An Online Registration Solution (ORS) is a key part of your event website. It can enhance the entire event management process from simplifying your work processes to reducing your workload. To cover these numerous benefits more effectively, we have divided this article into multiple segments.

In the last issue of the EventAvenue newsletter, the second segment of ‘The many uses of an online registration solution’ series focused on the ‘money’ factor i.e. the different ways an online registration solution reduces costs, frees up your event budget for other essentials and improves your profitability. In the third segment of this series, we will discuss the ‘data’ aspect - how an online registration solution can enhance data management process, reduce labor requirements & human errors.

Smart Forms with Built-In Logic
When registrants fill out paper-based forms, they sometimes skip categories that they deem irrelevant. This action (or inaction) leaves you with more holes in your database than swizz cheese and adds to your workload, as you have to track down the registrant to acquire the missing information. An online registration solution solves this problem as it has built in logic that prevents registrants from submitting incomplete or invalid registration forms. For example, in an online registration form, if someone tries to submit a form without filling in all mandatory categories, a message requesting the registrant to complete fill in categories is displayed. Moreover, the built in logic in the system will not let the registrant proceed to the next page until he has filled all mandatory categories. The advantage is more accurate and complete registration forms.

Eliminate Data Entry Hassles
Compiling an online database of the 5000 who attended your (traditionally organized) event is tedious and expensive. You either have to hire new resources to accomplish this task or pull a small army of resources off other more important tasks to complete the data entry process. An online registration solution eliminates the need to hire or reassign existing resources, files and filing cabinets, as the registrant’s information is automatically stored in an online database on registration. An ORS is an excellent way to reduces expenses and simplify work processes.

Reduce Human Errors
Writing is a skill but not everyone is an expert. When registrants fill out registration forms, you will see beautiful block letters to illegible scrawls. And, since you are not a handwriting expert, figuring out what the registrant wrote can be like putting a puzzle together… pure guesswork. This means your database may contain errors. An ORS eliminates these data deciphering errors as the registrant enters his own information (he knows how to spell his name, where he works and how much he earns per annum) into the system which is automatically stored in an online database.

Access Data Easily from Anywhere, Anytime
An ORS stores all information submitted in an online database. You don't need to search files or filing cabinets every time you require some information. All you need is a PC with an internet connection to acquire information. No matter where you are – office, home or even out of the country, your Information is easily available.

These are just some of the data enriching benefits that you will gain with an online registration solution. In the next EventAvenue issue, we will continue our quest to discover more about the uses and benefits of adding an Online Registration Solution to your event website.