SHELTON, Connecticut. — When digital events took off during the pandemic, there were few safeguards when it came to reporting metrics. The industry found an immediate solution: allowing virtual events to achieve UFI-approved event status.
A year later, that effort has evolved into a broader initiative, Reporting Standards for Digital Events (RSDE), led by BPA Worldwide, the global assurance provider. This standardized set of 17 data tables and glossary terms was created by a working group comprised of representatives from 15 event industry organizations, representing trade show organizers, exhibitors, data analysts and digital platforms.
With RSDE, digital event providers now have standardized metrics and virtual event organizers can clearly understand their performance. All components of RSDE can be downloaded from its website.
“With the shift to digital events, people were excited to have all this data and have a much better idea of what was happening at their events,” said David Richardson, principal at data analytics firm Cogknition. “When they were getting reports from event platforms, not only were they lacking confidence in their understanding of what was happening at their event, they weren’t really sure what the report was trying to say. With RSDE, they have a much better understanding of what they’re seeing.”
BPA will begin certifying digital event platforms (DEPs) to RSDE standards immediately. Event data provided by verified DEPs will be “pre-audited” by BPA for inclusion in UFI Approved Event status applications or for inclusion in organizers’ event marketing materials and BPA brand reports. RSDE has partnered with VSef (Virtual Standard Export Format), a data standard for digital events in Europe developed by Explori in collaboration with event organizers; RSDE-certified platforms will, by default, be certified as VSef compliant.
Related. UFI Updates Rules to Include Digital and Hybrid Events
“With RSDE, event organizers, exhibitors, digital event platforms and data analysts now have the tools they need to bring more trust and transparency to the digital events marketplace,” said Glenn Hansen, President and CEO of BPA.
Contact David Richardson at info@cogknition.com and Glenn Hanson at (203) 447-2801 or GHansen@bpaww.com