How do you evaluate a mobile app for events?

Question

How do you evaluate a mobile app for events?

Topic: Touchpoint Strategy

Accepted Answer

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

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