IT Event Management (IT-EM), a specialist in IT solutions for events, will deploy SmoothFlow, a proprietary digital registration system, at Microsoft`s premier technical event, TechEd 2006, being held at Sun City in October.
The software system will provide a state-of-the-art onsite digital registration system using RFID (radio frequency identification)-enabled systems.
According to Stephan Potgieter, Managing Director of IT Event Management: "Using RFID-enabled systems at events has become increasingly popular because it has proven to be a solid, workable solution delivering accurate data to a wide range of applications."
The demand for RFID-enabled systems has been driven by the need for an accurate way of collecting data about people attending events. But now that same data provides organisers with insights into their audience that can help positively impact the event experience - affecting the delegate`s enjoyment of the event as well as the relative benefit gained from attending.
"Tracking people at events and using that data to extract information is not a new concept, but RFID technology has matured to the point where it can collect that data much more efficiently, accurately and unobtrusively," says Potgieter.
With the SmoothFlow digital registration system, RFID tags are used to identify the delegate as he or she enters or exits an area. This solution has the great advantage of tracking delegates without any interaction from the delegate and the tags are made available on a rental - return basis to reduce costs.
"Our solution makes use of our Smooth RFID conference software that interacts with the RFID reader. The RFID reader transmits at 125kHz and can read up to 120 tags simultaneously and 30 tags per second. Having this speed of data collection, we have built a lot of intelligence into our software solution. And all readers can read a maximum distance of 3m with 98% accuracy," adds Potgieter.
In TechEd`s case, issuing attendees with RFID tags ahead of an event expedites the registration process at the venue and enables organisers to follow up with the correct people after an event with conference material. RFID tags also facilitate better overall security and ultimately impacts budget as a comprehensive cost item.
Although the use of RFID tags for events is increasingly popular, the cost of tags has been one of the biggest inhibiting factors, as it is with most RFID-enabled solutions. But Potgieter says the cost of tags has dropped significantly. And for those who are using technology for its strategic advantage, the cost of RFID tags is more than compensated by happy delegates who sign up for the next technical conference well in advance.
Microsoft`s TechEd 2006 event will take place in October. Bookings are, however, closed as the event is fully booked.
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