific information to different audiences. The selection can be made using different passwords. This makes it even more individual to the participants.

LineUpr: Which top three tips would you like to give other organizers for the use of LineUpr?

Christian: 1. Use the ability to import information from a past event for a new one. This usually saves us a lot of time. 2. Track the usage either through Google Analytics or a special link for example Bitly. 3. Inform visitors at the event that there is an app and how it can be used.

LineUpr: Thank you, Christian, for the great interview. As a former participant of the Pitch-Day, we know from our own experience, what a great job you do. We can highly recommend everyone’s participation.

If you want to know more about Investforum Startup-Service or the Pitch-Day, have a look on the internet. There is also regular news on Twitter and Facebook.

We are already looking forward to the 2019 edition.

The post Event Apps for Demo Days – Experiences of Christian Strebe from the Investforum Startup-Service first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

Finance and employee management- topics that are highly relevant to any business but unfortunately sometimes associated with negative emotions. However, thanks to our guest today, a lot has been done here. Sage offers innovative solutions that help companies streamline their processes in these areas and provide employees with joy at work.

Digitalization and the implementation of the latest technologies play a crucial role for Sage. For this reason, in 2017 and 2018 the Sage Summit Tour is held, during which more than a thousand decision-makers are informed about the most important developments. Co-organizer of the Summit is Patricia Russ. She will tell us more about Sage and the tour. Besides, she will also share her experiences with the use of an event app and tell you what you should consider. Have fun while reading. ?

LineUpr: Hello Patricia. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and Sage.

Patricia: My name is Patricia Russ and I’ve been working for Sage as Channel Marketing Manager for over 10 years. My team was responsible for organizing the Sage Summit Tour this year, among other things.

Like all successful companies we support today, Sage started as a start-up. Originally our founder David Goldman wanted to automate the accounting processes in his own company. Working with a team of Newcastle University students, he developed software that made that possible – and quickly realized that other companies could benefit as well. Then he founded Sage in 1981. Today, Sage employs 13,000 people and supports millions of customers from 23 countries in Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Latin America.

Sage provides solutions to all requirements in finance or human resources management and equips companies with everything they need to be successful: options, support, experience, and innovation.

LineUpr: You used LineUpr for the Sage Summit Tour. What is this event?

Patricia: Get Digital. Grow Faster. This year’s dynamic motto stood for our Sage Summit Tour, which stopped on the 17 and 18 April 2018 in Hamburg.

We welcomed over 1,400 decision-makers from many medium-sized companies into the Port of Hamburg in the glorious sunshine weather. Our main topics were, above all, innovative technologies and the trends of the next years. Everything was focused on the digital future. We documented the highlights in our after movie.

LineUpr: How do you reach this target group? Which channels and tools do you use for marketing and presentation?

Patricia: We invited the participants mainly with our newsletters and mailings.

LineUpr: Back to the topic Event Apps. How did you become aware of LineUpr and what is the decisive argument for you to use an event app?

Patricia: We found LineUpr via internet research and were immediately impressed because it was exactly what we were looking for and how we imagined an event app.

LineUpr: Have you used event apps in the past? If so, what are your experiences and why did you choose LineUpr for this event?

Patricia: We used an event app for the first time last year. However, this was not user-friendly and for this reason, we have been looking for a new solution for this year.

LineUpr: How did you use the app before, during and after the summit this year?

Patricia: Before the Sage Summit Tour, we used the App to communicate the agenda, so that each participant could put together their own personalized agenda, as well as organizational information such as sponsors, directions, parking and hotel recommendations.

During the event, we used the agenda in particular with the information about the rooms and speakers as well as the feedback function.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Patricia: Our visitors loved the app and we got a lot of positive feedback.

LineUpr: We want to grow daily and offer our customers a better experience, what features do you wish for the app and why?

Patricia: Hiding the agenda of the day before: As our schedule was quite complex and involved several parallel workshops, such a function would be important to us.

Posts with direct links to surveys: Feedback is very important to us and we hope to reach more participants during the event with such a possibility.

Presentation of the survey results as PDF version: The display of the survey results in the app is excellent and a possibility to download them for a presentation and for subsequent evaluations would be beneficial.

LineUpr: Is there a unique story from the last Summit, which you would like to share with us?

Patricia: During the event planning, we had a 14-year-old intern on our team and she supported us in particular with the app. She started to fill the app with content without any instructions and immediately got on with all functions.

