Event organizers understand the essential role that seamless registration and housing experiences play in ensuring the success of an event. By delivering an efficient and simple way for people to register and book accommodations, organizers inherently add value to their overall event, increasing the potential to attract more attendees as well as the potential for strengthened customer loyalty. By combining the best features of traditional SaaS platforms and custom platforms, MCI USA launched OneSystem Plus, a registration and housing technology solution that gives event organizers the speed, control and customization they need to create memorable experiences.
Here, MCI USA’s Vice President of Technology and Innovation for Strategic Events, Meetings & Incentives, Jeff Moore, who led the development of OneSystem Plus, discusses how this new platform is a game-changer for event strategists and how various AI-driven functionalities are transforming the industry.
How is OneSystem Plus different from other platforms in the marketplace?
Jeff Moore: For registration, there are two types of platforms out there: custom platforms and SaaS platforms. Both have their pros and cons. Custom platforms are flexible; a team of developers can implement pretty much any business rule you want, but these are often costly to start and have long turnaround times to get a site up. In addition, these systems typically lack the user tools that are more commonly associated with a SaaS platform.
SaaS platforms, on the other hand, are quick to start up, have great user tools, are cloud-based and up to date on compliance, but frequently lack the ability to handle large, more complex events.
MCI USA has combined the best of both types by working with our partner to build a software developer’s kit (SDK) on top of their SaaS platform. This gives us all the benefits of a SaaS platform with the ability to implement complex custom business rules on top. No one else is doing this in our space.
What challenges does OneSystem Plus solve for event organizers?
It can run all their events — large and small — on a single platform. It also provides user tools to manage the parts of their event they want to manage, while receiving customer service and support from the MCI USA team. It significantly cuts the time to go live and allows custom functionality to be modularized/widgitized in a way that can be reused across all events, no matter the size.
Plus Lead is OneSystem Plus’ AI-driven lead cultivation app. How do you see AI-powered tech changing the events industry?
AI will change everything. First, it will be used to recommend sessions and exhibitors to attendees. Then, it will be used to generate content for sessions. Eventually, AI will create entire events by analyzing the attendee and exhibitor base to develop an event perfectly suited for their needs. It will replace all aspects of business to the point where we will go to events just to hang out with other humans, not to focus on work.
Aside from Plus Lead, are there any other AI-driven functionalities within OneSystem Plus?
We are working with AI in several areas, from enhancing and automating customer service to processing large amounts of event data to extract trends and other important insights that may typically take days or weeks of traditional analysis to uncover.
What do you think is the biggest opportunity show organizers have using OneSystem Plus?
We have something that appeals to two different audiences. The first audience is made up of customers coming from a traditional custom registration platform. We give them the customization they desire as well as new user tools that allow them more control over their event. That, coupled with shorter turnaround times and great customer service, is an enticing offer.
The second audience will be customers coming from a SaaS platform. We can offer better support and the ability to customize versus what they have previously had and were unable to do themselves. I think both audiences crave something closer to the middle of both those platforms, and we can offer that without compromising on the parts they love.
Schedule a demo to see MCI USA’s event housing and registration platform OneSystem Plus in action. Learn more about how this customizable tool can help you run all your company’s events — large or small.
Frances Moffett is the editorial content director at MCI USA.
