As the event industry gradually returns to pre-Covid levels, with 2024 poised to break previous records, it’s crucial to recognise the symbiotic relationship between technology and events
ES. Can you tell us more about Jublia and its role in the business matching and event networking landscape?
Errol Lim. Jublia is a seasoned event technology firm with a global mindset ingrained since day one, now headquartered in Singapore. With a presence in over 10 languages, we cater to events spanning continents, from Africa to Australia. Our journey began in 2013 when we identified a crucial need for business matching services at B2B events, recognising a significant gap in the market.
Events are lauded by marketers for yielding high-quality leads, yet they are also acknowledged as expensive endeavours, with a high cost-per-lead. This poses a challenge, especially as data-driven CMOs, educated in the realm of digital marketing, increasingly demand measurable returns on investment. Unlike digital channels, where ROI is readily quantifiable, events often present a murkier picture. This discrepancy underscores the importance of tools like business matching, which empower event organisers to optimise attendees’ ROI. In essence, business matching transforms events into purposeful platforms, placing the ability to engineer customer ROI squarely in the hands of event organisers.
ES. Could you share some insights into Jublia’s journey since its founding in 2013 and how it has evolved to become a global leader in event networking data analytics?
Errol Lim. Certainly, our journey with Jublia has been marked by perseverance and continuous learning. None of the founders came from an events background, so building the company involved a steep learning curve, countless experiments, and a willingness to adapt quickly. From the outset, we made a strategic decision to specialise in event networking and data analytics. We recognised the critical role networking plays in the event experience—how it often determines the success of an event—and the inherent challenge in facilitating meaningful connections between attendees Data analytics became a natural extension of our focus on networking. By collecting and analysing interaction data, we gained insights ranging from simple correlation patterns to understanding attendee intentions, enhancing our event networking solutions. However, our journey is far from over. We are continually investing in innovation and
improvement, striving to enhance our offerings and services. Crucially, our success wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our team, the support of our partners, and the invaluable feedback from our customers, who have collaborated closely with us to refine our value proposition.
ES. What sets Jublia apart from other companies in the industry, particularly in terms of event networking solutions and customer engagement?
Errol Lim. We have several distinctive qualities that set us apart from competitors in the industry. Firstly, our company’s DNA is rooted in being bootstrapped from the beginning. This has instilled a sense of pragmatism in our decision-making processes. We are deeply committed to ensuring that every investment and effort contributes directly to improving our product, enhancing customer experiences, and maximising the return on partnering with Jublia.
Secondly, our unwavering focus on the segment of the event lifecycle that attendees experience—from registration to the event’s conclusion—drives all our product innovations. For example, this focus led us to develop our own Interactive Maps technology powered by Artificial Intelligence, tailored specifically to in-event navigation needs. This strategic direction has also facilitated fruitful partnerships with other technology providers offering complementary services such as registration.
Thirdly, recognising that the events industry thrives on human relationships, we’ve invested in building a proficient Customer Success Team. This team serves as both engagement experts for our event organiser clients and dedicated concierges for end-user attendees. At Jublia, we firmly believe in adopting a human-first approach to event tech engagement, understanding the importance of personal connections in this industry. Fourthly, we prioritise seamless scalability and flexibility in our solutions. While our products are designed to operate seamlessly out of the box, they also offer the flexibility to customise functionalities to meet the unique needs of each event we partner with. While we don’t operate as a development house, our established products come with built-in mechanisms for adjustments and personalisations, ensuring a tailored fit for every client.
ES. You mentioned that Jublia works closely with clients to meet their specific meeting needs and event objectives. Can you provide examples of how Jublia tailors its services to different clients?
Errol Lim. At Jublia, we take a personalised approach to client collaboration, assigning dedicated solutions specialists to each event project. Our goal is to not only meet the specific objectives outlined by event organisers but also to ensure they fully leverage the capabilities of our comprehensive suite of solutions. This process begins with an in-depth discovery call, during which we delve into various aspects of the event. We explore the event format, attendee numbers, and whether the primary focus lies on networking or content consumption. Additionally, we assess the organisers’ level of technological proficiency and the
audience’s characteristics, such as their tech adoption rates, geographical location, and industry sector.
By gathering this information, we tailor our platform to be highly relevant, targeted, and effective in driving engagement and performance. For instance, the strategies we employ for an exhibition trade show, where buying and selling take centre stage, will differ significantly from those for a conference focused on content delivery. Ultimately, our approach is centred on understanding each client’s unique requirements and crafting solutions that align closely with their objectives, ensuring a seamless and impactful event experience.
ES. Could you elaborate on the concept of “end-to-end engagement” that Jublia focuses on to enhance the event experience for professionals? How does this concept drive the company’s mission and services?
