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Most event and meetings planners want to design a connectivity network that meets every demand of their conference attendees – easier dreamed than done.

This desire is leavened by the complexities of delivering a fast, secure, robust and flexible event network, not least in the management of time-critical elements in the process.

We can view these complexities by way of comparison – imagine building a home for a growing family of four. In many ways, the issues and demands are similar to meeting the demands and growing needs from attendees for a tailored network design that embraces increasingly cloud-dependent access.

My Meeting Professional’s Mike Clanton is giving a key presentation at the Meeting Professional International event tomorrow in London: Event Technology – The Next Generation where he will be focusing on the ways in which event and meetings professionals can learn from the “home” example in their development of network connectivity that meets every need, and also maximises return-on-investment.

Mike will reference examples, such as:

1. Building a home from scratch or responding to the needs of the family living there.

Do you select a home based upon neighbourhood amenities or the house itself? You would want to:

Locate an area, estimate a budget and check out the local infrastructure (schools, store, metro, doctors, roads, commute to work etc.)

Consider constraints of location – city home, suburban home, beach home, country house, mountain house and so on.

Building from scratch means choosing the right components that are fit-for-purpose: brick, wood, tile, cement, plastic, glass and so on.

You will make a choice on what’s needed. Are you looking for a home for a single, couple, family, growing family, empty nesters, extended family or multi-generational home?

Do you need a 1- or2-car garage, parking area in front of the house, a carport, free on-street parking, on-street paid parking?

Is the home-space ‘flow’ and room layout an important factor? For example:

Open kitchen

Eat-in kitchen vs. a formal dining room

2, 3, 4 or more bedrooms

Home office or home area

Relaxation space

Do you want a front garden, back garden, patio, deck?

Will the main room open out to a back garden with a deck?

You will also be engaging with key actors: Architect, inspector, designer, builder team and so on.

2. Moving into a home with very little or no modifications to the existing house
Do you select a home based upon the neighbourhood amenities or the actual house itself?

Due to local constraints, you may not be able to build or alter your home. Here are some compromises to be considered:

If you a family of four and growing, you may be constrained to live in a smaller home or apartment.

Siblings sharing a room regardless of the age difference

Single bathroom

One main room for all family members

Home office is in the main family room

Kitchen area can be used for cooking only (not an eat-in kitchen)

All areas of home must be shared by all family members.

You will need to engage with key actors:  Inspector, builder team and others.

The delivery of fit-for-purpose network connectivity echoes many of these issues, challenges and concerns. At base, it is about understanding your client’s needs, and matching them with the differing needs of event attendees.

Managing expectations is a critical element when designing a home or a network; the users demand and expect a personal touch and feel. It’s the same when designing an event network. You have to ensure that you work with experts, or are expert yourself in network connectivity design and management.

Here’s an animation that reflects on the creative environment of network connectivity, what to do, what to be aware of and what to avoid: Event Network Connectivity Roadmap