What’s the Future for Technical B2B Trade Fairs?

Trade fairs help small and medium-sized businesses pursue core goals such as increasing brand awareness, generating leads, and networking. While SMEs can leverage a wide range of channels to accomplish these goals, trade fairs provide a solid opportunity to invest in a unique concept.

Trade fairs provide an effective and targeted lead generation approach that yields a considerable return on investment for business objectives. However, the physical events industry has declined following the now subsiding Covid-19 pandemic. What does this disruption mean for the future of technical B2B trade fairs? Read on to find out. 

Technology Will Reign

Soon, technology will be critical in almost every aspect of your application. Virtual reality and augmented reality are already being used in some programs. Tablet kiosks, customized applications, and badge scanners are changing the way entrepreneurs interact with trade show attendees.

In the future, booth staffers will have internet-enabled earpieces and glasses which can scan attendees’ badges as they enter the trade fair. Product demonstrations will be done in style, with interactive screens, 3D simulations, and pre-recorded alternatives.

Hybrid and Virtual Trade Fairs

Following the pandemic, many trade shows went virtual, and this trend is expected to continue. More than 85% of event organizers plan to use virtual event methods in 2024, according to reports. The report also revealed that more than 90% of the event industry anticipates radical development in hybrid events, balancing virtual trade and in-show experiences.

Businesses will have more creative event space, and entrepreneurs will be able to incorporate various branding components to ensure they stand out from the crowd. Furthermore, entrepreneurs can use various components such as a product display to market their products to a larger audience, a 3D virtual exhibition hall and virtual lobby, and a solid shopping cart solution, which allows buyers to order products from a vendor's website instantly.

The Power of AI

To offer the ultimate in-class experience for trade fair attendees, an exhibitor should understand what they are passionate about.

By studying persona, interests, and likes, artificial intelligence (AI) can assist exhibitors in delivering appropriate content. A good example of AI integration is digital and chat translation.

To ensure that attendees receive the correct information, the chatbot interprets words provided by the exhibitor. Voice translations, on the other hand, ensure that attendees can hear the trade show content in their native language.

Sweet Tips from Ally

Exhibiting at trade fairs is evolving fast, and a reset is inevitable. Exhibitors should prepare themselves for the future of trade fairs with new plans and tools. Trade fairs will continue playing a critical role for businesses with the aid of advanced technologies.