What Makes Good Onsite Badging at an Event?: Part Two

Published on:

October 25, 2023

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Onsite Badging, Part Two

Each week, we delve into the realm of artificial intelligence, posing one burning question to three prominent AI programs about the dynamic event industry and then having our in-house experts at TPNI evaluate their responses.

We’ve asked three prominent AI programs—ChatGPT by Open AI, Bard from Google, and Bing’s Co-Pilot—our question for this week:

What Makes Good Onsite Badging at an Event?

Earlier this week, we asked ChatGPT (check out its answer in Part One!). Today, we asked Bard from Google. Here’s what it said:

To create a good onsite badging system for your event, you should consider the following:

1. Choose the right badge printing solution. There are a variety of badge printing solutions available, including self-service kiosks, mobile apps, and traditional printers. Choose a solution that is easy to use and efficient, and that can accommodate the number of attendees you expect.

2. Design your badges. Your badges should be visually appealing and informative. Be sure to include your event logo and branding, as well as the attendee’s name, ticket type, and any other relevant information.

3. Set up your badge printing station. If you are using a self-service kiosk or mobile app, be sure to test it in advance to make sure it is working properly. If you are using a traditional printer, be sure to have enough supplies on hand.

4. Train your staff. Your staff should be familiar with the badge printing process and be able to assist attendees with any problems they may have.

5. Communicate the process to attendees. Let attendees know how to get their badges and what information they will need to provide. You can do this in your event registration confirmation email, on your event website, and on social media.

Here are some additional tips for creating a good onsite badging system:

  • Use QR codes. QR codes can be used to automate the badge printing process and to collect attendee data. For example, attendees can scan their QR code at a self-service kiosk to print their badge or to check in for the event.
  • Offer multiple badge pick-up locations. If you have a large event, consider offering multiple badge pick-up locations to reduce wait times.
  • Provide express lanes for VIPs and speakers. If you have VIPs or speakers attending your event, consider providing them with express lanes for badge pick-up.
  • Have a backup plan. In case of technical difficulties, have a backup plan for badge printing. For example, you could have a few extra printers on hand or you could have staff manually print badges.

By following these tips, you can create a good onsite badging system that will help your event run smoothly and efficiently.

Now, here’s what our experts thought about Bard’s response:

In particular, the idea of a distributed badging system, allowing attendees to badged at their convenience, is critical.  In the past, the idea of badging at a hotel posed a logistical and technical nightmare.  Nowadays, it is evident that your main hotel(s) should facilitate onsite badging for a better attendee experience. But why should you stop there? Get creative in how you create a more convenient badging process.

For instance, in one event, we enabled attendees to print and bring their own badges, which initially raised concern about a disorganized appearance. However, because of the clear and detailed instructions provided to attendees, the badges matched perfectly and the event looked great.  The best part? There was no check-in line. At all.

We have also seen companies that will walk the bus online, scan confirmations, and prepare badges in advance to be ready for attendees upon arrival.  Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. The initial experience will set the tone for the rest of the event. Craft your badging process in a way that algins with your vision for success.

If you’d like to learn more about how to make the most out of your event’s onsite badging processes, reach out to us at customerservice@tpni.com for a customized consultation.

Come back for Part Three where we’ll be sharing what Bing’s Co-Pilot had to say in response to this week’s question.

Join us for next week’s question, What is the Right Marketing Cadence for Event Attendee Marketing?, as we continue to compare artificial intelligence’s insights with our seasoned experts’ knowledge.