If you thought that now there will be no more exhibitions and the coronavirus has only become a reason for their cancellation in the future, you were wrong. I admit that I also allowed this option, since the online format allows you to save money, and you can invite important guests to your office to discuss cooperation. That's how it is, only the zeal with which the IFA organizers strive to hold their exhibition of household appliances and consumer electronics this year makes us think about the opposite. In a nutshell, the essence of the news I want to share is that there will almost certainly be an IFA this year. Read more about the reasons for this behavior and the intricacies of holding an event in a pandemic in this article.
IFA this year will be, but its format will change.
Too many events have already been canceled this year not to notice. Apart from gaming exhibitions, car showrooms and other themed events, we suffered three serious losses. Among them is MWC 2020, which was canceled literally on the eve of the opening, when all the stands were already assembled, and journalists bought tickets and booked hotels (and some even arrived in Barcelona).
The cancellation followed the Google I / O developer conference, which was supposed to take place in early May. And a little later Apple canceled their event, depriving us of WWDC this year. Although, more correctly, translating it into a different format.
Many thought that IFA 2020 would also fall under the onslaught of the pandemic, but it does not give up and behaves like a “little engine that could”. Well, or trying to behave like that.
A press conference was held yesterday, which provided answers to many questions regarding this exhibition event. According to the organizers, the world must continue to move forward and offer new technological solutions. Although, of course, it was noted that people's health is more important and that a compromise must be found that would suit everyone.
This makes it much more pleasant to walk around the exhibition.
IFA organizers say they are confident in the need to hold an exhibition primarily due to the fact that doing business online is possible, but it will never replace live communication between people. They should meet, talk and negotiate. This is exactly the function of exhibitions.
That is why the organizers somehow managed to agree with the German government about the possibility of holding their event. True, for this they had to promise that everything would be safe and they would be able to ensure compliance with all the prescribed standards.
What exactly these norms will be is not reported, but, most likely, we are talking, first of all, about social distance and ensuring constant sanitization, including the possibility of processing the hands of visitors and providing them with protective equipment. Also, most likely, health control will be carried out at the entrance and people with fever will simply not be allowed to the event.
Of course, it is not necessary to say that in such conditions it is possible to gather the same number of people as usual. The restrictions will be quite strict and only a few hundred people will be able to visit the exhibition per day, to whom invitations will be sent. I know how to make smartphones cheaper Android. It's quite simple. Among them will be only journalists and important guests. Perhaps they will even be allowed into the exhibition strictly on time, so as not to create additional crowds.
So far, it is expected that no more than 1,000 people will be admitted to the exhibition per day. According to Jens Heitecker, Managing Director of IFA: “This will enable us to meet the needs of brands, retailers and the media, while allowing us to control the flow of people and thus respect social distancing measures.” Well, that's not bad anymore.
I came to the exhibition, and there was no one there. Why then go there at all?
Of course, we do not like to walk around the exhibition when it is difficult to approach the stands, but doing it in complete silence is even more dubious pleasure. And people should see what they show at the exhibition. The organizers also thought about this. Online broadcasts will be organized especially for everyone.
Considering all the limitations of the event, it can be assumed that even the stands will not be decorated and decorated as before for the general public, in order to highlight their stand and create a holiday feeling among the guests. Something will still happen, but since the event will be strictly business, there is no certainty that brands will spend a lot on beauty.
And you also need to understand who will take part in the exhibition. Many companies, like many guests (including the media), may refuse to attend the exhibition. Someone will do it of their own accord, while others simply will not succeed. After all, we must not forget that to visit the exhibition you will have to fly to Germany, and the external borders are still closed and it is not known whether they will open before that time.