How do you evaluate a mobile app for events?

**How do you evaluate a mobile app for events?**

Start with a short checklist, then score each area (e.g., 1–5) against your priorities: functionality, UX, data & analytics, integrations, reliability, security, sponsor/exhibitor support, customization, monetization, and vendor support.

What to evaluate (brief, actionable checklist)

- Core attendee features: agenda, session details, speaker bios, saved favorites, notifications, check‑in, badges/QR scanning, live polling, Q&A, chat, discussion boards, photo/social wall, gamification. (Do these meet your event format: in‑person, virtual, hybrid?)

- Engagement & networking: attendee profiles, one‑to‑one meeting requests, matchmaking/recommendations, social feeds, leaderboards/badge games.

- Data capture & real‑time insights: ability to gather surveys, polls, session check‑ins, downloads, meeting requests; exportable attendee behavior and engagement data for marketing/sales follow‑up.

- Analytics & reporting: dashboards, segmentation, actionable reports, integration with CRM/marketing automation to use captured intelligence post‑event.

- Integrations & workflows: registration/attendee system, ticketing, CRM, lead retrieval, single sign‑on, calendar/export, exhibitor portals, ad/sponsor placements.

- Customization & branding: white‑labeling, branded UI, flexible content (sponsor banners, exhibitor listings), localized content capability.

- Sponsor & exhibitor support: lead retrieval, ad units, booth analytics, sponsor dashboards, monetization options.

- Performance & reliability: app start time, offline behavior, real‑time updates, capacity control for sessions, kiosk/check‑in stability.

- Privacy & security: data protection, consent capture, GDPR/CCPA compliance, secure data exports and access controls.

- Usability & adoption: onboarding experience, pre‑event promotion, ease of use for non‑technical attendees, required device permissions, support for web/PC for virtual attendees.

- Support & cost: vendor SLAs, live support during event, implementation timeline, training, pricing model (per event vs. platform/subscription).

- Post‑event workflows: lead export, follow‑up templates, post‑event surveys, ways to sustain engagement and re‑use event content.

How to run the evaluation

1. Create a weighted scorecard from the checklist aligned to your top goals (e.g., lead gen, attendee experience, sponsor revenue, data capture).

2. Run a hands‑on trial with stakeholders (operations, marketing, sales, exhibitors) and a small pilot group of attendees.

3. Test integrations with your registration and CRM using real data.

4. Simulate peak loads (polls, push notifications, check‑in) and test offline/low‑connectivity behavior.

5. Review sample reports and data exports to confirm they’re actionable for post‑event follow‑up.

6. Check references and request case studies for similar event types (size/format).

Sources

- [Why a Mobile Event App? Amazing Insights. That’s Why.](https://certain.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/181005_why-a-mobile-event-app.pdf#page=1)

- [What Is a Mobile Event App?](https://certain.com/faq/mobile-event-app)

- [Why a Mobile Event App? Amazing Insights. That’s Why. (resource page)](https://certain.com/resource/why-a-mobile-event-app-amazing-insights-thats-why)

- [Mobile Customer Journey: Mobile Strategy in Action](https://certain.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/miniplaybook_mobile.pdf#page=10)

One quick question: Are you evaluating a single app for an upcoming event or selecting a platform to use across multiple events and teams?