Highlighting AI’s growing influence, Rajdev Bhattacharya, Global Head, T&E, Wipro, says it will shift interactions from intangible conversations to quantifiable outcomes.
I tried hosting my first ‘hybrid’ event back in 2022. The result? Juggling chaos — physical venues, virtual platforms, tech vendors, and a silent prayer that both worlds would somehow sync but in 2025, it is the real deal. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has stepped in as the invisible co-planner and I am absolutely loving it (and learning as I go). With a year gone, I dare say it is just not about innovation and fancy frills. In fact, it will be about survival for our ROI-obsessed industry. Let’s explore why:
Smarter Engagement
If there is one thing I have learned in this business, it is that engagement,
not headcount, defines success. The ‘aha’ moment arrives when you realise that AI now personalises every attendee’s journey right from the moment they register.
Event platforms are mastering this art too, using machine learning to analyse profiles, behaviour, and interests, and then recommending sessions, exhibitors, and even meetings between like-minded participants.
It is not happening only in the West. In India, a major pharma conference in Mumbai used a similar tool to connect doctors with relevant researchers, leading to higher exhibitor RoI, richer conversations, and seamless real-time translation and captioning.
Efficiency
Behind the scenes, AI is quietly transforming event logistics. Facial-recognition check-ins and predictive scheduling eliminate queues and overlaps. At one large-scale corporate conference, automated check-ins reduced waiting time by 70 per cent and can trim manpower costs by 30 per cent at the next event.
We created a use case where AI dashboards monitor real-time attendance, room utilisation, and digital engagement. They can even forecast crowd movement or catering needs, preventing bottlenecks before they happen. For an industry that thrives on precision, these are not just efficiencies but risk-management saviours.
RoI that feels measurable
Here is the familiar question every corporate buyer hears: What did we get out of this event? AI finally gives us data-backed answers. It tracks every click, conversation, and conversion
by turning thousands of micro-interactions into clear and quantifiable outcomes. For once, RoI does not feel like guesswork.
innovate with integrity
Before you roll your eyes at the hype, here is my ‘Spider-Man moment’: With great data comes great responsibility.
AI systems thrive on personal information — from registration details to behavioural insights — which raises real concerns about privacy and transparency.
So, what is the best way forward? Transparent consent processes, limiting unnecessary data capture, and ensuring automation never replaces the human touch. Easier said than done, but it is here to stay. At the end, let us be clear that AI is not replacing creativity;
it is amplifying it.
Technology now handles the heavy lifting — logistics, data crunching, audience analytics, freeing planners to focus on what truly matters, curating experiences that move people and deliver measurable business impact. As the industry evolves, those who master the blend of AI precision and human imagination will define the next era of MICE. With this thought, I can say, next year, my smartest hybrid events would not just happen instead they will be intelligently designed.
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