the June 2008 Issue in PDF Format - Trade Show Executive

Trade Show Executive’s
2008
INNOVATION
AWARDS
GES Services Manual Goes Digital with Intellikit
The GES IntelliKit Team.
Front row: Donna Marshall, Arianne Limbrick,
Nathan Payne. Second row: Carol Haddox,
Michele Gibson, Brian Buckley. Third row: Brian Falor
The GES Intellikit was developed
to turn the company’s exhibitor
services manual from a sometimes
daunting hard copy into an easier-touse
digital document. The product’s
ability to let exhibitors order either
online or by fax with equal ease rated a
2008 Innovation Award from Trade Show
Executive magazine. Judges heralded
the product’s creativity in “addressing
the needs of exhibitors from mom &
pop organizations all the way up to the
Fortune 500 firms” and said it would
serve as a “model for other companies”
and a springboard for new ideas and
services for the exposition industry.
Intellikit is described by GES as a
hybrid that combines a standard PDF
document with the interactivity of
e-Commerce. As the exhibit manager
fills in the forms, the software performs
automatic calculations, ensuring accuracy.
GES developed the solution based
on the Adobe LiveCycle that tightened
up the accuracy and consistency of
pricing; cut the lead time required for the
production of exhibitor kits; and simply
makes the ordering process easier, faster
and less-confusing for customers. It also
sets up text that is specific to individual
shows, cities and states.
“Exhibitors can easily navigate all
of the relevant forms and place their
order with the push of a button,”
said Nathan Payne, kit administration
manager at GES. “This technology was
developed to assist in preparation so
everyone can focus on what is really
important – the show.”
Exhibitors do not have to be
connected to the Internet in order to
work with Intellikit on an airplane or
in the middle of an exhibit floor. Once
connected, however, entire service
orders can be sent directly into the
GES computer system.
Even though the order can be
submitted electronically, the exhibitor
still has the option to print out the
order summary pages that shows a list
of all items ordered. While hard copies
might be technologically quaint and
not particularly green, exhibitors know
the value of having a file folder of all
relevant show documents close at hand
during move-in.
At the same time, knowing that the
order is safely tucked away in the GES
server eliminates the anxiety that comes
from sending a fax and not being 100%
sure it was received without incident.
Reach Nathan Payne at (702)
515-5500 or npayne@ges.com
www.TradeShowExecutive.com Trade Show Executive June 2008 35