The document discusses trends in event technology, including that future event tech will be built on technologies that are not yet mainstream, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. It also suggests that event tech will either consolidate into a single large platform or remain highly fragmented. Additionally, it predicts that jobs in the events industry will be redesigned around new technologies, with event professionals taking on roles like experience curators or meeting consultants that combine soft skills with technological capabilities.

1. The Future of Event Tech:
Preparing You for 2018 & Beyond!
Dan Berger
Founder, CEO
Social Tables

2. About Social Tables
Nearly 300 events have been hosted at STHQ (pictured) since it opened in December 2016.
● More than $22mm raised from top-tier investors.
● Approximately 5,000 customers.
● Over 3 million successful events executed.
● 93% customer retention rate.
● Over 100 Tablers.

3. Face-to-face interactions
must be successful.
We are connecting the hospitality
industry through effortless event
planning to get there.

4. Group Sales
Group Distribution
Event Services
Event Execution
An End-to-End Group Sales & Service Platform for
Hotels & Venues to Increase Revenue and Drive Loyalty
@danberger | #techsytalk

5. A Suite of Free Products for
Event & Meeting Professionals
@danberger | #techsytalk
Accurate Diagramming Seating Charts & Check-In
Sourcing & Discovery at
search.socialtables.com

6. Trends to watch for
#eventprofs

7. Machines can do many physical things that humans do.
@danberger | #techsytalk
Source: Where machines could replace humans—and where they can’t (yet).
McKinsey.

8. Machines can understand us as well as we can.
@danberger | #techsytalkSource: Internet Trends 2017 Report. Meeker, Mary.

9. Event tech will
leverage the closing
gap between human
abilities and those of
machines.
Takeaway
@danberger | #techsytalk

10. Investments are a leading indicator of what’s ahead.
@danberger | #techsytalkSource: BI Intelligence, CBInsights
Investments in Artificial Intelligence

11. Takeaway
Tomorrow’s event
tech will be built on
technologies and
platforms that are
currently not
mainstream.
@danberger | #techsytalk

12. Source: Pitchbook
Tech acquisitions have been increasing for the past
decade.
@danberger | #techsytalk

13. There are not many event tech companies today.
IPO Date 2011 2013 1999 ??
Buyout Date 2013 2016
@danberger | #techsytalkSource: CrunchBase

14. ● A vertical market is one in which all of
your customers are in one particular
industry.
● A horizontal market is one in which all of
your customers use your product to do
the same thing, regardless of industry.
● The events industry uses a mix of vertical
software (registration, project
management) and horizontal software
(audience response, apps).
Events are neither horizontal nor vertical.
@danberger | #techsytalk

15. Event tech will either
consolidate (one big
platform) or stay
highly fragmented
(many little products).
Takeaway
@danberger | #techsytalk

16. Event tech has not been thoughtful about opportunities.
@danberger | #techsytalk
Source: Economic Significance of Meetings to the US Economy (2018). Events
Industry Council | Oxford Economics

17. Event Tech will follow
industry spending
patterns and focus on
the highest grossing
categories: F&B and
A/V.
Takeaway
@danberger | #techsytalk

18. Takeaway
@danberger | #techsytalk
Large vendors will
start offering Event
Tech to grow revenues
and differentiate.

19. Intermediaries dominate the group segment.
@danberger | #techsytalk
Percent of group rooms revenue that is
intermediated by third parties
Source: Kalibri Labs | U.S. Groups and Meetings | SPECIAL REPORT 2018

20. There will be
on-demand event
booking technology to
drive down costs &
enhance service.
Takeaway
@danberger | #techsytalk

21. Case Study: The Farmer
@danberger | #techsytalk
Source: How to Win with Automation (Hint: It’s Not Chasing Efficiency);
Wikipedia
● In 1900, the U.S. had 30 mm farmers.
● In 1990, there were under 3 million ...even
as the population tripled.
● 90% of American agriculture workers lost
their jobs, mostly due to automation.
● Yet somehow, the 20th century was an
era of unprecedented prosperity.

22. Automation vs. Augmentation
@danberger | #techsytalkSource: Beyond Automation, HBR, 2015
Automation
● Starts with a baseline of what a
human can do.
● Deploys computers to chip
away at these tasks.
Augmentation
● Starts with what humans do
today.
● Figures out how that work
could be deepened with
technology.

23. Automation + Augmentation =
Human-centered Automation
Reframing the automation conversation
@danberger | #techsytalk
The use of automation to enhance
the capabilities of humans... and
compensate for the limitations of
human operators.

24. Redesigning modern jobs for the future
@danberger | #techsytalkSource: How to Win with Automation (Hint: It’s Not Chasing Efficiency)
● Doctors can have the world’s medical
knowledge at their fingertips.
● They can use technology to help them be
more effective by augmenting their work;
and
● Devote more of their mental energy to
understand the patient as a person, not a
diagnosis.

25. What do redesigned jobs look like in our industry?
@danberger | #techsytalk
AV techs Learning partners
Caterers Experience curators
Event planners Business event strategists
Hotel sales people Meeting consultants

26. The jobs in our
industry will be
redesigned around
technology.
Takeaway
@danberger | #techsytalk

27. Soft skills become more indispensable over time.
@danberger | #techsytalkSource: Automation Will Make Us Rethink What a “Job” Really Is

28. Takeaway
Despite technological
advances, events will
realize the most value
from human beings.
@danberger | #techsytalk

29. Create better events, together.
Get in touch >> dan@socialtables.com
Give me your card >> slides in your inbox