Filed under: RFID Debbie Baxter @ 9:11 pm on 19/11/07
The most appealing solution that I have seen using this medium is when it is applied for Session Scanning purposes. Yes, you can track who went in and out of the room with this solution.
But consider that you can also, with the right solution, track who went in at what time, who left at what time, how long they were in the room, if they re-entered, etc. This allows for evaluation of speakers to become part of this solution.
If an event organizer is looking for a sponsor for a keynote address, they can provide specific accurate data (using a touch and go system) on not only the attendance from the last event where the anticipated speaker was showcased, but also feedback on what percentage of the attendees stayed in the room for the keynote. This will add value to the price point charged for the sponsorship. This is exactly the type of quantifiable data that sponsors need to present back to their organizations to justify the expenditure.
It is even feasible that with this type of information, price points can increase and this medium can become a revenue generator for show management. 
Filed under: Uncategorized Debbie Baxter @ 9:04 pm on 19/11/07
To clarify, I no longer sell this stuff and am only blogging in this forum because I believe that this is a under-utilized medium. I have become an agnostic technology advocate.
The technical reality that Michael pointed out below in a comment is accurate. The tags are limited in the amount of data that they can store. All RFID solutions that I have encountered run in conjunction with your registration data. Note, they do not need to be integrated before the event, the data can be combined post event. You do not need to get your RFID solution from your registration vendor, although it is usually more cost effective.
The value of the solution is not in the readers and the tags but the software that has been developed to report on the captured data. More on this topic in next post …
The technical process would allow the tag to be read and before information is shared with show management or exhbitors, it is combined with data (including demographics) from registration to create the meaningful reporting that justifies usage of the medium.
Filed under: RFID Debbie Baxter @ 6:22 pm on 09/11/07
RFID is a means like any other to capture attendee information.
It is, however, a more efficient non-intrusive capture method. As a prediction, I believe that bar codes and magnetic stripe badges will evolve to become RFID badges in the foreseeable future, as costs come down on this medium.
The hottest topic when discussing solutions using the RFID medium is Traffic Flow Analysis. Most event organizers would like to better understand traffic in their expo hall or show floor. They want real data that they can share with their exhibitors and attendees. This can be accomplished without RFID, by positioning staff with scanners or swipers at various points around the designated area, and with a strong reporting tool to pull all the data together. However, this is not a cost effective option or a positive experience for attendees.
RFID provides the medium to automate the tracking of the attendee badges around the expo hall, without requiring staff intervention. It is completely non intrusive. By positioning stations around the hall, the attendee’s badges are read as they walk by and the information is gathered, summarized and presented back to the event organizer in a useful manner.
In this way, organizers can get the information they require without any requirement to change attendee behavior or intrusion on the attendee experience.
Next topic .. CEU / CME tracking .. Stay Tuned. J
Filed under: Uncategorized admin @ 10:03 am on 08/10/07
This is a first for me, being a newbie to the blog world. Let me know how I do.
One thing that we as an industry need to do is clarify that RFID is a “medium” not a solution. It is the equivalent of saying “We offer paper” instead of registration solutions.
Over the next few weeks I will clarify what solutions are being offered and hopefully we can start to change our industry lingo to more accurately reflect what this medium has to offer. Stay tuned!
