PheedLoop Virtual & Hybrid Event Management Platform [Review]

PheedLoop is an all-in-one event management software that offers solutions for live, hybrid, and virtual events. Here is our review.

PheedLoop: What Is It?

PheedLoop is a comprehensive event management platform that includes various features, such as an event app, exhibitor and speaker management, event website, and registration system as well as a virtual event platform.

PheedLoop not only offers event software, but also provides badges, on-site support, on-site check-in systems, and hardware for live events. The platform features a dedicated virtual portal for fully virtual events and regularly incorporates customer feedback into their developmental pipeline.

From the main dashboard, planners can configure everything from the event app to the registrations and can access live support if they need assistance when building out their event. Event stakeholders including speakers and exhibitors are also provided with dedicated portals to be able to view and manage their information and tasks related to the event such as lead retrieval, contracts, polls, designs, file uploads and more.

Main Feature Categories

The software includes a native virtual event platform with a built-in video meeting system, which also allows for third-party integrations. The virtual platform offers an exhibit hall feature where attendees can visit booths and speak with exhibitors via both messaging or video, as well as context-aware networking capabilities that allow attendees to chat with others who are currently in the same virtual booth or session. In addition, exhibitors are able to capture leads along with files and view both a list of attendees who are currently at their booth as well as those who have previously visited.

Event Registration. One of PheedLoop’s main modules is a registration system that can be accessed from the main dashboard and is embeddable on other websites. The system allows planners to manage everything related to registration, including ticket prices and promotions, waitlists, badge design, and virtual event sales. The registration dashboard also includes registrations that are in-progress but not completed to give planners visibility into how many leads follow through and enable them to send reminders to those that haven’t to help events attract more attendees. PheedLoop also has several association specific features such as member only registration, credit tracking, and schedule selection.

Event App. PheedLoop automatically creates an event app based on the information provided for each event input on the platform. The app can be white-labeled if needed and is available for both iOS and Android, and as a mobile web app. It includes interactive schedules, push notifications, badge scanning, lead retrieval, messaging, 15 different gamification options with prizes, and check-in capabilities for sessions (to track CU credits) as well as the event as a whole.

On-Site Products and Technology. In addition to event management software, PheedLoop also provides hardware and on-site services, including badge printing, staffing, and check-in system rentals.

Speaker, Sponsor, and Exhibitor Management. As part of PheedLoop’s decentralization philosophy, stakeholders — including speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors — are able to access dedicated portals within the platform to update their information themselves and view tasks that need to be completed leading up to the event. The platform sends automated reminders for assigned tasks and also takes care of sending materials directly to the necessary recipient, removing the need for planners to act as a middleman. All changes made by stakeholders in these portals sync in real-time with an event’s mobile app, website, virtual event portal, and API.

Event Website. Another feature module included with PheedLoop is event websites. When an event is created within the platform, a website is automatically generated, similar to the event app. The website includes basic templates that can be customized, as well as widgets that can be embedded on external websites.

Call for Proposals. PheedLoop offers a system for call for proposals and abstracts that allow planners to collect speaker and session information and run review panels. Accepted proposals are instantly added to the schedule and various event portals, reducing the need to export and import data across platforms. This feature would be of particular interest to associations and academic events.

Review

PheedLoop’s platform is relatively complex and offers a variety of feature modules for live, hybrid, and virtual events. The focus of PheedLoop’s tool is on four pillars: integration, automation, decentralization, and monetization.

The main dashboard acts as the launching pad for all of the platform’s features and includes a summary of the event details as well as how many speakers, attendees, and exhibitors have confirmed along with the number of ticket sales. Planners can manage everything around registration, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, proposals, communications, and surveys, as well as the event app and website.

Through Event Portals, organizers can access all of the external interfaces created by PheedLoop, such as the Event Application, Event Website, Call for Proposals, and the Virtual Event system. Any change that is made anywhere in the platform is automatically updated across all event materials and portals. PheedLoop also emphasizes tracking and analytics, and provides both planners and exhibitors with as much data as possible. This includes lead data on in-progress registrations, exhibitor and sponsor applications, and booth visitors.

On the virtual side of things, PheedLoop includes a full virtual event platform that can be used for both fully-online and hybrid events. It integrates with several third-party services to enable live-streams and focuses on providing real-time and social experiences. The virtual platform provides presence tracking and context-aware chats, meaning that attendees can view who else is currently in the same area of the virtual environment, whether it be a session or exhibitor booth. They can then join the public chat for that area or send a private message to any of the other attendees.

Virtual attendees and exhibitors can also interact through the Exhibit Hall and Networking features. Attendees are able to visit booths and request more information, which generates a lead for the exhibitor in their dedicated portal. For more direct conversations, attendees and exhibitors can message privately or start a live video call within the platform for demos or a quick chat.

Who’s it For?

Many of PheedLoop’s customers are associations, but the tool is also geared towards corporate clients, agencies, and educational institutions planning any type of conference, trade show, or other meetings. PheedLoop is ideal for planners looking for an all-in-one platform that can handle many different tasks and is designed for small or distributed teams that are running big events on a budget.

