Corona Outbreak puts spotlight on Digital Events

Bring Your Own Meeting – that’s the buzz word in the times of corona. With nations undergoing a lockdown and the death toll increasing, the corona pandemic has ushered in a new way of life. To begin with, we all are working from home. All in-person meetings have been shifted online. Conferences across the industry are either being postponed or cancelled. CERAWeek, the energy industry’s biggest conference, that draws senior executives from around the world annually, was cancelled.We all are practicing social distancing. And believe it or not, we are moving towards a new normal. Will the corona outbreak mark a tipping point for digital events and meetings is a question we shall contemplate in this article. 

Companies bank on Digital Events & Meetings to avoid disruptions

Without a doubt, we all are part of a truly digital age and the corona outbreak is the most significant health-related crisis in this age. What started as an epidemic has now morphed into a global pandemic, bringing about some dramatic changes in our personal and professional life. One of the major changes being – increase in remote working. The lockdowns to contain the spread of COVID 19, has pushed us all into quarantine and work from home has gained an entirely new perspective today. It’s no more a part of the unusual days but it is the usual workday now. 

Staying connected digitally is the most important picture we all are looking at. A skyrocketing rise is being observed in video meetings, calls, and conferencing. Zoom has seen its stock price soar and has posted better than expected fourth-quarter results. The whole point being, the show must go on. The business must go on. 

We are working towards eliminating all the friction points in video conferences from a user’s personal device. We believe that technology has now improved so much that it makes remote meetings as intuitive as having a face-to-face meeting. The demand for remote collaboration solutions is exploding and Barco aims to simplify the experience and enhance the adoption of video conferences across the globe.

– Barco, Belgian Technology Company 

Are we missing out on open and honest dialogue?

We cannot deny that thousands of companies across industries, including the energy sector, rely heavily on personal meetings with clients, buyers, manufacturers, and suppliers. No matter which part of the world they are in. On the other hand, there is a sizeable section of people who find grand events inefficient and obsolete owing to the huge cost and travel time involved. These events are also criticized for their pre-moderated company approved speeches and presentations. However, their popularity does not lose its shine as they remain a great collaborative platform, empowering people to build strong connections and share common goals. 

Nothing can overshadow the relevance of open, in-person, honest dialogue but let’s put this into the current context. What makes virtual events attractive is the crisis before us. With lockdowns and travel restrictions on a global level, we all are turning to digital for the very basic human element – communication. 

There’s a 150 year of history associated with video conferencing and the corona outbreak will also be remembered for contributing to the surge in video communications. 

Thanks to FaceTime, Zoom, Apple, Google, and the likes. There is no barrier to communication. 

What should we focus on? 

Introducing the intimacy and comfort of in-person meetings in digital events, webinars, and conferences can turn out to be the next major breakthrough in communication. If the energy, interaction, and engagement can be achieved virtually too, there is nothing that could stall the conduct of business. 

Will the corona pandemic mark the tipping point for virtual events? We do not have the answers yet and it is just the beginning. But can this crisis be a catalyst in creating a strong demand for digital conferences and webinars? It definitely holds the potential. 

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy Dais.)