Customer Centricity: Learning from the Events Ecosystem

Customer Centricity: Learning from the Events Ecosystem

Carole Boletti • November 9, 2023
Carole Boletti • November 9, 2023

Share

Stax’s Exhibitions 3.0 framework, which has been adopted by a number of international organizers, lays out the importance of placing customers—both exhibitors and visitors—at the heart of exhibition organizers’ business models. To get there, a data-driven approach enabled by digital and technology is critical. This customer-centric approach can be replicated across other industries as well. 


The Covid pandemic proved the importance of keeping audiences engaged outside of the period during the physical event. There are a multitude of ways to utilize customer data to shape exhibitions and provide more personalized show experiences. 

Exhibitions 3.0: Transformation and developing your

Event organizers have been explicit in their focus on customer centricity. A notable example is Informa’s proprietary data engine IIRIS, which has tracked c.1.5B customer interactions with 15M contacts in their KEMA (Known, Engaged, Marketable Audience), of which exhibition participants are a major constituent. Furthermore, the group-level acquisition of Industry Dive, a digital B2B media and digital services provider, has strengthened Informa’s audience engagement capacity.


Online marketplaces are another channel to facilitate outside-show engagement and increase the number of customer touchpoints. Examples include Comexposium’s THE SHOwP platform (formerly CXMP), Emerald’s acquisition of Bulletin which connects c.26,000 retailers and Clarion’s business sourcing platform Global Sources Online.


Stax continues to believe that placing the customer at the heart of organizers’ businesses will help them transform exhibitions into brands—the logical next step in the evolution of the industry.


Stax is the global leader in strategy consulting for the events industry. Our mission is to create value for our clients across the events ecosystem and guide transformation. With a 30-year track record, Stax offers strategic support to corporates and private equity firms across the events landscape. Stax is the go-to strategic advisor for the world’s leading organizers, venues, service providers, event tech, and investors, offering support for transactions and value creation. 

 

Our work is rooted in market and customer understanding, enriched by our unrivalled expertise across the events sector. Additionally, we also publish the annual Globex report, widely recognized as the definitive resource on market dynamics by international organizers and investors. 

Image of Carole Boletti

Associate Director | London

Read More

The Next Frontier in STR Software: High-Growth Opportunities for Investors
By Andrew Keller April 14, 2025
Rising demand, regulatory complexity, and operational needs are fueling software adoption in the STR market. Andrew Keller shares how Stax helps investors navigate this rapidly evolving space.
Featured by Life Risk News: Are Recent Asset Manager-Owned Life Insurance Consolidator Divestments a
By Robert Lytle April 10, 2025
As consolidation in life insurance plateaus, Robert Lytle shares with Life Risk news how this is signaling a shift in who can play in this space. Click here to read the full story.
Stax Provides Sell-side Support to Command Investigations on its Acquisition by Incline Equity Partn
April 9, 2025
Stax provided sell-side support for Command Investigations, a national provider of insurance investigation services, on its recent acquisition by Incline Equity Partners. Click here to read more.
Anantha Natalegawa Honored as a 2025 Rising Star by Consulting Magazine
April 7, 2025
Anantha Natalegawa has been named a 2025 Rising Star by Consulting Magazine for excellence in client service in the Retail sector. Read more.
Unpacking the Tariff Shock: What You Need to Know Now
By Anuj A. Shah April 4, 2025
Anuj A. Shah discusses how new US tariffs reshape global trade and M&A outlook. Learn how interest rates, commodity prices, and private equity strategies are shifting in response.
Featured by Power Magazine: China Coal-Fired Generation Additions Tied to Economics, Energy Security
April 3, 2025
Brad Kuntz was approached by Power Magazine to share his thoughts on China's reliance on coal and how the nation is shifting to alternative energy supplies. Read the full article here.
Show More