Exhibit Force

Author: 
Samantha Adler

Exhibit Force is a power house in the event and trade show industry with their applications powering over 115,000 events and projects worldwide. Initially developed beginning in 2001, Exhibit Force now counts more than 30% of Fortune 500 Companies on their client list.

I recently had the opportunity of talking to Gwen Hill, the Director of Business Development at Exhibit Force, and learned that companies turn to Exhibit Force for their online event and project management because they know Exhibit Force will dramatically boost productivity by bringing together all of the resources in an organization and by staying results driven. “Most importantly,” Gwen told me, “we consult with our clients to continually evolve our applications and set best practices and set industry standards.”

Gwen explained that Exhibit Force offers multiple products and services to their clients focused on tradeshows, event management, exhibits and/or projects. When I asked her what their products were, she told me that they were Personal Edition, Project Lite, and Project Lite
 
Personal Edition

Gwen explained that whether you are managing one event or 1,500 events, Exhibit Force’s Personal Edition provides the tools to help an event planner to manage their events more efficiently, with less effort and more results. Personal Edition keeps track of inventory, staff and task management, budgeting, and reporting all in real-time. According to Gwen,  "Exhibit Force is so effective because, with Cloud computing, Exhibit Force has taken a disjointed process managed with file folders and support staff and has provided an application that works to seamlessly integrate the exhibit planning and management processes.”

Project Lite

I asked Gwen, "What if a company is interested in a web-based solution for tradeshow assets and work processes but does not need the event management component?" She explained that "Exhibit Force offers a Project Lite version that will provide a web-based centralized management of tradeshow assets and streamlined work process coupled with client interaction anywhere, anytime, all in a secure environment. With Project Lite you get customized solutions branded to your company that give you the edge you need to create differentiation in the market place, leveraging your existing relationships, and driving sales.”

Project Edition

Exhibit Force was developed by experienced corporate exhibitors, marketing and project managers, and exhibit suppliers. From their experience, the developers created the Project Edition to “deliver a dynamic, flexible online application that can simplify, streamline, and support the exhibit professionals' internal project management and workflow processes.” Project Edition effectively connects with all aspects of a project including:

  • Estimating
  • Approval
  • Proposals
  • Project Blogs
  • Project Timelines (syncs with Microsoft Outlook/Calendar)
  • All other necessary processes resulting in improved workflow and increased productivity

Gwen then pointed out that, “Project Edition is unlike any other project management online application on the market today because it features Form Builder that enables users to create forms specific to your needs.” Project Edition also boasts the fact that it can be integrated with an existing CRM and accounting program, while requiring no trade show software.

Because of the diverse offerings, effective applications, and client focused mission, Exhibit Force has been the proud recipient of many awards including:

  • EXHIBITOR Buyer’s Choice Award for Personal Edition
  • TS2’s Premier Zone Breakthrough Award for Project Edition
  • TSEA Exhibitors’ Choice Award for Best Technology, Honorable Mention

Exhibit Force is also a member of EDPA, HCEA, TSEA, and is CTSM certified.

Gwen is also a member of TSEA’s Marketing Communications Committee, and told me that Exhibit Force’s TSEA membership has tremendously benefitted her organization in many different ways including, “education and providing us with new opportunities to win business.”

Gwen has enjoyed using the TSEA webinars to keep up to date on current topics and has found them especially useful with new employees, and explained that “TSEA webinars are a way to get new employees up-to-speed about industry standards and to provide general education at a very low cost.” Exhibit Force even hosted a webinar on setting goals and objectives and was happy with both the turnout and the positive overall response.

Gwen links Exhibit Forces recognition as a strong industry service provider to their TSEA membership especially with respect to Exhibit Force’s Honorable Mention for a TSEA award where 5,000 TSEA members voted for the winners. “By my account, that’s a significant following that we want to continue to be part of,” Gwen told me, “I believe this has contributed to some of the successes in winning new business.”

 

Samantha Adler is an Education Intern
Trade Show Exhibitors Association