BPA Worldwide has announced the acquisition of VSef, the global data format for the digital events industry.
VSef was launched in early 2021 as a response to the rising uptake of digital event platforms and the increase in virtual event experiences. Its goal of creating a global standardized data format for digital events received backing from many organizers and platforms, including Informa Markets, Reed Exhibitions, Tarsus Group, Emerald Expositions, Clarion Events, Grip, Balluun, Notified, Swapcard, Accelevents and ExpoPlatform, to name a few.
Within a short time, VSef recruited the support of the event industry’s leading strategic partners, including the Events Industry Council (EIC), UFI, Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), which were keen to assist in expanding the global reach of the initiative.
The lack of data standardization was an issue simultaneously identified by BPA, which launched the “Reporting Standards for Digital Events” (RSDE) initiative with the support of its own working group. Over the next nine months, BPA and VSef began a collaboration with the goal of creating a single industry standard for digital events.
Richard Murphy, president and CEO of BPA Worldwide, said, “Digital events and digital components of in-person events are important elements of an event organizer’s portfolio. After leveling off after pandemic highs, we expect the digital channel to grow. The ability to gather, process, and share data efficiently is critical to achieving scale.” Murphy continued, “We want to recognize the excellent work of Explori and the VSef team to mobilize industry support and develop this data format.”
Mark Brewster, founder and CEO of Explori and VSef, added, “The pandemic saw the formidable emergence of digital events and the positive effect that this has had on the digitization of the events industry both in-person and online. The platform market has developed more rapidly than it has ever done in the past. It became clear that a data standard for digital events was essential in enabling event organizers to have consistent data and insights across the plethora of digital event technologies used.
Next steps will be announced by BPA in the coming months, including a licensing opportunity for audit bodies to offer certification to the standard.
For more details, visit www.bpaww.com.
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