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Insights on events, technology, and the future of gathering
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Insights on events, technology, and the future of gathering
Quick answer: The 12 most popular types of corporate events are internal meetings, networking events, product launches, conferences, training workshops, seminars, Christmas parties, trade shows, incentive programs, team building events, partner marketing events, and fundraising events. Dedicated corporate event software lets you run every one of them in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format.
Many corporate events went into hiding during the pandemic, and their comeback has been powered by dedicated corporate event software
Let’s look at the key use cases for corporate event software and how each type of event works best.
A corporate event is any gathering a business organizes for its employees, clients, partners, or prospects - anything from a small internal meeting to a full trade show. What has changed is the format: with the right software, almost every corporate event can now run in person, online, or as a hybrid of the two.
Internal meetings are the most frequent corporate event of all, and the shift to remote work left many teams with serious Zoom fatigue. That has prompted companies to look beyond basic video conferencing. Platforms like Canapii sit high on the list because they are designed to engage attendees, track analytics, and create custom experiences - the same simply can’t be said for a standard video call.
Corporate events emphasize the importance of networking and facetime with clients, leads, and colleagues, and virtual corporate events can deliver much the same impact. In some ways the format is even more personal, offering a glimpse into someone’s home or everyday life - and interactions can be recorded to refer back to later, which supports follow-up calls and emails.
Product launch events are nothing new, but running them virtually opens up real advantages. Virtual event software like Canapii makes it easy to gauge attendees’ impressions and reactions, and the format’s scalability means far more people can be in the audience for the big reveal.
Conferences will always be a requirement in the business world, and they are one of the most popular use cases for corporate event software. The right virtual event platform adds new layers of engagement to otherwise ho-hum conferences: interactive elements keep audiences involved, and customization gives each conference a unique look and feel. Canapii alone has powered 2,000+ events for 300,000+ attendees across 45+ countries.
Training at scale has often been the bane of HR teams, but event software makes it possible. No longer restricted by space requirements, companies can conduct enterprise-wide training or workshops with just a few clicks.
Online seminars let more people access content without the complexities of travel and lost productivity - and they can be just as engaging as in-person events. Attendees can submit questions, take part in polls, and even replay recorded sessions at their convenience.
Yes, even the office Christmas party can get a virtual makeover. You won’t have access to an endless buffet, but you can liven up the event with Christmas carols, games, and other interactive activities - and the money you would have spent on food, entertainment, and decorations can go toward an employee gift or bonus instead.
Trade shows might seem like an unlikely candidate for a virtual format, but the idea is gaining steam across industries. In-person trade shows are expensive: booth space costs thousands of dollars, the booth or exhibit itself thousands more, and travel, payroll, and marketing pile on top. It takes a lot to see an ROI from a trade show event.
Virtual formats lower those costs and other barriers to entry so companies see a better return on investment. With good event tools you can track interactions, generate leads, and hold one-to-one conversations - everything you could do in person.
Incentive programs reward employees for their contributions and are essential for maximizing engagement. They usually include just a few select employees, which is why a virtual format makes so much sense: small groups can better engage with each other, form stronger connections, and get more from the experience.
No trust fall exercises here. Virtual team building events take a lot of the awkwardness out of the process and place the focus where it needs to be: on the team. Participants spend their time interacting with each other instead of feeling put on the spot.
Virtual events can extend outside the company walls to include partners and stakeholders, too. You might jointly host a webinar or workshop that generates leads for both of you, or run a partner appreciation event where partners network with your team - a great way to maintain loyalty while building up referrals.
Fundraising participation took a dip in 2020, leaving marketers and organizations to figure out a new approach. For many the answer was a virtual fundraising event, which allows people to give in a risk-free environment, in a way that’s convenient to them.
The most common types are internal meetings, networking events, product launches, conferences, training workshops, seminars, Christmas parties, trade shows, incentive programs, team building events, partner marketing events, and fundraising events.
Almost all of them. Meetings, seminars, product launches, and even trade shows and Christmas parties translate well to virtual or hybrid formats with the right platform. The real question is which parts of the experience benefit most from people being in the room.
A conference is a larger, often multi-day gathering with multiple sessions, speakers, and networking built around a broad theme. A seminar is a shorter, more focused educational session, usually led by one or two experts on a single topic.
Basic video conferencing handles the call itself but nothing around it. Dedicated event software adds registration, engagement tools like polls and Q&A, networking, custom branding, and analytics, so the event delivers measurable value rather than just a meeting.
An all-in-one event platform that covers registration, streaming, engagement, networking, and analytics across in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats - for example, Canapii.
Whatever type of corporate event you are planning next, Canapii can run it in person, online, or as a hybrid: get a demo.