Workiva Amplify: Designed for the attendee experience

Challenge

Prioritizing attendee needs and interests

Workiva, a leading technology platform that simplifies data and reporting, is dedicated to building a better way of working for passionate finance, accounting, compliance, and sustainability professionals. Wanting to emphasize connection and community, Workiva approached its annual Amplify Conference from the audience’s point of view with both an in-person and virtual approach.

The brand started with a networking-first approach that enabled attendees to share best practices, gain insights, and get inspired by each other. The team aspired to create a design that would ensure attendees could also enjoy career-building training, professional development discussions, and exclusive sneak peeks at the latest relevant tech.

In addition to the networking focus, the Workiva team was challenged to keep sustainability top of mind when planning and executing the conference.

Solution

Audience POV drives design

With focused attendee networking in mind, Freeman worked with Workiva to design the expo hall as a solutions center with an outside-in, semi-circle layout, which gave attendees ample room to both congregate and breathe.

Attendees entered a larger networking space, working their way through 23 partner solutions before exploring the “core” where Workiva technologies took center stage. This journey let attendees discover new solutions and understand how each one works in tandem to create more data and reporting transparency. The expo hall was central to the general session, breakouts, and hotel and gave attendees space to interact and build deeper connections.

Workiva also wanted to work in moments of surprise and delight with a screen-printed t-shirt station, a Workiva W photo opportunity, and a fun-filled closing party.

Result

Sustainable success

The Amplify Conference proved successful with more than 7,000 attendees from 2,500+ companies, 1,700 of which attended in-person.

Attendees enjoyed interacting with each other, discovering new solutions, and hearing stories from people who have conquered complexities of all kinds. Out of the 70 sessions offered, 80% featured Workiva customers and industry insights.

The expo hall was also a success with more than 3,000 badge scans and a huge improvement on sustainability that included a:

• 700% increase in digital signage
• 90% reduction in paper productions
• 74% reduction in non-sustainable giveaways
• 100% use of reusable water bottles supporting Fill It