The Q2 Education Community Conversation allowed attendees to explore the latest innovations and strategies highlighted at Cvent Connect this year!
Christine Darcy's Insights on Onboarding and Training Cvent Users
Christine Darcy from the University of Southern California kicked off the meetup with an enlightening recap of her Cvent Connect session on effective onboarding and training strategies for Cvent users. Her presentation emphasized the importance of creating customized user guides specific for each instance (or department), supplemented with videos, screenshots, flowcharts, and diagrams. Christine advised utilizing easily searchable and updatable tools like Google Docs or OneNote, and recommended Scribe for capturing step-by-step instructions. She highlighted the importance of tailoring additional materials based on user roles and encouraged the creation of user accounts matching those roles for practical training.
Christine also stressed the value of hands-on training through event registration testing, internal sessions, and the use of test events or sandbox accounts. These approaches help users to gain practical experience and confidence in using Cvent.
Bella's Product Roadmap Highlights
Bella followed with a detailed recap of the product roadmap shared at Cvent Connect. Key updates included enhancements to pricing setup, certificate designer updates, and the introduction of group packages. Attendees were particularly interested in the new attendee modification features with the Cvent Assistant, the OnArrival team functionalities, and the ability to build custom reports. Bella also introduced the open beta program for the Event Assistant, an AI chatbot designed for websites, which promises to streamline attendee interaction and support. If you are interested in joining this Beta Program, please complete the survey here.
Engaging Breakout Rooms and Networking Opportunities
The meetup featured breakout rooms for Cvent Connect In Person attendees and a General Open Networking room.
Cvent Connect In Person Experience
Attendees appreciated the Connect experience, though many expressed a desire for more time to network and discuss key topics. The session, The Non-Profit & Higher Ed Event Growth Framework: Structuring Success at Every Stage received positive feedback for their informative content, while the System Admin Community Conversation provided practical insights on effectively using the platform.
Participants found the table talks particularly valuable, especially during USC's onsite session. However, some attendees felt that extending the tradeshow to two days would allow for more interaction and engagement. There was also a strong call for more sessions and exhibitors specifically tailored to the needs of higher education.
Integration needs were a significant focus of the discussions. There was a highlighted demand for more sessions dedicated to custom integrations and the use of the REST API, reflecting a growing interest in fully leveraging Cvent’s capabilities.
Networking and Collaboration Highlights
The networking breakout room featured notable interactions, with the University of Virginia sharing their event strategies and budget integration with alumni databases.
SUNY discussed their expansive use of Cvent across 64 campuses, touching on challenges like mandatory RFP processes and the integration of various systems. Trinity University shared their excitement about the Event Assistant and plans to leverage Scribe for training videos, reflecting the community’s eagerness to adopt new tools and techniques.
In conclusion, the Q2 Education Community Conversation was a resounding success, providing attendees with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance their use of Cvent. From Christine Darcy's expert advice on user onboarding to Bella's exciting product roadmap updates, participants left with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.
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Kylie Ott
Lead Customer Success Advisor
Richmond, VA
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