Tablet-style Devices for Trade Shows

With global shipments of tablets expected to more than triple from 18 million units in 2010 to about 61 million in 2011, according to research firm iSuppli, tablets are here to stay.

The Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Viewsonic Viewpad and the Blackberry Playbook (to name a few) all offer the ability to interact with potential customers on the trade show floor. The small size and touchscreen technology offer trade show staff the ability to engage customers untethered from static video screens or computers in the booth.

These tablets can help you:
• Demonstrate products and, if the customer is interested, immediately email the information to them.
• Show product videos and customer testimonials.
• Qualify leads by taking them through a series of questions in an interactive application.

Eric Lukazewski states perfectly why the iPad (and similar size tablets) are great for trade shows:

“The iPad goes where your laptop can’t and its size is advantageous over the iPhone. It’s the perfect “in-between” device for both attendees and exhibitors to be productive and share information with each other. The brilliant and beautiful screen display is perfect for demos and presentations and its speed and integration with other progressive products and software make it an impossible display to ignore.”

His article also lists five of the best trade show apps for your iPad, but there is also a multitude of apps available for the Android or Windows-based tablets.

Other considerations for tablets:
• Set up your own WiFi network. Trade show WiFi is notoriously slow and flaky, so having a reliable connection is paramount to trade show success when using tablets.
• Train your staff on the operation of the tablet, especially when interacting with a customer. They may need to use the device upside down or from the side in order for the prospect to effectively view the screen.
• Have a back-up. If the tablet gets accidentally dropped, or has technical issues, a back-up tablet loaded with the same information can be a lifesaver at a show.

Tablets are just another tool to interact with potential customers at trade shows. And although there is a plethora of apps being released every day for the various platforms, the ability to design custom sales demonstrations for your business on these devices will set you apart from the crowd. Imagine the possibilities!