1
"Access to real-time data is an essential function of any effective event-management platform."
— Stefan Panko, production manager, Event Strategy Group Ltd.

2
"When selecting software, dedicate time to trial a few options and get input from different job roles and departments."
— Faye Wood, event director, Bray Leino Events Ltd.

3
"When you can make decisions based on data from your software prior to and after your event, you create a ripple effect that extends the event's impact."
— Tom Eisenhauer, vice president, account and project management, business meetings and events, Switch

4
"The next big trend in event-management software is data science and analysis that will improve show performance, attendee and exhibitor engagement, and other factors."
— Louis Layton, vice president, digital products, The Freeman Co. LLC (Freeman)

5
"Leading up to an event, I prefer to use Google spreadsheets over software. This allows my team to collaborate on the same document at one time without needing additional training."
— Valerie Bihet, founder, The Vibe Agency

6
"Event-management software companies like to think their products are very different from their competitors, but in actuality they are very similar."
— Trina Palm, account director, meetings and events, Exhibitus Inc.

7
"I've yet to find a truly defined event platform/software/cloud service that takes the planning, execution, and wrap-up and rolls it all into one."
— Allison Saget, event-marketing consultant and author of "The Event Marketing Handbook"

8
"Every event is different. So in my opinion, there is no out-of-the-box software solution that could possibly cover all needs for all events."
— Melissa Park, global event producer

9
"I think exhibit managers are slow to adopt event-management software, and pricing is big part of that."
— Glenda Brungardt, CTSM, global event manager, HP Inc.

10
"If you want a platform that can be used by everyone in your department, it has to be collaborative and adaptable to a variety of different roles."
— Diana Hunter, senior creative services manager, corrugated packaging, WestRock Co.