The Top Event Management Tools Used by Event Planners in 2019

EventMobi conducted a survey this year to understand the current state of event management software technology for small and mid-size organizations. The results provide you with benchmarking insights to help compare your adoption and usage of event management software tools against industry peers. 

This article shares some of the data that was discovered related to the types of event management software planners are currently using. 

*Data is based on results from a survey conducted by EventMobi in 2019. There were 108 respondents from organizations with less than $100M USD annual revenue.

Before we begin, here are a couple of definitions to keep in mind:

Event Management Software Tools

Refers to tools that allow planners to digitize their event management and execution process.

Integrations

Integration capabilities enable planners to seamlessly connect their technologies to one another, thereby eliminating data silos and improving data visibility and reporting. 

Event Management Software & Integrations

Here’s a breakdown of survey results, starting with the percentage of event planners who use each of the following types of event management software tools:

Most popular types of event management software tools for 2019

On average, event planners use 2-5 different types of event management software tools:

Number of software management tools used by event planners in 2019

For event planners who use multiple providers, here is the percentage of them who have event management software technologies that integrate/connect with one another to allow for easy transfer of data:

Event planners with integrated event management software tools

These are the top five event management software tool integrations that are the most important to event planners in 2019:

Top 5 event tech software for event planners in 2019

The following are common challenges that planners face when using event management software tools: 

top 5 event tech challenges for event planners in 2019

The top tools most commonly used and integrated by Event Planners are already well established in the marketplace. However, with the advancement in event technologies over the past few years, many new innovative ways are now available that enhance the event planning experience.

In many cases, planners may be underutilizing features that are available to them in the tools and platforms they have already purchased. Reasons for the lack of utilization might include not knowing how to use the tools or understanding how they can be helpful, and/or not having the time to learn. 

With the majority of Event Planners using multiple event management tools (i.e. 83% use >1 provider), there is a greater need for integration. In fact, 70% of respondents said a lack of integration between their event software tools is the biggest challenge they encounter when trying to use them efficiently and effectively.

A lack of connectivity means that tools are incompatible with one another, training is required for each disparate tool, and more time is required to manage them all.

Here’s a breakdown of the number of people who are responsible for the ongoing management of their event management software tools:

Number of people needed to manage event tech in 2019

Events teams tend to be highly reliant on themselves to implement event technology. However, they often require help from their  IT team (e.g. for integrations), which takes time and energy away from core responsibilities. Ideally, someone on the events team needs to be tech-savvy or able to learn new technologies quickly in order to alleviate the stress placed upon other organizational functions.

Protip:

If you’re a team of one or don’t feel like your team has the necessary technical skills to build your event app, ask your vendor if they off full data management services. With this service, they will design your app, upload your content, plan your launch timelines, and offer strategic advice.

EventMobi offers this type of service. If interested, you can visit our website to learn more.  

Related Resources:

[Blog] Event Management Software Trends for Small and Mid-Size Organizations (Part 1)

[Blog] Event App Integrations—Basic Info, Examples and Answers To Commonly Asked Questions

[eBook] How to Get Approval for Your Event App