Event Tech of the Week: @Ubidock

Today, we’re talking about: Ubidock

Company/tool name: Ubidock

Website: www.ubidock.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ubidock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ubidock-496460937133221/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubidock/

What is the “problem” that your tool seeks to solve? 

Event attendee’s mobile device battery going dead during an event. As the interactivity of event technology with users’ mobile devices increases, users must either limit social media and second screen engagement to conserve battery for personal and emergency use OR users are tethered to a wall outlet or stationary kiosk in the hallway or lobby area – again unable to remain engaged in event. The solution? The Ubidock service provides freshly-charged, on-demand external batteries for IOS and Android mobile devices at a booth, kiosk, or merchandise table for portable use within the event venue. The availability of a portable mobile device charging solution within the event venue will enable attendees to continue to engage with the event’s social media feeds, event apps, and other second-screen event technology.

What is the best audience for this tool? Corporate events? Social? Other? Large? Small?

There are two audiences – events (corporate, social, etc.) and retail (bars, restaurants, etc.). Since the Ubidock service is free to the attendee/user, and the pricing to the event planner/venue is based on a rental model; the service is more cost-effective for larger/longer events (full-week or long-weekend) – since there are some fixed overhead costs that apply to all events – or continuous usage in a retail setting. Overall, the service is best for business conferences that include interactive speaker presentations and a trade show – and any other events/shows that are heavy on #EventTech. A key question is “what is the value (event recognition/reputation, social media buzz, direct sales) of additional/continuing social media and second screen engagement between the attendees and the event, sponsors and vendors?

What does your tool help event planners do better? 

Freedom to incorporate more social media and second screen engagement into event – since planners can guarantee that attendees will be able to participate.

How is your tool different from/better than the competition? 

Competition includes stationary charging kiosks, user’s own charging cable, or user’s retail-purchased external battery solutions.

As compared to a user’s own charging cable or retail-purchased external battery solutions – whoops, the user forgot those at home OR they are lost, broken or stolen OR there are no wall plugs to be found AND the user needs recharging NOW.

As compared to stationary charging kiosks or wall plugs in the hallway – would the attendee prefer to be tethered in place OR able to move freely about the venue and continue to engage in event content?

And since the Ubidock solution is free to the user, they are more likely to participate. The protection to the event planner is that Ubidock will still swipe a credit card to track and charge walk-offs.

What is the single coolest feature of your product:

Grab-n-go (portable) functionality allows users to remain engaged in event (walk trade show floor, interact with speaker’s presentation or performer’s performance, engage with other event tech) instead of being “tethered” to stationary charging kiosks or waste time looking for random wall outlets.

Anything else we need to know?

Ubidock provides opportunity (via physical labels on the batteries themselves or promotional material at pick-up/drop-off locations) to “co-brand” the event with event or vendor/sponsor logos, social media tags (#superevent, @bestsponsor), or second screen technology URL or 3D barcode. Branding partnerships with vendors/sponsors provide add’l sources of revenue to event. In addition, co-locating pick-up/drop-off locations with event or vendor merchandise tables increases foot traffic and direct sales.

Promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Ld0jMhHtw&feature=youtu.be