When we meet clients and prospective clients the discussion often turns to event apps. What do we think of them? Is Glisser an event app? Does it replace an event app or can you have both? Well the first question of those three could form a whole series of blogs as we discuss the benefits and challenges, so I'll save that for another day. Instead, I'll address the first two.

Is Glisser an event app?

Well yes and no. It's an 'app' in that it is an application that works on mobile devices, but it's not an app in the sense that you don't have to download it from the App Store. We tried that, and quickly discovered that to maximise audience participation a simple web URL is the best and fastest route to getting people up and running. I think we'll definitely return to downloaded apps again at some point, but for what we do we think it's best to focus right now on making our web app the best it can be.

We're also not an event app in than we've deliberately not included many of the features other event apps have - venue maps, speaker profiles, etc. We made a decision to do just a few things really well - things that add real value in sharing content live, engaging audiences and collecting data, rather than just providing information that can be printed or found on an event website. So we would say we're a software product that can be used at events - but equally in meetings, lectures, training sessions, quizzes, or even virtually.

Does it replace an event app or can you have both?

First of all, when used well event apps can be a really powerful addition to large events and conferences. My experience of the Web Summit app, for example was really positive. It was a really useful tool for making connections, and by requiring everyone to download it in order to enter the conference in the first place, they really gave it the priority it deserved to make it work.

However, for many events ‘traditional’ apps aren't appropriate. Do you really need venue maps for an afternoon of presentations in one room of a hotel? Or a list of speakers for an internal conference or town hall meeting?

And these ‘smaller’ events make up the bulk of the 5 million MICE events held globally every year - at least 4.9 million of them.

So for these events, Glisser's interactive presentation software makes an ideal addition - creating audience engagement and gathering useful data, without repeating a load of information that's available elsewhere. Simple to access and simple to implement. If your event is little more than a series of presentations, there is still value - even just to make the collection of feedback easier.

But where you do have an event app, that doesn't mean you can't benefit from Glisser as well. We can place Glisser's live slide sharing and interactive elements inside the more traditional event apps. We tested this with Guidebook at the Meet the Future event, and have since built integrations with providers including Quickmobile, iWazat, Bizzabo and loads of other bespoke solutions.

We can white label to fit the event brand, and deliver a single sign on solution so no need for users to enter their details more than once. That way, if your event warrants it, you can get the full range of 'event app' features, with the unique slide-sharing capabilities of Glisser. All in one seamless solution.