Once upon a time, Q&A meant a roving microphone, a raised hand, and a brave audience member hoping to be heard. It was a familiar ritual but one that came with its fair share of challenges. Questions could be hard to hear, time was often lost passing the mic around, and only a few voices made it through before the session wrapped up. 

Today, the Q&A experience has evolved dramatically. With integrated event apps and digital tools, organisers can now capture and moderate questions in real time, transforming a previously unpredictable segment into a seamless, inclusive, and data-rich interaction for speakers and their audience. 

From microphones to mobile devices 

The move from traditional microphone-based Q&A to digital systems has changed more than just logistics. It’s redefined audience engagement. 

Using an event app or virtual platform, such as those available in EventsAir, delegates  can submit questions instantly, without waiting for a microphone or worrying about public speaking nerves. Moderators can review and select the most relevant or popular questions ensuring the Q&A is engaging, thought-provoking, and aligned with what the audience most wants to hear.   

In a panel setting, digital Q&A can give the speakers a preview of the questions coming through from the audience as well giving them time to consider and form their answers. 

This digital shift creates a smoother, more professional experience for everyone involved. 

Key benefits of digital Q&A 

• Increased Participation
  More attendees engage when the barriers are removed. Submitting a written question from their seat encourages input from those who might otherwise stay silent. 

• Better Time and Question Management
  Moderators can group similar questions, filter duplicates, and prioritise high-value topics ensuring discussion time is used efficiently and meaningfully. 

• Richer Insights and Data Capture
  Digital Q&A tools capture every question submitted, even those that aren’t asked live on stage. Speakers and organisers can review the full list afterwards, providing written responses online or using the questions to guide future content and program design. 

• Enhanced Accessibility
  Digital tools support remote or hybrid participation, enabling both in-room and virtual attendees to contribute equally to the conversation. 

• Professional Moderation and Brand Control
  Questions can be screened to maintain professionalism, avoid repetition, and align with the tone of the event, ensuring a positive, polished delegate experience. 

• Let the audience prioritise what questions they want asked
  Give attendees the ability to like/upvote questions, so the most thought-provoking and relevant ones rise to the top, keeping the Q&A focused, engaging and audience driven. 

Engaging Hybrid Audiences Through Q&A 

Q&A is particularly vital for hybrid events. Remote participants can easily feel disengaged if they can’t contribute to the live conversation. Digital Q&A bridges that gap, allowing online and in-person audiences to submit questions side by side. 

For moderators and organisers, this creates a unified conversation that reflects the full reach of the event. Live polling and voting can also be integrated into hybrid Q&A sessions, turning what was once a one-way exchange into a dynamic, shared experience that spans locations and even different time zones. 

The result? A truly connected audience, where everyone has a voice, no matter where they’re tuning in from. 

Turning interaction into insight 

For Touchpoint and our clients, the Q&A technical evolution isn’t just about convenience, it’s about connection. 

When integrated with registration and session data, Q&A analytics reveal powerful stories about attendee engagement. You can identify emerging interests, tailor follow-up content, and even measure learning outcomes for CPD purposes. 

The future of Q&A 

As event technology continues to evolve, Q&A will keep becoming smarter, more inclusive, and more strategic. One thing remains constant: people want to be heard. The modern Q&A experience simply makes that easier, fairer, and more valuable for organisers and attendees alike. 

Gamification is a powerful way to boost program engagement and create memorable event experiences. By weaving in game-like elements such as challenges, points, and rewards, organisers can transform passive attendees into active engaged participants, across both the program and the wider event environment. 

At Touchpoint, we help clients unlock these features through smart event design and technology integration. Whether it’s encouraging learning, driving exhibitor traffic, or rewarding sustainable choices, gamification makes participation fun while delivering serious value. 

So, what exactly can you gamify at your event? 

1. Session Attendance

Encourage attendees to check in to sessions by awarding points for participation. For events where Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or education credits matter, this creates a win-win: verified attendance plus added motivation for attendees to engage with the content.  

2. Exhibition Engagement

Exhibitors love traffic, and gamification can drive it. Use lead scanning or digital check-ins at exhibitor booths to award points. Add leaderboards or prize draws to create excitement and ensure sponsors see real value from their investment. 

3. Networking Activities

Gamification is a great way to spark new connections. Think “Make as many connections as you can at the Welcome Reception” or “Check-in at the Networking Breakfast to earn points.” This not only encourages interaction but helps break the ice in larger events. 

4. Program Engagement

Incorporate in-app trivia linked to session content or exhibitor materials and use live polls to encourage real-time interaction between presenters and their audience. Points can also be earned by submitting questions within the app or completing post-session surveys, keeping audiences engaged beyond simply sitting in the room. 

5. Sustainability Challenges

For events aiming to reduce their waste and carbon footprint, gamify sustainability initiatives such as awarding points for refilling reusable bottles, using badge return bins, or downloading the Attendee App to access all event information digitally rather than relying on printed materials. Touchpoint can help you design these elements to align with your green event goals.  

6. EventStream Interaction 

Encourage attendees to spread the word. Create a challenge where points are earned by posting event highlights on the EventStream. This builds a sense of community and extends the event conversation and buzz beyond the room.  

7. Treasure Hunts & Wayfinding

Make the venue itself part of the game. Use QR code-based location scans to create treasure hunts that encourage exploration, helping attendees discover new zones, exhibitors, or session spaces.  

