Even the largest, most successful live events can find new meaning in the virtual environment – if you know where to look. We’re helping companies create new ways to connect with their communities through our creative approach to virtual events.
Every year, Manhattan Associates, a world leader in supply chain, omnichannel and inventory solutions, gathers momentum for new product launches and the latest thinking in the field with a live event, aptly titled “Momentum.” It’s an annual user conference for supply chain and omnichannel customers across retail, wholesale and manufacturing industries – and their largest of the year.
However, 2020 brought a new and unexpected set of challenges for the event. Due to growing public health concerns related to COVID-19, as well as subsequent social distancing measures, a large-scale live event was no longer an option.
The team at Manhattan Associates immediately set to work brainstorming a new virtual format for the conference – and choosing a partner who could help them pivot in a short amount of time.
Key considerations for the new event format were:
“We had worked with ETA Creative Event Producers on a few smaller events, including a recent sales meeting as well as our tradeshow booth at the National Retail Federation and were quite pleased with their capabilities and service delivery. As soon as we finalized the decision to move ahead with a virtual format for our annual conference, it was clear that ETA would be our vendor of choice for the project.” said Tammy Boucher Senior Director, Customer & Partner Marketing and Events.
The idea
Launch a new virtual event experience for the company’s global user community by packaging speaker presentations into a seamless production that could be delivered as one master show for broadcast.
Our services
We partnered with Manhattan Associates from start to finish, exploring production options, laying out the program, directing the recording of individual presentations and sending a socially-distanced, skeleton video crew to film with CEO, Eddie Capel. On May 20, “Momentum Connect” premiered.
“It was great to see the excitement and engagement of our attendees from around the world as they actively participated in over 60 digital sessions throughout two days of the streamed event,” said Boucher.
By strategizing a new virtual delivery, we were able to help the event widen its reach and keep people engaged with exciting news and new ideas. The event exceeded attendance goals, generating three times the number of in-person event attendees.
“We were very pleased with the production quality and the delivery of the keynote. The approach allowed us to reach a broader audience, expanding participation to an increased number of attendees from around the globe. We would absolutely partner with ETA on virtual events in the future.”
True to its name, Momentum Connect is far from over. In response to overwhelmingly positive feedback and ongoing interest from the user community, the company added on-demand sessions throughout the summer that were made available to anyone who originally registered for the May virtual event.
Where tried and true practices meet new roadblocks in a rapidly changing world, we see opportunities for renewed creativity and more effective communication. We believe every virtual event is unique – and we want to learn about your audience and your message to create an unrepeatable experience for your company. Interested in strategizing your next virtual event? Contact us to get started today.