LineUpr: Which three top tips for the use of LineUpr would you like to give other organizers on the way?

Patricia: Use the app before the event with all the essential information. Mention the app during the event again and again and tell the participants about the download link multiple times. And take advantage of all the features, especially the feedback options, and inform the participants about it.

LineUpr: Thank you, Patricia, for the pleasant interview. For us, it is always a great enrichment to directly experience how our customers use the LineUpr app and how we can further improve our functionality. Of course, there is more information about Sage on their homepage. We can also recommend their social media profiles on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There you can find more exciting content.

We look forward to your future events and to how we can enrich them with our apps.

The post Event Apps for Summits – Experiences of the Sage Summit Tour first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

Agencies and event apps. That sounds like a perfect match. Event organizers are asking more and more event agencies for digital solutions such as event apps. On behalf of the digital agency screenform digital, we have Stefan Löchelt as a guest on our blog today.

Stefan tells us a little more about the use and the success of the event app at the Sennheiser Summit 2018 in Berlin.

LineUpr: Hello, Stefan. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and your company personally. What are your goals?

Stefan: screenform digital was founded in 1996 as an agency for digital media, as an offshoot of an advertising agency. We offer services for medium-sized industrial customers, from web portals to special communication solutions and digital support for customer events.

LineUpr: For the first time you have used an event app for the Sennheiser Summit. What were the decisive arguments for using an event app?

Stefan: The trigger was to supplement the printed agenda at this event. Next year we will replace it completely. Then there were a whole series of other app feature requests, but for this premiere, we limited ourselves to basic functions such as locations, speaker information and further information next to the agenda.

LineUpr: Have you already used event apps in advance and if so, what are your experiences with them?

Stefan: Yes, but we have had very different experiences. Sometimes the event app was only a supplement to an enterprise solution, often not processed in a modern way. This is different at LineUpr. It was also positive that LineUpr is “only” a WebApp – our customer has a very strict regulation, which native Apps from the AppStore may be installed, changes are hardly possible.

LineUpr: Interesting. How did you use the app before, during and after the event?

Stefan: The EventApp was only used during the event. The QR code was shown in the WelcomeLetter, on large banners and at the SupportDesk the QR code. That’s why it was really easy to use the app. The basis was the agenda, together with detailed information about speakers, location, rooms as well as further information about restaurants and bars nearby. We didn’t make much use of the post function. We didn’t use the option to offer the distribution of documents, because the customer documents had to be protected against third parties (we then handled them via another platform).

We have misused the survey function: here the users could submit their input/questions for the event-closing Q&A session.

LineUpr: This is no misuse. We wanted to make this possible. To make this even easier in the future, we even revised our survey function a short while ago. Now you can create Q&A surveys directly.

How did your visitors react to the app?

Stefan: Already during the event there was positive feedback about the app.

After the event we carried out – as always – an anonymous survey – here the entire event could be evaluated. Also the EventApp. 151 participants gave feedback (from 5 stars to 1 star) and the LineUpr EventApp got 4.21 stars – a very positive result for us.

LineUpr: That sounds awesome. If you have to compare past events with today’s, how have they changed through the use of LineUpr?

Stefan: The event has not changed fundamentally due to the use of the app. However, the users’ expectations have changed – ideas have already been brought to us as to which additional functions should be implemented, e.g. export of the agenda as ics file and better possibility to create an individual agenda.

LineUpr: Well, then we have something to do ?. What other difficulties do you face in the planning, marketing, and execution of events?

Stefan: At events, we have more logistical problems with spontaneous change requests (participants do not fit into one room, caterers cannot deliver as agreed, spontaneous change requests of the stakeholders).

LineUpr: Completely different topic: digitization. How is this development changing your work around events?

Stefan: Digital help systems are of course used by us in the planning and execution of events if it makes sense. We are currently evaluating new invitation management software as requirements have changed in recent years. In principle, all communication with the participants (from the invitation and participation/entrance to the provision of documents and a final survey) is purely digital. But we already took this step several years ago and in the meantime, it will probably be standard for every event.

LineUpr: Finally, do you have three top tips for using LineUpr for other organizers?

Stefan: No, not three top tips. But before you use an app, you should deal with the possibilities and its adaptability in advance.

LineUpr: Thank you, Stefan, for the great interview. We are already looking forward to your next events and how we can support them with LineUpr.

The post Great Success of the First Event App (4.2 of 5 Stars) – Experiences of the Sennheiser Summit first appeared on LineUpr Blog.