4 Digital Tools for New Event Pros in 2023
Starting a company in the event industry is an exciting endeavor, but don’t let enthusiasm stand in the way of a solid business foundation! From the outside, it might seem like your days will be filled with lavish designs, bountiful flowers, and sky-high cakes. And while those are fun parts of working in the industry, many new event pros are surprised to find that most days are filled with sales meetings, emails, and project management.
Fortunately, there’s no better time to start an event business than now! Technology has allowed companies—new and existing alike—to streamline and automate more of their day-to-day operations, letting creatives get back to what they love most: creating.
So if you’re in the early stages of building your event business (or even if it’s just an idea on a sticky note!), here are the four digital tools that will help you start on the right foot.
Digital Contracts & E-Signing
Paper contracts are a thing of the past! Data shows that e-signature features increase turnaround time and enhance client satisfaction, allowing you to book quickly and easily. In addition, a digital contract system enables you to close during a sales call, so you never have to worry about losing a prospect in the follow-up stage. Plus, you don’t have to file all those hard copies of client agreements!
Invoicing & Payment Processing
You have better things to do than chase down payments! Look for a platform that allows you to set up automated reminders so you don’t have to remember when to send out invoices. Simply map out the payment schedule and let the software do the work for you! Plus, accepting credit cards and bank transfers means your clients don’t have to deal with the hassle of paper checks.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
As your event business grows, you’ll need a place to store client information, manage communications, and oversee their projects. While a spreadsheet or notebook might work for your first few clients, a more robust system is necessary to scale your business and continue taking on more events. A great CRM will help you stay organized, foster collaboration, and keep all your client details in one easy-to-navigate place.
Event Planning Software
While a CRM is designed to optimize the client experience, you’ll also need to find software to facilitate the event planning process. You may consider a general project management platform, like Asana or ClickUp, to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and team assignments. But you may also want to use a program with event-specific features, like 3D floorplans or inventory management.
A well-planned tech stack can make all the difference between a business that overwhelms you and one that fills you with joy. While there’s no magic potion to overcome the obstacles of early entrepreneurship, you can rest easy knowing that technology has your back and will keep you moving in the right direction.
Nora Sheils is the co-founder of Rock Paper Coin, the first software platform to bring together wedding planners, couples, and vendors into one system for managing and paying contracts and invoices. She is also the founder and lead wedding planner of award-winning firm Bridal Bliss. In addition to recognition by Portland Business Journal in its 40 Under 40 series, she also earned a spot in The BizBash 500 for 2021.