subscribe to news Meeting of the CCI of Russia Committee discussed digitalisation of congress and exhibition activities

EXPOCENTRE hosted a meeting of the Committee on Exhibition, Fair and Congress Activities of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Implementation of Digital Solutions in Congress and Exhibition Activities. The meeting was held in a hybrid format.

Ilya Zubkov, Vice President at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, addressed the participants with his welcome remarks. He noted that regional chambers of commerce and industry were actively developing exhibition and fair activities and in 2023 provided 56% more services in that area than in 2022.

Maxim Fateev, the moderator of the meeting, Chair at the Committee on Exhibition, Fair and Congress Activities of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Director General at EXPOCENTRE AO, stressed in his speech that the meeting was held during Russian Week of High Technologies (RWHT), which was one of the country’s main platforms to demonstrate scientific achievements, including those in IT and telecommunications, and to discuss and respond to the challenges facing the country today.

Maxim Fateev continued, “The topic we are discussing today at the CCI of Russia Committee meeting is closely intertwined with the topic of RWHT and is of great importance for the congress and exhibition industry. New technologies drive the development of any industry, and ours is no exception.”

Maxim Fateev also identified the use of new and, above all, digital technologies as one of the main global trends in the congress and exhibition market. Successful implementation of technologies will determine the future of the industry and will significantly improve customer service.

The quality of services provided by an event organiser today is directly dependent on integrated digital technologies. In addition to helping event organisers expand their audiences and make it easier to attract exhibitors and visitors from the most remote corners of Russia and foreign countries, digital tools also make it possible to maintain contacts with clients throughout the period between exhibition sessions.

Maxim Fateev spoke about modern technologies used today in the congress and exhibition industry. Artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, online registration, digital photo booths and holograms are among the most popular technologies at trade shows and conferences.

The speaker dwelt separately on the development of generative artificial intelligence. Worldwide, one third (more than 30%) of trade show companies already use generative artificial intelligence. This technology is most often used in the trade show business in sales, marketing and customer relations (37%) and in R&D (35%). Artificial intelligence is also actively used in running events, HR, finance and other areas. The most used AI tools in the event industry include chatbots (85% of respondents mentioned this option), image generation (45%), video creation (35%), other content creation (15%) and grammar checking (15%).  Representatives of the global exhibition industry (91%) believe AI will have an impact on the event industry in the future.

Speaking about the development of the digital economy in Russia, Maxim Fateev noted that this was a national agenda that concerned every business entity. A new national project Data Economy is being prepared for launch, and a number of programmes, strategies and decrees aimed at developing digital technologies and their introduction into the economy and everyday life are already in place. In 2023, the congress and exhibition industry received the Medium-Term Development Strategy, which provided for its comprehensive development. One of the sections of the Strategy is devoted to the introduction of digital technologies.

Among other things, the Strategy also defines the conditions for the industry transformation, which include the development of big data and artificial intelligence technologies, interactive technologies, flexible (hybrid) forms of holding events, and the creation of applications for navigation.

“Understanding this,” said Maxim Fateev, “EXPOCENTRE makes extensive use of available technologies and continues developing its own digital services. We also work with partners who help us provide participants with additional opportunities and services.”

The reports on various aspects of digitalisation of the congress and exhibition industry were made by Elena Ublieva, Executive Director at the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs, Sagid Zaremukov, Director at Russian Convention Bureau, Felix Lapin, President at the Kaliningrad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Union, Polina Shashkova, Vice Rector at the International Institute of Management for Business Associations of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrey Podlesnov, Director General at KVK Imperia Forum, Martin Kilamti, Director General at Expodat, and Igor Ognev, Head of the Directorate of IT Systems Development, Accreditation, Access Control, Logistics Organisation at Roscongress Foundation.

Sergey Selivanov, Deputy Chair at the Committee on Exhibition, Fair, and Congress Activities of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry spoke on the organisational issues of the Committee’s work.

More details in the broadcast (Russian only).

Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO