Buying event and venue management software can be a complex process, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s simply a matter of working out what you need and identifying suppliers that can solve your needs for you.
To help you understand a little more about the features and benefits that our cloud-based solution has to offer and to determine whether it is the right fit for your organisation, we asked Priava’s Head of Sales for EMEA, Mike Jeanes, to share the most common questions that he gets asked about Priava. Here are our top five answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Priava.
1. Can we really access the system from anywhere?
According to Mike, this is one of the first questions people ask when learning about Priava and the simple answer is “Yes.” Because it’s cloud-based, Priava can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
This is extremely beneficial for organisations that have staff who are required to spend time away from the office attending networking events, trade shows and client meetings because they can quickly and easily check availability, as well as opportunity and event details from wherever they are. This is also beneficial for businesses that offer flexible working arrangements for staff who need to work from home.
2. What is the cloud?
Mike believes that choosing between a cloud-based system, versus an on-premise solution, is one of the major considerations for businesses looking to purchase event and venue management software. “Businesses who have previously had on-premise solutions, are often curious about the benefits that a cloud-based option could bring to their organisation,” says Mike, “However, the term “Cloud” is often a point of confusion for most people who don’t have a background in IT”.
So, what does it actually mean?
Put simply, cloud computing is a software delivery model in which resources and data can be accessed on-demand via the Internet. The term “cloud” is used to demonstrate the fact that information is readily available anytime, anywhere, so you don’t need to be in a specific location to gain access to it – it’s almost as if it is floating in the air above you.
There are a number of benefits for business who make the shift to cloud technology, but one of the most important benefits is that it eliminates the need for an onsite server which translates into significant financial savings – including the cost of the physical server itself and the ongoing maintenance.
3. Does Priava integrate with other systems?
We recognise the importance of linking our best-of-breed venue and event management solution with other best-of-breed technologies to enable our clients to achieve ultimate efficiency and the topic of integration is fast becoming one of the main questions asked by prospective clients. “From accounting packages to CRMs and content marketing systems, clients are always interested to learn about ways that they can integrate Priava with other systems so as to improve connectivity and data integrity,” says Mike.
Working closely with our customers, we are constantly developing out REST API to support seamless integrations with a variety of applications. At this stage, Priava can be integrated with SAP, Salesforce, Campaign Monitor, MailChimp, Xero and NetSuite and these are achieved using a variety of IPaaS providers including Zapier, Mulesoft & Lightsceptre. That said, clients are able to utilise in-house developers/IT departments to configure their own integrations, or alternatively, Priava’s development team are able to scope, build, develop, test and provide on-going support for the configuration of integrations to web forms and 3rd party systems.
4. How often do we update the system and what does it cost us to update?
Installing system updates on local computers can be a time-consuming and painful process for large-scale organisations, which is we often get asked about how updates are administered and the costs associated with them. Mike explains, “For many clients, this is often the main reason behind moving from an on-premise to Priava’s cloud-based solution because all system updates are administered remotely at no additional cost, so all users have access to the latest version of Priava every time they log in.”
5. Does Priava accept online bookings?
“Many organisations have spaces and facilities that they offer to people to book on a self-service basis,” says Mike, “So online bookings capabilities is another hot topic for people looking at implementing Priava to manage spaces like sporting facilities, community halls, and also corporate spaces like boardrooms and meeting rooms.”
Together with the rise in smartphones and our increasing dependence on mobile devices, Priava continues to develop new and relevant functionality to respond to the needs of our existing and prospective customers. Mike explains, “Now that our Online Bookings sites are compatible with mobile devices, our clients can offer a completely self-service experience for their customers and this provides huge time-saving benefits for our customers as it reduces unnecessary administration and improves venue occupancy.
If you are interested in learning more about our cloud-based venue and event management solution, download our product overview, take a look at our full list of Frequently Asked Questions about Priava.
