Cvent Event Management vs Webex Events Formerly Socio

We used it for a hybrid event, which was PERFECT! It allowed attendees to stay informed, had virtual exhibitors to schedule zoom meetings, ability for surveys, attendees to connect with one another, keeps you organized! Allows you to track attendance, provides real-time event data and CUSTOM branding was key!!!

It's a great platform for a virtual event as well as an easy way to create a phone app for an in-person or hybrid event. It's especially good if your event is not simply open to the public and you want to restrict access to the content to those who have paid/registered etc.

• Complex event registrations with multiple attendee types
• Widget-based event website and email builder makes marketing quick and easy, especially for users without HTML/CSS knowledge; HTML widget allows for customization for those who want to fine-tune
• Plenty of custom fields allowed in contact records
• Clean interface
• Email automation and filtering capabilities
• Event registration links to contact record
• Robust reporting, both standard and custom
• Responsive and helpful customer service/tech support available via chat

• Customer service and attention is the best that I have seen. We have use 4-5 different event app systems over the past decade and no one came close to socio in terms of both meeting our needs and responding to questions and issues
• The product itself is flexible but fairly easy to use. We have a fairly complex event (120+ sessions over three days with hundreds of speakers) and not only did it handle it - but it looked good.
• Socio continually adds improvements to the product that really do make it better. They provide ample information on how to use each new feature as well.
• Many of the changes to the product I know came from direct requests made by our organization.

• 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.

• The standard template to build out the community is pretty rigid. We had to adjust some of our styling and graphics to account for what Socio's template allowed.
• Inability for event admins to make account changes for users. Several times we had users change jobs, therefore, changing their emails. Each time, we had to go through Socio support to get them access to their account.
• Documentation and knowledgebase could be more substantive.

It's the most fully encompassed, end-to-end event management platform we have been able to find. From sourcing to surveys, RFPs and ROI, Cvent really does do it all. Best of all, you get to pick what products you need, so you won't need to pay for anything you won't use

It does take some time to learn the system and the help articles are not always up to date, but it is also fairly intuitive and once you learn the basics, you can do very complex things without having to learn complex procedures.

There have been a few times when the system has gone down in the midst of registration. It can be frustrating but know that it does happen at times

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

We have used multiple virtual event platforms in the past, as well as trialed several. We ultimately decided on Webex due to the aesthetics of the website, the incredibly easy build-out process, the 24/5 support, the user-friendly front-end interface, the multiple ways to monetize sponsorships, and ultimately... the price. The value for what you get is incredible compared to other platforms.

It is a perfect fit no matter how big or small your event is

• 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!

• We have been able to save on printing costs
• The app remains open all year round, so folks who missed out convention are able to browse the agenda and topics
• Our users are able to view the virtual exhibit hall at any time to continue to explore and visit exhibitors