As one of the most recognizable names in event management software, Cvent is likely part of any procurement evaluation. Associations and nonprofits, however, tend to lean on solutions like Eventscribe, a Cvent alternative, as its features and capabilities are better aligned with CE workflows and other unique aspects of association events.
Why Do So Many Associations Start With Cvent and End up With Something Else?
When shortlisting event management software, it’s understandable that Cvent would make the cut. It’s got brand recognition and enterprise credibility, but for smaller teams, it’s unnecessarily complex and deep.
Built primarily for large corporate teams with sprawling logistics, it has a steep learning curve and a pricing structure geared towards the enterprise.
Associations typically run lean, with smaller teams and tight budgets. They need intuitive solutions that support critical workflows and can’t afford to spend weeks onboarding and training staff. This is often why Cvent doesn’t make the final cut.
What Makes Cvent a Poor Fit for Lean Association Teams?
Cvent is an all-in-one enterprise-grade event management platform built for corporate events. Much of its focus is on venue sourcing, budgeting, CRM integration, and a broad range of event-related features and functions.
Most associations won’t use even a fraction of the features Cvent offers, so essentially, they’d be paying for bells and whistles they’ll never need. Association teams often consist of just a handful of people who manage the entire event lifecycle. When the headcount is so small, Cvent’s depth quickly becomes a burden, requiring more time, attention, and financial resources than associations can budget for.
What Does a Purpose-Built Association Event Management System Actually Look Like?
What associations really need is a system that’s purpose-built for their workflows. Eventscribe is a Cvent alternative that makes sense, as it implicitly supports the needs of associations and nonprofits without extraneous features or complexity.
Associations host conferences that require abstract submissions, speaker management, continuing education tracking, and member engagement. Eventscribe, Cadmium’s event management solution, supports these needs all within a single workflow.
In a sense, you can’t even call Eventscribe a Cvent competitor, since its feature set is more specialized and focused. Rather than being everything to every team, Eventscribe occupies a niche and, as such, serves its audience exceedingly well.
How Does Eventscribe Handle the Full Event Lifecycle?
The association event lifecycle is unique. Eventscribe’s workflows support every function, from abstract collection and review to speaker management, event registration, in-person engagement tools, and post-event on-demand content delivery with Cadmium’s livestreaming and on-demand media solution.
As an all-in-one system, changes made in one module are reflected across the event ecosystem, reducing vendor fragmentation and the need for additional integrations. Staff can accomplish everything they need to do without leaving the platform, reducing friction and saving time, while gaining visibility into every function.
How Does Eventscribe Compare to Cvent for Associations and Nonprofits?
Cvent and Eventscribe share many features, but the most significant difference is how Eventscribe puts associations front and center.
For example, Cvent handles abstracts and speaker management, but these aren’t core features. Eventscribe is highly specialized and aligned with association needs, offering peer-review portals and highly complex speaker task-management tools.
For CE, Cvent tracks session attendance but does not natively handle accreditation. In Eventscribe, CE compliance is built in with Elevate and EthosCE, the latter of which is dedicated to continuing medical education (CME).
Cvent has a strong focus on marketing and CRM, while Eventscribe is primarily tailored to existing members and industry peers. Eventscribe integrates with AMS systems such as iMIS, enabling capabilities beyond marketing and engagement to help associations manage dues, renewals, and other back-office functions.
Both systems have strong on-site features, such as badge printing, networking, and mobile apps. Eventscribe takes it a step further with livestreaming and on-demand content delivery to support post-event engagement and revenue generation.
Cvent supports basic sponsorship and paid registration functions, while Eventscribe offers robust post-event content repurposing and revenue opportunities.
Bottom line: Cvent is highly capable for its intended audience, primarily large, enterprise-level corporations. Still, it is contextually inappropriate for associations and nonprofits, as their needs are more specific and specialized.
Which Platform Is Easier To Manage With a Small Staff?
Onboarding new software systems can be a challenge. Ideally, you want the process to be as fast and frictionless as possible so your staff can stay productive through the transition.
Eventscribe’s task-based system is a key differentiator, especially when you consider the real-world cost of a steep learning curve. When the event is 90 days out, you don’t want your teams to still be figuring things out. By providing them with a system that understands and anticipates their needs, adoption is accelerated, and teams can get up to speed faster.
Is Eventscribe the Right Cvent Alternative for Your Organization?
For associations and nonprofits hosting annual conferences, continuing education events, medical meetings, or member-focused programs, Eventscribe is a strong fit.
For corporations hosting trade shows, concerts, or corporate internal events, Cvent might be the better choice. |
Discover how Eventscribe, Cadmium’s event management system, is built for the way associations and nonprofits actually work: request a demo today.
