A group of global event organisers and tech platforms have come together to create VSef, a new data standard for virtual and hybrid events.
The Virtual Standard Export Format has been created and led by data company Explori, with the input of many high-profile organisers.
These include Clarion Events, Easyfairs, Emerald, GRS, Hyve, Informa, MBB Consulting Group, Mesago Messe Frankfurt, Messe Munchen, RDC, Reed, Tarsus, Verona Fiere and Virtual Strategy Ltd.
VSef is run on a not-for-profit basis, is open to all event organisers, and any platform can choose to adopt the standards.
It has been designed to provide an open-source standard for virtual event data, allowing organisers to receive data from different platforms in one format.
Dr. Barış Onay, chair of the VSef working group, remarked: “The silver-lining in the pivot to digital has been the data-rich environment we organisers now find ourselves in. But, we have a huge standardisation job at hand if we’re to benefit from this newly found trove of data.”
Explori CEO Mark Brewster added: “Our research suggests organisers use, on average, four different event technology platforms. The data produced by these platforms often looks very different from one provider to the next. Three-quarters of organisers told us they found it challenging to integrate data from virtual platforms into other systems.
“These challenges are barriers to learning, progress and business intelligence. That is why we brought together a working group to create a universal data format that enables events to consume consistent data regardless of which platforms they are working with.”
