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

Which event platform will really help your business?
Webinars and other virtual events are an indispensable tool in B2B marketing. They not only provide information, but are also intended 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. However, this is not just a nice-to-have for most companies, but essential when choosing software. So you need a tool that is made in Germany, is easy and safe to use and gives participants 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 coordination is easy to organize and, thanks to the familiar user interfaces, almost everyone knows how to use them. Especially in companies that already work with the Microsoft Suite, Teams has long been standard.
However, unlike internal meetings, webinars and online events should not only inform, but also 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 enough."_
- Rosie Schuster, Managing Director and founder of Techcast

From the meeting to the 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 surveys, actively participate in discussions in breakout sessions or be playfully involved via various elements.
The view of the data is just as important. While Zoom or Teams sessions provide hardly any usable information, professional webinar tools allow you to measure success precisely. Who took part? 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 right integration. This turns an online event into a measurable growth driver.
Another aspect that is often underestimated is company-specific implementation. Professional platforms offer the option of designing online events entirely in the corporate design - from the registration process to the virtual lobby and streaming window. Participants thus experience the familiar brand, not just the meeting. In summary, this means

• Interactivity instead of monologue: live surveys, breakout sessions and gamification actively involve 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 noticeable
Let's take an example: a company wants to introduce a new product to the market. Zoom or Teams can be used to 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.
And this is also relevant for internal training. A short workshop in a small group works easily with Teams. An entire academy including a training program, tests and certificates is not technically possible here.

Even if the differences often become clear quickly, this does not necessarily make the decision any easier. After all, where should you make compromises and which features are essential? Of course, the question of cost also plays a role. Meeting tools are often already licensed, hardly cause any additional effort and do not require long planning. An event platform is associated with higher license costs and requires more careful preparation. But if you look at the long-term impact, you will quickly realize that the additional effort pays off in terms of better participant retention, measurable results and sustainable use of the content.
In our white paper, you can find out how to align your goals with your choice of platform and what you should pay attention to in order to ultimately make the best decision for you and your company.