The first step to attending a conference is really simple: have your participants a badge! But this doesn’t mean they don’t have to prepare at all for the event. There are some things that can help your participants plan better and enjoy their experience more than if they didn’t do any research beforehand.
As it happens in almost every event nowadays, there will probably be a registration desk where attendees need to show aticket or confirmation email along with an ID card before entering. To make sure no one can use similar names and photos, there’s always the option of checking in online and printing the badge from a digital copy.
Conference badges are the most important element of every event. They identify attendees as a guest, give access to many events and sessions, and depending on the conference they can even provide perks such as free food, beverages or merchandise discounts.
What Is Conference Badge?
A conference badge is a small card which event participants and delegates usually wear on the chest. It has the name of the person it belongs to, so everyone can identify who the bearer is regardless of whether he/she is facing them or not, and usually other information such as the company the beare works for or if they are an employee or just a guest.
Conference Badge Software
The process of designing and printing badges used to be a time-consuming and expensive task. But nowadays there are many software options that make this process much easier. There are different types of software, but the most common ones are:
Event Management Software: This type of software usually includes a badge designer which allows you to create your own badge. It also includes a list of all the participants and their contact information, as well as other event details.
ID Card Printing Software: This software is specifically designed for printing ID cards, so it usually includes more features than event management software. It allows you to design your badge, print it, and even encode it with a magnetic stripe or ID chip.
Conference Badge Printing Systems
There are many different types of conference badge printing systems, but the most common ones are:
Thermal printers: These printers use heat to print on paper. They are small, lightweight, and easy to use, and the prints last a long time if they are stored in a cool place.
Inkjet printers: Inkjet printers are the most common type of printer used in homes and businesses. They are affordable and can print high-quality photos and documents.
Laser printers: Laser printers use lasers to create an image on a photosensitive drum. They produce high-quality prints quickly, but they can be expensive to buy and maintain.
Lists of Apps to Print Tickets and Badges
Boomset Event Technology
This is the leading conference badge, app developer. They have several apps on Shopify App Store, including “Boomset”, which is an all-in-one planning and management system for events with iOS and Android mobile apps, as well as a web interface. Other event apps they developed are “Boomset Manager” and “Boomset Check-In”.
With Boomset you can not only create the tickets for your event, but also manage registration, manage speakers, set up workshops or contests with questions and answers, security access to certain areas of the venue or rooms where sessions happen, a complete app ecosystem which features barcode scanning and social media integration, and more.
Entegy Suite Event Technology
This is an event management solution that is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows devices. It includes the following apps:
Entegy Suite Attendance This app allows you to create tickets, wristbands, or badges for your event. The app includes NFC support (Near Field Communication), barcode scanning, QR code scanning, self-validation, and more.
Entegy Suite Check-In This app allows your guests to check in to your event by scanning their ticket or wristband with a barcode scanner or NFC-enabled device.
Entegy Suite Maps This app provides interactive maps of your event venue which include directions, wayfinding, and points of interest.
Custom Badges
If you want to create your own badges for your event, there are many different software options that allow you to do this. Custom Badges is specifically designed for this purpose, and includes features such as badge design templates, photo cropping and editing tools, the ability to add text and graphics, and more.
TicketPrinting.com
This company offers a wide range of event printing services, including the printing of badges and tickets. They have several software options that allow you to design your own badge, including:
TicketPrinting.com Badge Design Studio This software allows you to create your own badge designs using pre-made templates, or by creating your own designs from scratch. It includes a range of features such as text editing, graphics and photo insertion, and more.
TicketPrinting.com Event Ticket Maker This software is designed for the creation of event tickets, and includes a wide range of templates to choose from, or the ability to create your own designs from scratch. It also includes a range of features such as text editing, graphics and photo insertion, and more.
Printed Tickets
This company offers a wide range of ticket printing services and produces different types of tickets such as:
- Guest list or RSVP tickets
- Admission tickets
- Admission wristbands
- Event badges
- Meal tickets
They also offer a range of customization options, such as the ability to print QR codes, barcodes, and NFC tags on your tickets.
Cyfe
This company offers a range of event management tools, including the ability to print badges and tickets. Their tools allow you to manage your entire event planning process, from creating your event website and online registration form, to managing speakers, sessions, and attendees. They also offer a wide range of customization options, such as the ability to print QR codes.
Guidebook Builder
This is a software platform that allows you to create and publish event apps. With their Builder app, you can create an interactive guide for your event which includes the ability to print badges and tickets. You can also use their Guidebook app to check-in attendees (including scanning e-tickets), as well as providing maps.
Envoy Visitor Registration
This is an online software platform that allows you to create and distribute event apps, including the ability to print badges and tickets. You can also use their Visitor Registration app to check-in attendees (including scanning e-tickets), as well as using it for registration, attendee tracking, and more.
Swapcard
This company offers a range of event management tools, including the ability to print badges and tickets. Their tools allow you to manage your entire event planning process, from creating your event website and online registration form, to managing speakers, sessions, and attendees. They also offer a wide range of customization options, such as the ability to print QR codes.
InPlayer Livestreaming
This company offers live event streaming software. Their app allows you to livestream your event, and includes the ability to print custom badges for attendees.
Eventbrite Badge Printing
This company offers badge printing services for events. You can choose between two different types of badges – standard or NFC – and you can print them in either black and white or full color. They also offer a range of customization options, such as the ability to print QR codes.
Event Badge Maker
This is an online tool that allows you to create your own event badge designs. It includes a large number of features such as text editing, graphics and photo insertion, and more.
Other Things Needed for Event Badge Printing On-site
- Paper cutter
- Badge holder/badge rings
- Printed tickets (with QR codes or barcodes) for onsite attendee scanning
- Attendees with smartphones and a QR code scanner app installed on their devices