Errol Lim. At Jublia, our core mission is to intelligently connect professionals, products, companies, and content at events. This mission inherently centres on the segment of the event lifecycle that follows attendee registration, spanning from pre-event engagement to the fulfilment of event value during the event itself. We recognise that one of the greatest values events offer is the ability to provide tailored recommendations on people, products, companies, and content, optimising the limited time attendees have at the event. Our concept of “end-to-end engagement” embodies our commitment to delivering a comprehensive 360-degree experience for both event organisers and attendees. We ensure that all our capabilities are designed to complement each other seamlessly, aiming to be the one-stop solution for the entire engagement journey.
A typical journey within our ecosystem begins when a registered user gains access to the event platform, where they can start building their personalised schedule for the event days. They can then seamlessly transition to the mobile app during the event, accessing the same platform to execute their planned activities with tools like Jublia Scan and Jublia AI-Maps, driving fulfilment of their agenda. Every day, we strive to enhance our solutions to empower event attendees to make the most of their event experience while providing event organisers with the tools they need to track and optimise engagement experiences effectively. Through our continuous efforts, we aim to refine and perfect the end-to-end engagement process, delivering maximum value to all stakeholders involved.
ES. You mentioned Jublia AI Maps and Jublia Scan as part of the during-event experience. How do these features enhance attendee engagement and lead generation during live events?
Errol Lim. Jublia AI Maps stands out as our proprietary Interactive Floor Plan solution, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to transform static venue images into dynamic, interactive maps in under 10 seconds. This innovative feature allows attendees to navigate event spaces effortlessly by clicking on designated areas to explore ongoing activities. For instance, stages display scheduled events in chronological order, while booths open up exhibitor profiles featuring product listings. Additionally, attendees benefit from point-to-point way-finding functionality, enhancing their overall event experience by providing clear direction and facilitating seamless navigation. Ultimately, Jublia AI Maps significantly enhances attendee engagement by ensuring they can easily find their way around the event, fostering a sense of fulfilment and maximising their participation. Jublia Scan serves as our in-house Lead Retrieval solution, offering a seamless integration within the Jublia ecosystem. This feature provides event organisers with monetisation opportunities by enabling on-demand activation. Attendees, in turn, enjoy immediate
access to lead retrieval capabilities, including tagging, categorisation, and note-taking functionalities. Furthermore, Jublia Scan offers real-time tracking and measurement for event organisers, granting them the ability to monitor lead generation activities and export data as needed. This comprehensive approach not only provides attendees with instant gratification in lead collection but also offers event organisers invaluable insights into attendee engagement. While lead retrieval services are common at trade show exhibitions, Jublia Scan sets itself apart by seamlessly integrating into the digital engagement experience, enhancing the overall value proposition for both attendees and organisers alike.
ES. Post-event feedback is crucial for improving future events. How does Jublia utilise AI-powered sentiment analysis to gather insights from attendee feedback and ensure long-lasting event success?
Errol Lim. At Jublia, we prioritise gathering data and feedback to drive continuous improvement and ensure long-term event success. As part of our comprehensive end-to-end engagement process, we track metrics such as Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and Customer Satisfaction Scores (CSAT) using our data analytics platform called Jublia Sense. Unlike traditional static surveys, our dynamic approach fosters significantly higher user feedback input, often three times more, due to the rapport established through various touch-points during the event experience and the personalised relationship with our provided concierge service. Utilising AI-powered sentiment analysis, we efficiently filter and sort through the abundance of feedback received to accurately measure scores and identify specific areas for ongoing improvement. This allows our team to continually refine our services in collaboration with event organisers.
However, it’s important to note that while post-event feedback is essential, Jublia’s tools are designed for continuous feedback throughout the event lifecycle. Recognising that events are cyclical, we empower organisers with real-time insights to make instant adjustments rather than waiting for the next edition. These capabilities include providing instant ROI reports, access to personalised recommendations for people, companies, products, and content, as well as the ability to engage specific attendee groups based on behaviour. As AI capabilities evolve, we remain committed to integrating more advanced analytics into our platform to further enhance event management and data analysis capabilities.
ES. You recently attended PCMA Convening Leaders. What were some key takeaways from the event, and how do they inform Jublia’s strategies moving forward?
Errol Lim. One key takeaway was the significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As AI continues to evolve, it’s poised to become as ubiquitous as the internet. While concerns about AI’s potential negative impacts exist, it’s crucial to approach it as we would raising a child—by instilling it with good values. Viewing AI as an extension of our collective intelligence underscores its potential to positively impact society, enhancing efficiency and productivity. Another notable takeaway revolved around the importance of soft skills in a tech-driven era. As technology levels the playing field, soft skills such as communication, empathy, and connection become paramount. Despite the dominance of tech, fostering innovation requires embracing friction while remaining compassionate innovators—critical yet not cynical. In recognising the relatively slower pace of innovation in the events industry, it’s essential to strike a balance between embracing new technologies and maintaining relevance without being overly hasty. While Jublia is actively exploring opportunities in AI, we understand the importance of strategic timing and staying abreast of industry developments. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the irreplaceable value of face-to-face connections. It serves as a reminder that behind every digital interaction is a human being with whom we engage in buying, selling, and forging partnerships.
