Hybrid, The Future of Virtual Events

Insights
July 7, 2023

Hybrid is about more than simply allowing delegates to livestream your in-person events. When done right, a hybrid event can be richer and more dynamic, blending the best of virtual and on-site experiences to reach more people in more powerful ways.

The innovative technology that supports hybrid working in all its many forms has grown massively in the last few years, and people have adapted to it. As the world continues to navigate the "new normal" it’s clear that hybrid will have an exciting role to play in the future of events and conferencing.

We've been working with world-leading organizations to help them navigate this new digital landscape and deliver seamless hybrid events on a global scale.

Below, we’ll outline four reasons why you should go hybrid.

1. Bring people together across time and distance

It’s not always feasible for businesses to send delegates to events, particularly if they require a lot of travel. Adding a virtual element means that anyone can attend, wherever they are. The same is true for speakers - going hybrid opens your event to the very best talent across the globe.

There are many reasons why someone might not be able to attend an event, such as illness or disability. By breaking down the geographic barriers, you gain more inclusivity and attract a diversity of skills and ideas. Whatever the aim of your event is, this can only be a good thing.

2. Reduce your carbon footprint

Events can generate a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions and leave a big carbon footprint. Offering a hybrid option means fewer people traveling by road or air to your event, and CO2 emissions will be greatly reduced. Having fewer people in one venue also uses fewer resources, like food, water, heat, and electricity. Even the emissions generated by transporting event materials like tables and chairs will be reduced.

Hybrid supports organizations’ sustainability goals and appeals to the growing number of individuals who are trying to achieve carbon net zero.

3. Allow your event to live on, long after it’s over

A lot of time and effort is invested in creating content for events, and for a traditional in-person format it typically has a very short lifespan.

Hybrid events are different—nearly everything will be digital. This means that participants can re-watch talks and presentations on-demand, long after the event is over. And anyone who couldn’t attend live can access videos and other materials at a time that suits them better.

Hybrid enhances the value of anything you create.

4. Add an interesting new dimension to your events

If you’ve been to Disneyland recently you might have used their new app that’s got everything from site maps to augmented reality, to enhance the visitor experience.

In today’s digital world, people have come to expect an online dimension to most experiences and the events world is no different. Hybrid events help organizations deliver a more vibrant experience for both virtual AND onsite audiences.

Event apps are key to this. SmartLab has a host of different features that can be tailored for a unique experience, such as:

  • Agendas
  • Live streams
  • Resource libraries
  • Collaboration and decision-making apps
  • Networking tools
  • And much more.

Hybrid is one of the greatest opportunities for the new digital reality we’re in. If we harness it to create powerful event experiences on a global scale, there is potential to create massive changes in our organizations.

SmartLab is the experience management platform used by big global players to ensure that their hybrid events go smoothly, are executed as planned, and captivate audiences across different time zones and places.

If you’d like to learn more about how SmartLab can help take your hybrid events to the next level, get in touch or request a demo.