Plenty of public companies are hosting their roadshows, roundtables, and conferences in person. So why would you continue to keep your capital markets events strictly virtual? As digital engagements drive value, health risks and sustainability concerns are convincing many public companies to present in the virtual space.
Engagement Analytics
The first consideration for a virtual capital markets events schedule is analytics. A fully virtual or hybrid model has the advantage of collecting greater data, provided you have the right webcasting tools. With the right tech, you can measure the success of your capital markets virtual events with ease.
The latest webcast services track how your attendees engage with the software in addition to providing a streamlined event platform. These services deliver post-event analytics you could not collect in a purely in-person event.
Armed with deeper insights into attendees and shareholders, you can use IR events analytics to hone your targeting, outreach, and CRM.
Lingering COVID Concerns
While the pandemic is nowhere near as severe as it was three years ago, it still casts a dark and lengthy shadow on the capital markets events landscape. The potential health risks of meeting under one roof — especially when attendance measures in the hundreds, or even thousands — have some investors hesitant to RSVP “yes”.
Plenty of companies are going ahead with their in-person event schedule. However, many more are offering digital or hybrid capital markets events to give investors the option to attend virtually.
Convenience
Attitudes towards in-person capital markets events score low with some investors who grew comfortable with virtual engagements. Research shows some institutional investors — especially those located in Asia — fear a return to in-person meetings will limit access to C-Suite professionals.
Virtual engagements make it easier for corporate access professionals and investors to connect on a personal level. Sophisticated webcast services come with a streamlined meeting interface to accommodate attendee availability and requests with a click of your mouse.
More still, a hybrid or virtual model allows those investors who ordinarily cannot attend access your events in real time.
Sustainability
As ESG continues to drive investments, the sustainability of capital markets events is another key reason to adopt a virtual platform. Little things that you might not think of can consume more energy than you realize, from the energy required to power the venue to printing materials for your guests.
In-person events also require investors and members of the media to come together under one roof. Some of these individuals may have to travel far and wide to arrive at a central location. Air travel accounts for 2.5 percent of global emissions, making it the least eco-friendly way to travel.
All in, in-person events stamp an enormous carbon footprint on the world that may be at odds with your company’s sustainability strategy.
Bottom Line:
Preparing a virtual or hybrid event doesn’t have to be hard. Speak with an IR partner that specializes in integrative webcasting services. With their help, you can provide a safe and eco-minded event without sacrificing any functionality, convenience, or insights.
