Events are all about nurturing relationships. You host events to connect with leads and entice them with your brand. People attend events to learn more about the latest in their industry and to have the chance to build their relationships through networking. In this relationship-heavy atmosphere, CRM for events is a must. Bringing in software that can help you track these various relationships can make your entire planning process go smoother. You will have information about your leads and attendees so you can see how they interact before and during the event, helping you get the most out of the occasion. We will walk you through what a CRM can bring to your event planning process and what makes A2Z Events a leading choice for your CRM and event management. Understanding CRM for Events When it comes to planning events, CRMs have a unique role in your success. You interact with so many people throughout the planning and execution processes, that having a single place to track these contacts and make sense of your relationships will have infinite value. Let’s look at that value a bit more closely. What is a CRM? A CRM, or customer relationship management platform, is a way of organizing and managing your relationships and interactions with all the people your brand engages throughout the event planning process. From tracking registrations to vendor contracts, there is a lot of information to track. The CRM helps you streamline event management and improve relationships because you can keep track of the connection individually so you are ready to meet their needs. Key Features of CRMs for Events The optimal CRMs will bring some key features to your event planning process that you want to capitalize on. Here are the features you should look at to help you make the most of your platform. Contact Management The CRM will help you manage all the different people you have to keep in contact with throughout the event planning process and execution. This includes: Event attendees, including event registration and check-ins and how people interact with your brand throughout the process. Event vendors. You will need to prioritize tracking contracts with your vendors and making sure these relationships are properly managed for success. Event sponsors. This involves tracking people’s package purchases, making sure that all the perks they should receive are factored into the event execution, and managing the relationships properly. Event Scheduling A large component of effective event management comes down to scheduling all the different parts of the event, including the different speakers, breakout sessions, and activities. An effective CRM will help you with calendar management so that you can plan out the flow of each day and also help attendees and speakers understand how the different events are spaced. People can use this information to plan their own itineraries. Calendar management will also help you keep track of all the different components associated with planning the event. With calendar management, you can allocate tasks to different team members, track deadlines and important milestones, and make sure that everyone will finish their responsibilities in time. Registration and Ticketing Once you start advertising your event, you also need to have a system in place for collecting data on signups and ticket sales. With an effective CRM, you can coordinate this information directly with the rest of your customers’ information. This keeps all the valuable information together so you can make effective decisions and stay connected with your participants. Communication Tools Communication is the cornerstone of a successful event. From letting people know the value your event will offer to reminding people about the upcoming start day, you need an effective plan for staying in contact with your target audience and your attendees. The optimal CRM for events will offer you a variety of communication tools you can use to stay in touch with those involved. For example, you can send: Email reminders about important milestones, such as the start of ticket sales or the first day of a multi-day event. Updates about speakers secured for the event or other important information your attendees will want to know. Engagement and participation during the event. Your messages can solicit feedback about what people think during the event and their level of engagement with different parts of the activities. Reporting and Analytics Your CRM can also enhance your ability to understand the success of your event through reporting and analytics. These reports should contain insight into your participant tracking and the feedback you receive about people’s levels of engagement throughout the event. Your ROI analysis can then help you compare your event results with the initial investment and gain a better understanding of its impact on your bottom line. This will help you plan future events. Why Event Planners Need a CRM The value that a CRM for events offers presents a strong argument for its inclusion in the event planning process. Let’s look more closely at why event planners should employ them. Improved Organization Event planning requires looking at the details for various parts at once. Instead of trying to manage relationships with one vendor, you have a variety you have to stay on top of. You also have to think about coordinating with your attendees, volunteers, speakers, and sponsors. Planners with a CRM find it significantly easier to stay organized. You will have one place to keep all your information so it is easy to find the information you need and manage all your priorities at once. Enhanced Engagement Your CRM can also improve your engagement with all the different people needed for your event. Since you will find it easier to stay on top of your different contracts and deadlines, you will also better manage your connections with your attendees and sponsors. Sending out email reminders, keeping people informed, and managing relationships all become simplified thanks to the CRM. Increased Efficiency The features of your CRM for events simplify your organizational needs, which in turn will increase your efficiency. With automation options, such as email reminders, and a more organized dashboard with all your information at once, you have more time to focus on your event execution rather than administration. This helps you cut out many of the time-wasting tasks so you and your team work more effectively. As William Hutabarat of the American Society of Landscape Architects says, “Choosing A2Z Events is more than just a wise decision; it’s an investment that yields substantial returns.” A2Z Events: The Top Choice for Event Planning CRMs As you start to evaluate your CRM for events options, one name will quickly rise to the top: A2Z Events. As a leading event management option, A2Z Events offers businesses like yours the capabilities needed to organize successful events that interest attendees and drive engagement. Overview of A2Z Events A2Z Events was designed to simplify and manage everything related to event execution. With a comprehensive platform that can help you from start to finish with your event planning process, businesses who employ this platform quickly realize how much these features simplify their lives and improve their events. Key Features of A2Z Events To help you see the value that A2Z Events offers the CRM for events space, let’s look more closely at some