Access All Areas Summer Issue | Page 42

SUMMER | SECTOR FOCUS SPONSORED BY: WI-FI egardless of event size or location one of the first things customers check for is free Wi-Fi,” says Dominic Hampton, managing director, Attend 2 IT. Once considered a luxury, the modern demand for social media, and events’ reliance on it for presentations has rendered it vital. Hampton continues: “But it’s not just for status updates. We are fast becoming a cashless generation favouring and expecting electronic transactions at bars, food traders etc, and therefore a vital part of an event’s revenue is more and more dependent on PDQ and contactless transactions all requiring a stable internet connection.” Pylon One’s sales and marketing director Mike Lang adds: “It is no longer acceptable to call up and say: ‘The stand, event or stall was rammed yesterday, we were busy all day, you couldn’t move’. Now, and quite rightly, the corporate client/brand need to know how many people came, what were the popular areas, were the quiet areas, what times were the busiest, what worked and what didn’t. Wi-Fi is vital 42 for the measurement of these metrics. “Footfall analytics gives us these metrics and indeed far more. In partnership with US based company Kloudspot, Pylon One can provide these answers.” Hampton adds that event apps are fast becoming an expected technology to accompany an event, and Wi-Fi once again comes into its own. “Available to download and engage visitors for months prior, it gives organisers the tools to market acts, exhibitors to allow visitors to plan, network and navigate the ATTEND2IT.CO.UK As the cashless generation comes to expect free Wi-Fi, Access examines its pitfalls event with ease.” But, with 5G on the horizon, how will this change the game? “Being one of the first few companies to work with 5G we were aware of how highly it was anticipated, faster downloads and more data is every organiser’s dream,” says Hamton. “Imagine attending a festival with at least 5,000 other people downloading and uploading more than ever before, except so is everyone else. Users will run into the issues we currently have with 4G. 5G is just increasing our thirst for data meaning event Wi-Fi providers