The challenge: three systems, duplicate work, limited data

Over time, ICC’s tech stack evolved into three separate tools: one for guest management and lead capture, one for the mobile app, and one for virtual interactions, which meant the same content had to be entered in multiple places. Session titles and descriptions were retyped, agenda changes cascaded through three systems, and exhibitors relied on a patchwork of scanners and QR codes for lead capture. The fragmentation carried hidden costs, from hours of manual updates and siloed data to the added complexity of sharing leads with sponsors while honoring privacy requirements. Even with RFID-based scanning, the team lacked a complete view of session popularity and dwell time, making it harder to plan programming, optimize rooms, and quantify sponsor value.

The goal: unify the experience for attendees, exhibitors, and the team

Inductive Automation set four priorities:

  1. A single source of truth. Enter sessions and updates once, then publish everywhere: website, mobile, and virtual.
  2. Modern onsite. Reduce friction at check‑in, improve badge branding, and make networking feel natural.
  3. Sponsor value. Give exhibitors easy, compliant access to high‑quality leads without extra hardware or imports.
  4. Decision‑ready data. Capture reliable attendance, dwell time, and traffic heatmaps to inform future content and layout.

The solution: consolidating on Bizzabo with Klik SmartBadges™

When the team reassessed its stack, Bizzabo surfaced as the platform that could unify registration, content management, mobile, and virtual in one place. The decision required a rapid pivot across divisions, yet paid off quickly.

One agenda, everywhere

With Bizzabo, sessions are created once and automatically surface across the custom website via widgets, in the mobile app, and in the virtual venue. If a title changes or a speaker is updated, the change is made in one place and propagates to attendee-facing channels, which reduces manual work and minimizes errors.

“Before Bizzabo, a single change meant three sets of updates. Now we update once and know it will be accurate across channels.”

Smarter check‑in and badges

Klik SmartBadges replaced a tangle of scanners and QR codes with a simple tap‑to‑connect experience. Attendees exchange contact details with each other and with exhibitors by tapping badges. Exhibitors can capture leads directly in the Bizzabo platform, eliminating the need to juggle separate devices or reconcile spreadsheets after the event.

Equally important, Klik enables passive session tracking. Rather than stopping to scan at the door, attendees enter rooms naturally. The system records session attendance and dwell time, which powers traffic heatmaps and engagement reports.

Connected hybrid experiences

ICC serves a global community. Bizzabo’s virtual venue and mobile app extend access to live-streamed sessions, enabling remote participants to ask questions, chat, and connect with in-person attendees. Moderated, mobile‑first Q&A simplified the experience in rooms, replacing roaming microphones and creating a single queue that included virtual voices.

Year‑over‑year enhancements

  • Year 1: Foundation. Ticketing moves to Bizzabo. Klik is introduced for networking, exhibitor lead capture, and baseline session analytics.
  • Year 2: Gamification. The team adds Klik touchpoints and a points system. Attendees earn badges for connecting, visiting exhibitors, and participating in activities, which drives engagement in a playful, brand‑safe way.
  • Year 3 and beyond: Scale and intelligence. With data in one place, the team can explore AI‑assisted accessibility, such as real‑time translation, more flexible polling and Q&A, and session takeaways generated from content, while continuing to expand Bizzabo across Discovery Days and other in‑person formats.

Implementation notes

  • Rapid rollout, real collaboration. Pivoting ticketing to Bizzabo required cross‑functional coordination. Inductive Automation partnered closely with its Bizzabo Customer Success Manager to configure ticket types, permissions, and workflows, and to integrate a custom website without compromising attendee experience.
  • Privacy by design. With attendee data managed in one platform, the team aligned lead sharing with GDPR and internal policies, reducing risk while maintaining sponsor value.
  • Learning curve, then lift. The first year’s compressed timeline meant fast learning. Once teams were up to speed, they focused on integrating new features and continued to share feedback for platform improvements.

The results: smoother operations and measurable engagement

While the team is consolidating hard metrics, early signals point to a meaningful operational and attendee impact.

Operational efficiency

  • Agenda changes happen once, rather than in three places.
  • Check‑in and badge creation are faster and more consistent for staff and attendees.
  • Exhibitor lead capture is handled within Bizzabo, eliminating the need for additional scanners and imports.

Attendee and exhibitor experience

  • Tap‑to‑connect networking lowers the barrier to starting conversations, and the experience feels intentional rather than transactional.
  • Gamification adds a light incentive to explore, meet peers, and visit sponsors.
  • Exhibitors access compliant, high-quality leads without the need for additional systems.

Data that drives decisions

  • Passive session tracking provides a complete picture of attendance and dwell‑time data.
  • Heatmaps help the team understand traffic flows and room utilization to plan next year’s layout and content mix.
  • Hybrid engagement insights inform which sessions should be live-streamed and how to staff Q&A moderation.

“It finally gave us data we had been missing. Now we can see how people move through the conference and make informed decisions for next year.”

Looking ahead

With Bizzabo as a unified foundation, Inductive Automation is exploring accessibility and engagement enhancements, such as real‑time translation for global audiences, expanded Q&A and polling features, and automated session summaries so attendees leave with practical takeaways. The team also plans to extend Bizzabo to additional in‑person formats, including Discovery Days.

Power your next conference with Bizzabo

Ready to unify registration, mobile, virtual, and onsite engagement, and turn attendee behavior into actionable insights? Request a demo to see how the Event Experience OS and Klik SmartBadges can power your next conference.