RFID, a new technology system in meeting industry

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the use of a wireless non-contact system which is having a huge impact in MICE industry during the few years. RFID uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag attached to an object, for the purposes of automatic identification and tracking. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not need to be within line of sight of the reader. RFID chip is one of the best way to add this technology into meetings and exhibitions, such as the chip could be arrange in registration card or smart-phones.

RFID could be embed in two types, the active and the passive. The active RFID chip could help the attendees to build network and make all the informations much transparence between the attendees and also the exhibitors or speakers. It is continuing transmitting with a system called n-TAG, to help the attendees to find the people who have something similar and transmit information while encounter a scanner. The passive RFID chip is much secure when to transmit informations, which should receive an admission to get others' information.

In meeting industry, this application is much more used to registration program. RFID help to transmit the information of attendees to each others and make the meeting planners easier to do evaluation. 

Let's take a look at what RFID could contribute to the meeting.

• Customizable online registration. That attendees easily click one online website, simply, flexibly and conveniently. CSI company create online-reg.com
• The access control, the scanners at the door to the meeting room, could verify the attendees and they could enter the room quickly. And the RFID system could help to track the registration materials.
• VIP could be easier to track and provide specific service.
• People flow tracking to help the organizers to analyze the event and be much efficient.

Recently, there are some meeting planners and suppliers begin to focus this opportunity to improve RFID tags into improve networking product. The experience of the new technology used could not only add the value in meeting and extending new trend in event industry. Meeting planners can use it to attract much exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to enlarge their network. In this way, this technology could create much more revenue for the event planners. 

Lastly, the meeting planners strive to provide the attendees both social networking opportunity and a scientific research dissemination. All the new experiences could inspire the RFID technology to be a new application and to search for new opportunities to popularize itself. It could be a great challenge for the planners to demonstrate how to use the new technology to plan future meetings.

Written by Pinyi LU & Yi ZHAO

Sources:

http://www.meetings-conventions.com/Resources/Planner-Basics/Tech-Files/Revisiting-RFID-Technology/

http://meetingsnet.com/association-meetings/little-chip-could​

Picture sources: 

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/01/student-rfid-suspension/

https://www.inria.fr/innovation/agenda/le-salon-rfid