Certain Event Automation Software vs. Cvent Event Management

Certain is very well suited for any type of event or tradeshow that require specific fields from registrants and an automated email sequence to keep them engaged. It's less appropriate for one-off events, since setting up those pages can be quite complex if you're used to the types of Eventbrite/Sympla. If you don't really build event pages regularly, I'd recommend a software that's more simple, which should address what you need.

Incentivized

Cvent Event Management works great for events for which we need to collect registration fees. If you have a large-scale event that requires complex registration/data collection, and payment processing, Cvent Event Management is the best solution out there! It is comprehensive, can handle complex, multi-step registration forms, and has features for customizable and branded accompanying website and marketing opportunities (social media, event emails, etc). It is a one-stop-shop for creation and promotion of an event. That said, for "free" events, because there is an associated cost per registrant, it makes more sense for us to use another platform (we use Eventbrite, GoogleForm, or WordPress Gravity Forms) to collect RSVPs. The cost-oer-registrant is outlined upon contracting (and can vary based on the terms of your contract), but it is a fixed cost, rather than a percentage of the overall fees. Again, depending on the cost of your program for a participant, this can either be a good thing or something that would persuade you to use another system in that scenario.

Incentivized

• Easy to use and create
• Easy to pull reports once event has been sent to attendees
• Great way to gather a lot of information

Incentivized

• Registration platform can handle nearly any need.
• Event websites are easy to build and support customization.
• Support is available in multiple formats should you run into issues.
• There is a large user community where you can reach out for ideas and help.

Incentivized

• Dashboards: It's quite important for leadership to get a visual of what their event registrants look like (with graphs, for example). Now, Certain does not present a feature to create dashboards, so we have to export their reports and create our dashboards ourselves.
• UX when setting up an event: Now this can be quite complex, as it's not as easy to use or intuitive. Many different tabs with many different sub-items can present a confusing experience for newcomers when building an event.

Incentivized

• Allowing more in depth paths for registration questions (i.e. drill-down questions as needed)
• Hotel widget does not model in a user-friendly way, allowing for customer confusion and cumbersome work-arounds
• Flex Email customization widgets need to integrate into the emails more smoothly and be able to customize to have the same look, feel, font of the written text. At this time it does not allow for the same level of customization.

We are very pleased with the features that Cvent gives us. The ease of use and the immediate support when something does stump us. Cvent provides us with everything that we need to run a successful event. The only reason I did not Rate Cvent as a 10 is the cost

Incentivized

Overall, Cvent Event Management is a highly usable platform, with a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features and tools to help plan, promote, and manage events. The platform is designed to be intuitive, allowing users to easily navigate and access the various features and functionalities. One of the key benefits of Cvent Event Management's usability is its high level of customization. The platform offers a range of customization options, allowing users to tailor the platform to their specific needs and branding. This can include custom registration forms, event websites, email communications, and more. Additionally, Cvent Event Management provides robust data analytics and reporting, enabling users to gain insights into attendee behavior, event performance, and ROI. The platform also offers real-time reporting, which can be particularly useful during an event, allowing organizers to monitor attendance and event progress. While there may be a learning curve for some of the more advanced features, overall, the platform is highly usable and intuitive and we have had positive experiences with the platform's usability, citing its ease of use, customization options, and comprehensive feature set as key benefits.

Incentivized

Cvent does go down pretty frequently. And while it often doesn't impact day to day use usually, if it does go down at the wrong time, you may not be able to access very important event information when you need it. Usually outages do not last very long, but it could still be a very bad situation if this happens at the wrong moment

Incentivized

When pulling reports and it can sometimes lag a bit and that can be frustrating when you are trying to get things done on a timeline

Incentivized

I have very rarely needed support, but when I did, it seemed that there was an underlying push for a webinar, training session, or multiple phone calls. If I have a question or a need, that should be addressed nothing else.

Incentivized

Our on-site trainer was very knowledgeable in the product and gave us very important pointers on best practices and how to perform tasks in the simplest manner

Incentivized

I have used the webinars and cvent community a lot to gain more knowledge. I am usually always able to find the answers I need

Incentivized

It would have been nice during implementation if we had received more pointers on how to organize our parked report folders, libraries, etc. to avoid the mess we find ourselves in today. If we had known ahead of time the limitations we could have planned better.

Incentivized

My company selected Certain and continues to use Certain because it is quick, easy, and efficient. We create up to 20 registration links a year and Certain allows us to create templates to copy and create annual event links very fast. I also love that there is someone there to speak to if I ever need assistance

Incentivized

Our existing relationship with [Cvent Event Management] led us to stick with them when it came time to choose a virtual platform, and it certainly delivered and showed that it had the capability to be the polished, yet simple, platform that resonated best with our audience. The new virtual offering was still going through some growing pains when we used it, but it has the potential to be a major competitor in the virtual event space, and they're already well established in the in-person event management space.

Incentivized

We use Cvent for many different clients and events. It's very easy to customize the experience for the event that you need

Incentivized

• Certain helps to deliver a great customer experience, since it facilitates automatic email delivery and your company can keep them connected well before or well after an event.
• Certain presents a wide variety of reports, which perfectly addresses any request for visibility coming from your organization.
• Certain's configuration settings are quite complex, so our newcomers are not comfortable using the software at first.
• In case you need a more visual representation of your audience, Certain, unfortunately, does not generate dashboards.

Incentivized

• Positive ROI: See which registrants [participated]
• Positive ROI: See survey results from the feedback survey pushed at or after an event
• Positive: Helps us lessen time spent setting up an event, emailing, or capturing data for event staff-- which in turn means MORE events!

Incentivized