What is Event Management Software and What to Look For
Do you Want to learn how to select the right event management software for your restaurant, hotel, or venue? Event management software is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have to keep competitive.
If you are reading this, you may be a self-proclaimed master of multi-tasking, keeping all the balls in the air to deliver the best events to your customers. This is impressive, but being organized takes time, and we know every minute counts in this industry. What if your post-it notes, spreadsheets, customer conversations, calendar, and invoices could all live in the same place? That’s where event management software saves the day – a crucial tool for planning, organizing, and executing successful events.
What is Event Management Software?
Event management software is a type of application or platform that helps plan, organize, and execute events. These software solutions are designed to handle various tasks related to event planning and execution, ranging from simple to complex. Ultimately, the software is to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhancing the overall experience for event managers at venues, event planners, and event guests.
What Features Should an Event Management Platform Have?
- Centralized dashboard with real-time bookings calendar
- Customizable lead forms and direct booking forms
- Branded documents and proposals
- Secure payment processing
- Guest portal for event updates and tracking
- Seamless communication tools
- Automatic tasks for your team and the guest/planner
- Robust sales and event reporting
- Partner Integrations
- Cloud-based, on-the-go access
- Superior onboarding, training, and support
No doubt that there are many features to consider as a restaurant, hotel, or unique venue looking for event management software. When looking at your long list of to-dos, selecting and implementing a new piece of technology may feel like a daunting task. When you decide to invest time and money in event management software, it’s important that you ultimately feel confident in your choice. Here are the most important things to consider when selecting the best event management software for your restaurant, hotel, or venue.
Customer Support is Key
Timeliness is arguably one of the most important aspects of managing events, which is why Customer Support is at the top of the list to select the right event management software. What is the expected response time? Will you have a dedicated account manager? What happens if something isn’t working? These are all questions to consider and ask when researching available event management software. You want to feel confident that any questions or issues you have will be acknowledged and resolved quickly. The onboarding process is a key piece of this as well. Ensure that the appropriate training will be provided to you and your team at the onset of implementation.
Ease of Use for Both You and Your Customers
An intuitive user and client-facing platform is important for smooth and efficient usage of the software. Event management technology should make your life easier, not more complicated. Be sure to schedule a demo before investing in a product. This will give you a basic look at how the software functions, what the dashboard looks like, and how to navigate and meet the business needs of you and your team.
Make Sure to Read Reviews
Who better than your peers to tell you which software works best? Reviews made by hospitality businesses are a great place to get a consensus of how current and previous users feel about the event management software. You can even find specific review categories for ease of use, customer support, and setup. G2 and Capterra are reliable tech review sites to browse before purchasing software. You can also ask for case studies or success stories to gain more insight from your peers about using the platform.
Customized to Fit Your Business Needs
No two businesses are the same, which is why it’s so helpful when event management software can be customized to your business needs. It is important to define your requirements ahead of time. Consider the types of events you’ll be managing, the number of attendees, the documents and branding you want, and any specific features that would help you and your team. Knowing what you need ahead of time will help when looking into customizations, add-ons, and any tweaks and improvements that could be made to your software implementation.
Tech Feature Enhancements
Make sure you feel confident that the product will continue to be updated, improved upon, and supported. The technology you pick mustn’t be static but rather continuously improving based on the needs of the industry and its users. Is the company regularly announcing new product updates and features? If so, that is a great sign. It likely means they are taking customer feedback, growth, and needs as a top consideration when choosing an event management platform.
Improve Your Business with Event Management Technology
Tripleseat is a game changer and a crucial step toward the growth and improvement of your business. Don’t take our word for it. Explore our customer success stories to see how our platform has helped your hospitality peers improve their business. Learn more about Tripleseat’s award winning customer support. Be sure to book a demo to check out the ease of use, customization, and growing product features of Tripleseat. You can make an informed decision that you can feel confident about.