Who’s it Not For?

The software’s virtual platform isn’t available for organizations who deal with fewer than 100 attendees per year, so it is only relevant to somewhat larger events. It also may not be the best platform for those looking for a more simple tool, like just a registration system. While its features can be used separately from one another, the platform may be overwhelming for someone who’s not planning to take advantage of more than a single feature.

Features

Real-time updates: Given that PheedLoop integrates many different tools, it updates live across all of its features. For example, if planners make an update to the event schedule or an exhibitor updates their booth information, it will automatically update on the event website, app, virtual event portal, and all other event materials.

Gamification: PheedLoop allows for the integration of gamification elements within its event app. Event organizers are able to set point values to different touchpoints so that attendees can win points throughout the event without necessarily actively trying, view scores on the leaderboard, and win prizes.

E-commerce: PheedLoop’s app also has built-in e-commerce capabilities, allowing for the sale of products during the event. This feature can be used in conjunction with gamification by using points as payment for prizes.

Payment integrations: Attendees can purchase event tickets through the registration page through several payment gateways that can be integrated with the platform, including Chase, Stripe, and PayPal.

Exhibitor and sponsor applications: PheedLoop aims to make applications simple and trackable. The first step in all applications is designed to be easy and intuitive to fill out. This way, the platform can capture lead information in case an application is left off. Planners can then track whether applications have been completed and send follow-ups to exhibitors and sponsors as needed. Exhibitors can also select booths from an interactive floor plan.

Call for proposals: Similarly, PheedLoop’s Call for Proposals feature aims to help planners capture potential speaker applications as early as possible. The first page records contact information in order to remind interested parties to complete the application. Speakers can then go on to input session information and upload any relevant files. Once organizers accept applications, all the information is automatically added to the list of sessions and speakers within the platform.

Task management: Through the stakeholder portals, planners can input tasks that need to be completed by each sponsor, speaker, or exhibitor in preparation for the event. They can set due dates and descriptions for each task, and the stakeholders are automatically reminded before each task is due. They’re able to upload files, submit forms, mark the tasks as complete, and in turn, receive a notice when the task has been approved by the organization team. The notifications for the tasks can also be rerouted to the relevant recipient, meaning that they don’t necessarily have to go through the planner.

Virtual tickets: If planning a virtual event, organizers can enable virtual tickets within the registration management section of the platform. When attendees register for the event and purchase a ticket, they receive a confirmation email with a link to the portal as well as their individual log-in credentials that are automatically generated by the platform.

Sponsorship banners and logos: PheedLoop aims to provide various ways for planners to monetize their events, and one way it does so is through sponsorship opportunities. For example, the platform allows for banners and rotating logos across the top of portals  to display sponsoring companies, watermarks on sessions, and splash screens.

Live-stream integrations: PheedLoop’s virtual platform integrates with third-party live-streaming services such as Zoom, Vimeo, and ClickMeeting. Organizers can input the live-stream information into the platform, which will then connect and stream the video directly to PheedLoop’s virtual portal. This also allows planners to save money when compared to paying for a Zoom plan for thousands of attendees.

Context-aware chat: Throughout the virtual experience, attendees can see who else is in the same area. The list of attendees updates depending on where they are in the event, and they’re able to more easily network with people attending similar sessions or visiting the same booths.

Video chat: If an exhibitor directly messages an attendee, they are able to send text messages but also start a live video chat and share screens. This enables exhibitors to provide demos or simply have face-to-face conversations with potential leads. This same functionality applies to conversations between two attendees.

Virtual lead retrieval: Similar to scanning attendee badges at live events, exhibitors are able to capture leads through the virtual platform with user-generated leads. Attendees who visit each booth can click to request more information from the exhibitor, which automatically adds their contact information to the exhibitor’s private portal under the lead retrieval tab. Exhibitors then also have the ability to export the lists in Excel or PDF format.

Pricing and Plans

Pricing for the core system starts at $99/month (billed annually) and depends on the number of attendees as well as whether the event is in-person, virtual, or hybrid. An unlimited number of events can be run on the platform each year.

For in-person events, add-ons can also be purchased, including on-site staff support and check-in kiosks.

For virtual events specifically, depending on the modules required, pricing can be as low as $2/attendee for access to a lightweight version of the core system and dedicated account support.

Pros and Cons

In Conclusion

PheedLoop is a robust end-to-end event management platform that allows planners to manage their events in one place. It also provides automated tools designed to save time and empowers event stakeholders to manage their own information and tasks.

The software includes native virtual and hybrid event capabilities, which are especially relevant to planners looking for alternatives to fully-live events. It also introduces a new major feature every week, so it is regularly updated and improved.

Disclaimer: Reviews are paid for placements. While Event Manager Blog receives a fee to extensively look at the tool and review it in detail, the content of the review is independent and by no means influenced by the company. If you have any questions please use the contact us section.