The Internet of Things (IoT) is going to change event management forever. That’s not hyperbole. The capacity to connect appliances and devices is bound to have an enormous impact on the logistics, planning and execution of large events.
This year, Gartner research tells us, there are 8.4 billion devices connected to the Internet of Things – 3.1 million of them being business-use devices, a field dominated by security cameras and smart meters. By 2020, there will be 12.86 billion devices – and many of them will be what Gartner call ‘cross-industry’ – a category which includes lighting, heating, air conditioning and security systems.
These logistical considerations are imperative to event organisation and over time, more and more event infrastructure will be part of the IoT. This is before we consider the rise and rise of wearable tech – smartwatches, smart rings and headsets, all of which are designed to connect with the IoT in ‘smart’ environments at home and at work. Statista claims 325 million wearable devices were connected to the IoT in 2016, and predicts that number will double within five years.
This convergence of a connected infrastructure and an increasingly connected crowd points to a hyperconnected event experience – one where logistics, creative delivery and attendee experience are merged seamlessly into one. So what areas in particular are ripe for disruption?
Read the full article here: https://www.rapiergroup.com/news/the-connected-event-how-the-iot-and-ai-will-disrupt-events/
