Zoom, Teams & Co.: A comparison of the best event software

Which event platform will really help your business move forward?
Webinars and other virtual events are an indispensable tool in B2B marketing. They not only provide information, but are also designed to generate leads, convey brand messages, and strengthen customer loyalty. Experience shows that there is a huge range of tools available, but only very few are both GDPR-compliant and user-friendly. But for most companies, this is not just a nice-to-have, it is essential when choosing software. So you need a tool that is made in Germany, easy and safe to use, and provides participants with a unique event experience. We have taken a closer look at all the requirements for a tool and worked out how you can make the right decision.

There's no denying it: tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams have made everyday work much easier. With just a few clicks, employees and teams around the world are connected, spontaneous meetings are easy to organize, and thanks to the familiar user interfaces, almost everyone knows how to use them. Teams has long been the standard, especially in companies that already work with the Microsoft Suite.
But unlike internal meetings, webinars and online events are not only intended to inform, but also to convince, inspire, and demonstrably contribute to business success. This is where these tools often reach their limits.

“Professional digital communication has long been more than just the transmission of images and sound. When it comes to impact, knowledge transfer, brand presence, or targeted customer acquisition, standard solutions such as Teams or Zoom are often no longer sufficient.”_
– Rosie Schuster, CEO and founder of Techcast

From meeting to online event experience
This is exactly where specialized event platforms come in. They transform a virtual meeting into a digital experience. Instead of passive listening, they enable interaction on many levels: participants can take part in live polls, actively join in discussions in breakout sessions, or be playfully involved through various elements.
It is just as important to look at the data. While Zoom or Teams sessions provide hardly any usable information, professional webinar tools allow for precise measurement of success. Who participated? How active were the guests? What content interested them the most? All of this can be recorded in real time and transferred directly to the CRM thanks to the appropriate integration. This turns an online event into a measurable growth driver.
Another aspect that is often underestimated is corporate-friendly implementation. Professional platforms offer the option of designing online events entirely in line with corporate design – from the registration process to the virtual lobby to the streaming window. This allows participants to experience the familiar brand, not just the meeting. In summary, this means:

• Interactivity instead of monologue: Live polls, breakout sessions, and gamification actively engage participants.
• Data that makes an impact: Precise analyses of participation, engagement, and interests flow into the CRM in real time and create measurable business success.
• Brand experience from start to finish: From the registration process to the virtual lobby to the online event itself, everything is designed in your individual corporate design.

Where the differences really become apparent
Let's take an example: A company wants to introduce a new product to the market. With Zoom or Teams, you can share a presentation and answer questions. But when it comes to capturing leads and making the event available on demand afterwards, these tools reach their limits. An event platform, on the other hand, allows you to do just that.
This is also relevant for internal training. A short workshop in a small group works fine with Teams. However, an entire academy including a training program, tests, and certificates is not technically possible here.

Even though the differences often become apparent quickly, this does not necessarily make the decision any easier. Where should compromises be made, and which features are indispensable? Of course, the question of cost also plays a role. Meeting tools are often already licensed, incur little additional expense, and do not require lengthy planning. An event platform involves higher licensing costs and requires more careful preparation. But if you consider the long-term impact, it quickly becomes clear that the additional effort pays off in terms of better participant engagement, measurable results, and sustainable use of content.
In our white paper, you will learn how to align your goals with your choice of platform and what you should look out for in order to ultimately make the best decision for you and your company.