Ikea and IBM share virtual events strategies through MPI report

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has launched a new guide to developing a virtual meetings and events strategy, alongside case studies from Ikea and IBM, and a report on the strategic value of virtual events.

The MPI guide examines how to establish a strategy and measurement system, as well as costs.

Ikea and IBM case studies

Ikea and IBM have now shared examples of their own programmes, as case studies considering the strategy in practice.

Ikea saw a 30% drop in travel costs over three years with its virtual meetings programme, and a reduced carbon output of 30,000 tons in 2009, from 45,500 tons in 2007.

Meanwhile, IBM's Virtual Event Center hosted 77 virtual events in 2010 but realised a threefold increase in 2011 with a total of 229 events.

The platform provides support in 17 languages, and 44 countries have now used the centre.

Tools not regularly used

However, MPI's Strategic Value of Virtual Meetings and Events report – which backs up the new guide and was released earlier this year – found that meeting professionals say that although virtual event platforms offer many ways to gather delegate data, these tools are not regularly used.

Only 45% of respondents said their organisations keep track of virtual meeting data, while 37% say they measure the effectiveness of their virtual meetings.

What do you think?

What do you think of using virtual meetings in place of live events? Share your views in C&IT's comments section below.