Meetings technology provider Certain Software this week added a budget module to track expenses to its Register123 online registration product, enhanced attendee management functionality, system integration enhancements and the ability to scan a bar-coded registration code to update an attendee's status.
Other technology providers have announced similar updates to their meetings technology tools, including Sabre's GetThere. The company plans in early February to release enhancements to its DirectMeetings tool. According to company executives, customers can expect three main developments to the tool: a new database architecture that provides integration with GetThere's DirectCorporate tool, enhanced reporting technology that allows meeting planners to further filter DirectMeetings reports by date and time and the ability to register on behalf of an invitee
(Meetings Today, Jan. 23). DirectMeetings will also feature change reports for meeting managers to increase efficiency.
The new budget module of Register123 Version 4.5 tracks projected versus actual spending and consolidated data that can be exported in a variety of formats, said Paul Johnson, director of sales for San Francisco-based Certain. The new version also includes change reports that allow a meeting manager to sort attendee information by data that has been changed or added. Web integration links add the ability to transfer data to external Web sites. This feature helps to integrate the tool with Certain's partner companies, including Passkey International Inc., Johnson said.
Other additions to the tool include a variety of templates for attendee registration, including agendas, badges, confirmation letters and packing slips.
"Clients are looking for more flexibility as events change and become more difficult and complex," Johnson said.