Henri Scott, Founder of digital marketing agency KlickSense, discusses AI and how it can be used in the events industry.
AI is a hot topic that has forced many of us to reassess the future of our careers alongside the latest technological advancements. How advancing technology will affect the hospitality and events industry, and our jobs, is on everyone’s minds. Henri Scott, Founder of the boutique digital marketing agency KlickSense, has had a passion for the industry since graduating from the
South African Butler Academy, and has been able to see firsthand how artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting hoteliers and event hosters.
Henri says that AI is already embedded into his everyday operations. He uses the tech for scheduling, creating voice over content, and even at home in his security cameras.
He believes that AI will become a necessary part of the events sector, it just depends on what service you want to provide your target audience with. Henri comments: “If it is a commercial hotel chain, or a motel, where people come in sleep and go out again, frequent interaction with AI may work for them. However, if you stay in a luxury resort, it’s about the experience and people provide that experience.”
Henri predicts that AI would be better used in the events industry when directed to do tasks such as gathering information, responding to frequently asked questions, and handling redundant administrative jobs. Henri gives an example: “For something like booking a session at the spa, you can ask the chatbot to give you available times, and handle that task, instead of your reservations or concierge’s desk.”
Being spoken to directly in a language you’re comfortable with when visiting an event can also make your delegates feel more integrated among their peers and relaxed in when navigating an event.
AI also benefits the events industry as a translation tool Henri says: “I use Revoicer, (a text-to-speech AI software), which sounds very human, for some of our clients’ ads. You can choose the accent, and the language, so it can be written in Chinese or French or whatever language your target audience speaks.”
Many people think that AI is an unstoppable force which can replace us in our roles at a moment’s notice. But the reality is that AI has a recognisable tone and methodology which customers will begin to pick up with exposure. Henri says: “There’s a kind of rhythm that you can pick up when you read through any AI content. I can pick up if an email’s been written by ChatGPT early on. But if you don’t mind
it, obviously it’s much better than normal chatbot assistants that say: ‘I’ll get back to you shortly’.”
There’s high value in integrating AI into the events businesses. “AI isn’t something to worry about. It’s competitors who know how to use AI that you need to watch out for,” he adds.