Meetings technology firm SignUp4 recently introduced a handful of
tools, including functionality that allows companies to retain attendee profile
information across all event registrations, a budget estimator, and a tool that
streamlines the meetings request-for-proposals process.
The moves are part of an overall technology strategy geared to
streamlining the user experience of SignUp4's event management and spend
management tools.
"In 2014, we're working toward a unified interface,"
said Brandon Schust, SignUp4's vice president of technology, "and more of
a seamless user experience between our Event Management System and Spend
Management System. It won't appear as two products anymore."
The company plans to integrate its latest RFP tools into the
event management system and create more "diversified roles" within
the product, allowing meeting managers to delegate more, Schust explained. "We
want to collect every piece of data around meetings and events and connect them
in a useable fashion."
Enhancing SignUp4's event management system and custom app platform, rappidApp,
its new Profile Manager monitors the lifespan of an attendee's relationship
with an organization.
In addition to contact information, attendee profiles include a complete
payment and registration history, and companies are able to group particular
attendees together based on any data they collect, allowing for more tailored
communication strategies. Data can also be accessed for research or reporting
purposes, and the company says there are some "predictive big data
capabilities" in the works.
Benefits of the new tool for attendees include the ability to avoid
re-entering their information into a company's system for each event they
attend, and access to a cross-event agenda tool that displays hotel, flight,
breakout sessions and other schedule information in a format that can be imported
into attendees' calendars. Attendees using rappidApp can log into their
profiles via the app and view personalized invitations and agendas, previous
registrations and any upcoming travel or hotel stays.
"We really listened to our
customers to make sure we got the right design for our Profile Management
platform from the start," said Doug Wetzel, SignUp4's co-founder and vice
president of new product engineering.
Also in late 2013, in response to continued e-RFP overload, SignUp4 introduced its National Sales Office system and
dashboard. The dashboard allows travel buyers to send RFPs to an NSO—either one
they currently work with, including hotel chain representatives or such meetings-management
third parties as Experient or ConferenceDirect, or one from SignUp4's global
directory, consisting of NSOs with whom its clients previously have worked—and the
contacts use the system to find and select appropriate vendors. NSOs can search
the SignUp4 vendor database for potential prospects or create their own. Once
the NSO has received responses from the vendors, they can make recommendations
to the buyers, pairing them based on the information provided in the RFP.
Users can also view and report the
performance of NSOs through the dashboard's performance reports, which display detailed
information as to which NSOs have provided the best hotel matches given RFP
needs. The new NSO interface—now available within SignUp4's Spend Management
System—allows buyers to drive business to only those venues that accept the
specifics of their proposed meeting.
"Planners work with those vendors
who understand their terms and conditions and strive to earn their business,"
said Kiley Reynolds, SignUp4's applications development manager. "They
have the opportunity to strengthen these relationships and choose from vendors
recommended by their NSO partners."
SignUp4 hopes the new product will "simplify
the RFP process for both the planner and the vendor by streamlining processes
and reducing workloads."
Further simplifying the RFP process, SignUp4
also launched a Budget Estimator Tool last year, helping travel buyers project
the cost of an event before putting together RFPs or budgets. The tool helps
buyers identify the most cost-effective potential meetings destinations by finding
the best air and hotel rates based on the projected departure points of
attendees. The estimator also includes a currency converter for international
events.
Companies including Cvent and Carlson Wagonlit Travel in recent years have launched similar budget
estimator tools.
New features have been added to the platform every six to
eight weeks, according to Reynolds, and SignUp4 plans additional functionality.
Meanwhile, SignUp4 recently partnered with SpendMD to enable easier
data collection for pharmaceutical companies subject to the Physicians Payment Sunshine Act. The act requires that medical meeting managers collect data on
what they spend on meetings attended by physicians. Beginning in March 2014, they
will be required to report that information to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services.