A GLOBAL VIRTUAL EVENT TO ENGAGE AUDIO VISUAL PROFESSIONALS
Online
Client:
Crestron Electronics
Attendees:
14,000 registered
Engagement:
Two-day virtual conference
OUR APPROACH: ELEVATE. ENGAGE. DELIVER.
Challenge:
Crestron NEXT gives AV professionals across the world both an overview of, and in-depth dives into, new products and technologies for work, school, and smart homes. Because of COVID, the global event had to be entirely virtual, which was a first for Crestron. They needed to engage their customers – who are audio-visual engineering and production experts – for two days, across different time zones, and continents online.
The program also serves as a lead generation channel for Crestron’s sales team. This meant both the program and the platform had to be designed to yield the same level of sales opportunities as would an in-person event.
Lastly, Crestron is a truly global company with customers all over the world including mainland China. The event had to be accessible by those customers despite the challenges of streaming due to China’s internet restrictions.
Wellington Solution:
After strategizing with our client, we determined that the content and the platform would be equally important in how the event was designed. AV professionals would be more attuned to any glitch in the audio or video, and to keep them engaged throughout the event we would need to deliver content that they wouldn’t get elsewhere.
Our content plan included traditional components like keynote presentations, but we also developed product demonstrations, product stories, and live panels and roundtables with industry experts for over 400 sessions of content, including 20 concurrent sessions. A live Q&A immediately followed all general pre-recorded sessions, in 20 global regions and in the language of each region. We created 60 unique permission groups to connect attendees to their country- and specialty-specific sessions. To keep fatigue at bay, we also incorporated “entertainment breaks” featuring a comedian, a magician, and trivia.
Using the Pathable virtual event platform, we developed a custom website that followed Crestron’s brand standards and featured a welcome video on the home page, so the first element customers interacted with was human. Session summary guides, detailed attendee guides, and help videos were all easily accessible by attendees. Product Spotlight pages featured live chats with engineers, access to digital 3D models and spec sheets, and global sales teams had access to a hidden sales resource page with videos, 3D model links and downloadable sales collateral.
Sales teams were mobilized to engage with customers via live chat, video chat and in scheduled one-on-one video meetings. This multi-pronged approach allowed salespeople to meet customers in whatever way the customer was most comfortable and to answer questions immediately if needed.
Our comprehensive tech stack included simultaneous streaming via multiple stream solutions – including a solution that was tested with resources and customized for reception in mainland China., This approach enabled us to securely stream the event across the globe and into mainland China with no issues. Over 60 Wellington team members staffed the on-site production studio at the client’s headquarters to handle production, provide event support, serve as session monitors, and manage all IT.
Results:
Over 14,000 people in 108 countries participated in the event, which earned praise from the industry as well as from the client and from attendees.
“Thanks to the entire Wellington team! You guys have turned our vision into reality.” —Crestron
“REALLY impressed with the NEXT production. Only a few minutes in and they’ve put to shame the two most recent ‘national’ conventions.” —Attendee
At a glance: A two-day virtual conference to engage audio visual professionals across the world. Services included:
Virtual Event Logistics
Full Production Management
Virtual Attendee Engagement
Solutions to a Unique Need
Attendee Outreach, Including Education
Strategic Adjustments to an Approved Platform for an Elevated Experience
Event Ideation, Design & Creation
Analytic Analysis to Quantify Event Success
A GLOBAL VIRTUAL EVENT TO ENGAGE AUDIO VISUAL PROFESSIONALS
Online
Client:
Crestron Electronics
Attendees:
14,000 registered
Engagement:
Two-day virtual conference
OUR APPROACH: ELEVATE. ENGAGE. DELIVER.
Challenge:
Crestron NEXT gives AV professionals across the world both an overview of, and in-depth dives into, new products and technologies for work, school, and smart homes. Because of COVID, the global event had to be entirely virtual, which was a first for Crestron. They needed to engage their customers – who are audio-visual engineering and production experts – for two days, across different time zones, and continents online.
The program also serves as a lead generation channel for Crestron’s sales team. This meant both the program and the platform had to be designed to yield the same level of sales opportunities as would an in-person event.
Lastly, Crestron is a truly global company with customers all over the world including mainland China. The event had to be accessible by those customers despite the challenges of streaming due to China’s internet restrictions.
Wellington Solution:
After strategizing with our client, we determined that the content and the platform would be equally important in how the event was designed. AV professionals would be more attuned to any glitch in the audio or video, and to keep them engaged throughout the event we would need to deliver content that they wouldn’t get elsewhere.
Our content plan included traditional components like keynote presentations, but we also developed product demonstrations, product stories, and live panels and roundtables with industry experts for over 400 sessions of content, including 20 concurrent sessions. A live Q&A immediately followed all general pre-recorded sessions, in 20 global regions and in the language of each region. We created 60 unique permission groups to connect attendees to their country- and specialty-specific sessions. To keep fatigue at bay, we also incorporated “entertainment breaks” featuring a comedian, a magician, and trivia.
Using the Pathable virtual event platform, we developed a custom website that followed Crestron’s brand standards and featured a welcome video on the home page, so the first element customers interacted with was human. Session summary guides, detailed attendee guides, and help videos were all easily accessible by attendees. Product Spotlight pages featured live chats with engineers, access to digital 3D models and spec sheets, and global sales teams had access to a hidden sales resource page with videos, 3D model links and downloadable sales collateral.
Sales teams were mobilized to engage with customers via live chat, video chat and in scheduled one-on-one video meetings. This multi-pronged approach allowed salespeople to meet customers in whatever way the customer was most comfortable and to answer questions immediately if needed.
Our comprehensive tech stack included simultaneous streaming via multiple stream solutions – including a solution that was tested with resources and customized for reception in mainland China., This approach enabled us to securely stream the event across the globe and into mainland China with no issues. Over 60 Wellington team members staffed the on-site production studio at the client’s headquarters to handle production, provide event support, serve as session monitors, and manage all IT.
Results:
Over 14,000 people in 108 countries participated in the event, which earned praise from the industry as well as from the client and from attendees.
“Thanks to the entire Wellington team! You guys have turned our vision into reality.” —Crestron
“REALLY impressed with the NEXT production. Only a few minutes in and they’ve put to shame the two most recent ‘national’ conventions.” —Attendee
At a glance:
A two-day virtual conference to engage audio visual professionals across the world. Services included:
Virtual Event Logistics
Full Production Management
Virtual Attendee Engagement
Solutions to a Unique Need
Attendee Outreach, Including Education
Strategic Adjustments to an Approved Platform for an Elevated Experience
Event Ideation, Design & Creation
Analytic Analysis to Quantify Event Success
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Our Blog
Growth Mindset
How looking at the lessons of the ultra successful can be applied to companies in meaningful ways.
How Event Expectations Have Changed Since Last Year
So much has changed over the past year – including what people expect from events. What’s “normal” is a continually evolving concept, so what once seemed like a novelty can quickly become something people depend on having. In this post, we outline what audiences expect from events now – and how to deliver. On-Demand Content… Read more »
Our Blog / Growth Mindset
How looking at the lessons of the ultra successful can be applied to companies in meaningful ways.
How Event Expectations Have Changed Since Last Year
So much has changed over the past year – including what people expect from events. What’s “normal” is a continually evolving concept, so what once seemed like a novelty can quickly become something people depend on having. In this post, we outline what audiences expect from events now – and how to deliver. On-Demand Content… Read more »