critical features available. Comprehensive Event Management Tools With A2Z Events, you can access comprehensive event management tools that will take you from the start to the completion of your event. When you first start planning your event, you will access a comprehensive dashboard that helps you organize your tasks and connect with your team. You will have access to calendars and communication tools that make this entire process simpler. As you move forward in your planning stages, you can use features like floor plan management, contract and registration management tools, and revenue generation management to keep everything organized. Finally, A2Z Events makes it easy to stay on top of the entire planning process with exciting features like mobile apps, badge printing, and lead retrieval. User-Friendly Interface When you log into the A2Z Events system, you will also quickly encounter a welcoming, user-friendly interface that makes it straightforward to put the platform to use. The interface has been designed to be intuitive, making it easy for people to find the features and options they need immediately. Additionally, a searchable calendar helps all users find activities and plans. As the event moves forward, features like speaker profile tracking and easy hub access will enhance everyone involved with the event. Customization Options As you plan your event, you want to make sure that all features attendees encounter will reflect your brand and messaging. Fortunately, A2Z Events offers outstanding customization options allowing all users to tailor the CRM to meet their unique needs. When you first prepare to start using the platform, the A2Z Events team will work with you to get you set up for your specific event. You can customize your registration pages and event portals for consistent branding. You can also set up areas of your planning features to align with the specific needs of your team and the features of your event. For example, you can customize your session forms and the workflows you internally build. As you create registration pages and other internal forms,you can select your own fields and designations. A2Z Events makes it easy to build your own event materials that will reflect your organization. Mobile Access Finally, with everyone on their mobile devices today, A2Z Events has built a variety of successful mechanisms for on-the-go event management and attendee engagement. The A2Z Events platform allows you to take your planning with you through the mobile app. You can connect with your team and attendees even when you step away from the desk. During the event itself, the app makes it easy to monitor your management priorities and attendees’ needs directly from your phone. Your mobile app for the event is completely customized for your event. Your attendees can use the event app to plan out their own schedule and the network with others to enhance their experiences. Benefits of Using A2Z Events for Event Planners Once event managers turn to A2Z Events, they quickly encounter a variety of benefits that continue throughout the entire planning process. Streamlined Processes Thanks to the communication features, organizational capabilities, and automation capabilities, A2Z Events helps you streamline processes that will reduce wasted time and help you focus more on the execution of your event rather than the administrative side. With the automation features and the comprehensive nature of the platform, you also reduce the risk of errors that might arise from filling in data or transferring information from place to place. Enhanced Collaboration With A2Z Events, your team will access features that can enhance collaboration among your team so that everything goes smoothly. From communication tools to planning calendars and a unified, customized dashboard to keep all your information organized, users find that this platform makes it easier to keep everyone on the same page. Real-Time Data Tracking For you to know how your event succeeded and where you have room to improve, you need plenty of data. Tracking all the relevant statistics, from engagement around registration to how your attendees respond to different activities and speakers, can help you better gauge people’s interest. You can also interact directly with attendees through A2Z Events so that you can collect feedback. Following the event, the CRM features will allow you to track your attendees to see your conversion rates and how people respond to your brand. Other Notable CRMs for Event Planning Although A2Z Events is the top CRM for event planning, it is not the only option available. Here are a few other common names you will likely encounter. Cvent Cvent was designed specifically for event planners who need to manage large-scale events or even multiple events at once. The features here excel for these types of events, but may be too much for those with smaller event needs. Eventbrite Eventbrite has established itself as a strong event management platform for small to medium-sized events. Those who do not need all the features of the larger-scale platforms may find this option easier to navigate. Whova Whova can work well for event planners who really want to focus on attendee engagement. This platform includes a variety of tools for interacting with your attendees during the event, which can help you improve their experience and learn about what they want to see next time. Bizzabo Bizzabo also offers event management capabilities, with its setup particularly noted for hybrid event planning. Bizzabo can help you run both sides of the event effectively and cohesively, so you create a quality experience for all attendees. How to Choose the Right CRM for Your Events Choosing the optimal CRM for your events can feel like a challenge, but narrowing your decision down based on the following factors can make the decision easier. Assess Your Event Needs First, think about the types of events you typically run. Do you run large, multi-day events? Or smaller, internal events? What requirements do you have for your platform to help you run these types of events? Defining your event needs can help you narrow down the list of potential platforms immensely. Budgeting for a CRM Next, you will want to look at your budget size. Your budget will likely depend on your typical ROI from your events and the amount you have to invest in your upcoming activities. Consider how you will align your budget with the features you want to see to narrow the list even further. Evaluate Usability and Support Finally, do not overlook the importance of usability and support. When your team has a question or concern, you want to know that you can reach out to your platform support and get answers quickly. As you evaluate your top options, work with your team to evaluate the usability of the platform. Going through a demo with a sales rep can help your team see the capabilities of the platform and how intuitively it is set up so you can see which option will work best for you. Conclusion Choosing the right CRM for events for your business can help the entire planning and execution components run smoothly. While you will have many options, you will quickly see what makes A2Z Events a leading industry option, with its robust capabilities and functionalities that take you from the beginning to the end of your project. Speak with your team about your unique platform needs and start evaluating your CRM options today.