8. Hybrid Challenges

Gamification doesn’t stop at the venue doors. Create virtual-exclusive challenges to bring online audiences into the same journey. Inclusive gamification ensures hybrid events feel like one cohesive experience to both in-person and online attendees. 

Gamification isn’t just about prizes – it’s about connection, learning, and energy. At Touchpoint, we love working with clients to design gamification strategies that support the event’s purpose and elevate audience engagement. 

Curious to explore what gamification could look like for your next event? Get in touch and let’s bring your event to life through smart, purpose-built gamification. 

What sustainability means for our corner of the event industry

In the world of events, sustainability is often discussed in terms of venue choice, catering, travel, or waste reduction. At Touchpoint, our focus is on a specific corner of the event journey: registration and onsite technology. While we may not decide what’s on the menu or how delegates arrive, we do have the power to shape the first impression of every attendee and to ensure this part of the event is as efficient, streamlined, and environmentally responsible as possible. 

For us, sustainability means making deliberate choices such as reducing unnecessary printing, extending the lifespan of our technology, cutting transport emissions where possible, and supporting clients in creating a seamless experience that doesn’t come at the cost of the planet. 

What has inspired us 

Our inspiration comes from two places: our clients and our industry. More event organisers are asking the big questions about their environmental impact. They’re seeking solutions that minimise waste and offer smarter, greener ways to engage attendees. We’ve also been inspired by the events industry itself – an industry known for its innovation and adaptability as it continues to push boundaries on what sustainable events can look like. 

Closer to home, joining initiatives like City Switch, Close the Loop and Teracycle, has reinforced our belief that small, consistent changes across all aspects of an event add up to real impact. Watching entire industries move toward net zero has inspired us to consider our role and to step up in the areas we can influence most. 

How we can have an impact 

While we don’t run the whole show, our influence is meaningful. Here’s where we’re making a difference: 

Reducing Waste 

• Shifting towards digital-first solutions to limit unnecessary printing. 

• Working with smart event apps to replace printed programs and promotional brochures. 

• Introducing electronic tickets and access control scanning to remove the need for printed function tickets. 

• Repurposing registration kiosks and scanning equipment throughout events to maximise their use. 

• Embedding recycling into our operations, from printer cartridges to signage, so we can reduce what ends up in landfill. 

Consulting & Educating Clients 

• Encouraging generic branding on conference materials (e.g. lanyards with company or event logos rather than year-specific branding) so they can be reused. 

• Providing onsite recycling solutions, such as badge collection bins, to ensure materials are disposed of responsibly. 

• Partnering with organisers to embed sustainability into event planning from the very beginning. 

Looking ahead 

Sustainability is not a destination but an ongoing journey. For us, it’s about continually asking: How can we do this better? How can we reduce our footprint without compromising the attendee experience? 

We believe that by focusing on our corner of the event, we contribute to the bigger picture – an industry that’s innovative, impactful, and increasingly sustainable. 

When it comes to managing your event, every detail counts, especially when it involves who’s walking through the door. 

Session scanning brings clarity, control, and confidence to your event operations. It’s a smart, efficient way to manage access, improve attendee experience, and keep your event running smoothly. 

Track Attendance for CPD Accreditation
Many events offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or similar points for attending specific sessions. Scanning attendees in and out provides verified attendance records, making it easy to issue CPD points or certificates post-event without any additional admin. 

Smarter access, greater security
Access control scanning instantly confirms whether an attendee is entitled to enter a particular session or function – be it a ticketed workshop, an invite-only dinner, or a high-profile, confidential discussion.  

By ensuring only authorised individuals gain access, it eliminates guesswork at the door while maintaining a secure and professional event environment. 

For high-security or sensitive events, session scanning can go beyond access control by integrating with cybersecurity measures. One such feature is the ability to void a previously printed name badge, instantly deactivating the attendee’s unique QR code. This ensures that if a badge is lost, stolen, or duplicated, it will no longer scan green or grant access. It’s an added safeguard that prevents unauthorised entry, particularly useful for events where privacy, confidentiality, or guest safety is paramount. 

No Badge? No Problem.
For guest attendees, there’s no need for a name badge, they simply present their unique QR code for scanning at the door. It’s quick, paperless, and secure. 

Real-Time Insights That Inform the Future
Real-time scanning provides live headcounts as guests enter the room, giving you immediate visibility for managing capacity, meeting health and safety requirements, and identifying which sessions are attracting the biggest crowds.  

But the value doesn’t stop there. This data also helps shape future events. By analysing attendance patterns, peak traffic times, and underutilised spaces, organisers can make smarter decisions around scheduling, room allocations, and content planning. 

Boost Onsite Efficiency and Reduce Bottlenecks 

By deploying scanning at the entry points of sessions and functions, you reduce manual check-ins, avoid queues, and minimise staff intervention. This improves the flow of attendees and allows your onsite team to focus on assisting guests rather than managing paperwork or lists. 

Smooth Last-Minute Changes 

Last-minute attendee swaps or on-the-day registrations? Real-time scanning integrates with your central system, so updates reflect immediately. No need to print new lists, simply scan the new QR code and move on. 

Demonstrate Professionalism to Sponsors and Stakeholders 

Accurate attendance tracking allows you to report real engagement figures to sponsors and partners, a compelling value-add when demonstrating ROI or negotiating future partnerships. 

Whether you’re managing breakout sessions, workshops, or gala dinners, onsite scanning gives you the visibility and control you need without slowing things down.