While most event technology vendors position themselves as hybrid or virtual-first, in-person functionality often remains secondary, added later to round out the offering. Vendors that prioritize in-person event capabilities from the outset tend to deliver greater depth in areas like venue sourcing, onsite engagement, registration, and logistics, critical factors that directly impact event success. In an increasingly competitive market, this focus pays off: planners value platforms that excel in supporting the full physical event experience rather than those that treat it as an afterthought.

This blog aims to analyse two distinguishing capabilities offered by Event Experience Platform (EExP) vendors that have a big impact for on-site event management and experiences, as well as look at two vendors that comparatively offer lesser emphasis on any on-site event features but offer differentiated virtual event experiences.

Better On-site EExPs - Versatility

Cvent

Cvent is a provider of cloud-based event management platform that helps organizations plan, market, and execute in-person, virtual, and hybrid events at scale. Delivered as a SaaS solution, Cvent combines end-to-end capabilities including event registration, venue sourcing, event marketing, attendee engagement, mobile event apps, surveys, lead capture, and analytics to manage the full event lifecycle. The Cvent Supplier Network (CSN) simplifies venue selection and supplier management by giving planners access to over 340,000 global venues with detailed profiles, floor plans, and rate histories. Its AI-powered search, customizable RFPs, bid comparison, real-time booking, and integrated reporting make sourcing faster, smarter, and more efficient for events of any size. CSN also supports budget tracking and spend visibility, helping organizations manage costs while improving supplier negotiations. In addition, it provides advertising opportunities for venues to increase visibility and reach event planners directly on Cvent’s platform, creating value for both planners and suppliers.

Bizzabo

Bizzabo offers a unified Event Experience Operating System (OS) designed to power in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Delivered as a cloud-native platform, Bizzabo combines core capabilities such as registration, event websites, agenda management, email marketing, mobile event apps, engagement tools, networking powered by Klik SmartBadges™, sponsor and exhibitor enablement, lead capture, and broadcast streaming. With the acquisition of Klik, Attendee engagement on Bizzabo is powered by their mobile event apps, Audience Engagement tools, and the Klik SmartBadge™. Klik enables live networking, badge-based contact exchanges, polls, Q&A, gamification, and real-time feedback. AI-driven matchmaking ensures attendees connect with relevant peers and schedule meetings without conflicts with key sessions. Bizzabo has uniquely positioned its USP as a provider of wearable tech for events, blending for networking and attendee engagement, as well as for marketing and sales lead generation, enabling attendees to seamlessly navigate and provides vendors the ease to avoid the use of QR code scanners.

Cvent and Bizzabo exemplify how hybrid and in-person event platforms can deliver seamless, well-orchestrated experiences. Cvent’s end-to-end capabilities, coupled with the Supplier Network’s AI-powered venue sourcing, real-time booking, and integrated reporting, streamline logistics and ensure efficient onsite execution. Bizzabo, enhanced with Klik SmartBadges™, further elevates the hybrid experience by enabling effortless networking, live engagement, gamification, and AI-driven matchmaking, reducing friction for attendees and organizers alike. Together, these innovations make hybrid and in-person events smoother, more interactive, and operationally efficient, highlighting the advantage of platforms that prioritize robust onsite and hybrid functionality.

Better Virtual EExPs -Specialization

Kaltura

Kaltura offers a broad cloud-based video and event experience ecosystem that spans webinars, live and on-demand video portals, virtual classrooms, AI-driven content tools, and streaming solutions for media, education, and enterprise organizations. Within this ecosystem, Kaltura's Virtual Events platform is used to design and execute virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Kaltura Events offers event setup functionality, with multiple session types: live webcasts, pre-recorded live sessions, interactive rooms, and DIY live webcasts. Organizers can set up lobby pages, custom event templates, fully brand event pages, configure registration flows. Core event functions like registration, engagement, and analytics remain less mature compared to specialized event platforms.

Brandlive

Brandlive offers an event experience and video engagement platform that enables enterprises to create, manage, and scale highly produced virtual and hybrid events. Delivered as a cloud-native solution, Brandlive offers purpose-built products including Events for large-scale virtual conferences and launches, Allhands for companywide meetings, Webinars for interactive marketing sessions. Brandlive is valued for its innovative approach to video-first experiences, bridging the gap between standard webinar tools and high-end broadcast production, making it a strong fit for marketing and communications experiences. The lack of on-site features such as registration, badge printing and attendee journey management however make Brandlive an unfit option for on-site and hybrid events.

Both Kaltura and Brandlive are clearly virtual-first event experience platforms. They excel at delivering high-quality online experiences, Kaltura with its flexible session types, virtual classrooms, and streaming ecosystem, and Brandlive with its polished video-first production and engagement tools. However, their focus on virtual environments comes at the expense of in-person event capabilities: core onsite functions like registration, badge printing, attendee journey management, and full hybrid orchestration remain underdeveloped. While these platforms are strong choices for fully virtual events, organizations looking for robust in-person or hybrid event support will find their offerings limited.

In summary, the strengths of event experience platforms are closely tied to their core capabilities: vendors like Cvent and Bizzabo, with robust onsite features, excel at delivering smooth, well-coordinated in-person and hybrid events, enabling efficient logistics, networking, and engagement. By contrast, virtual-first platforms such as Kaltura and Brandlive shine in online environments, providing rich streaming, interactive sessions, and video-first experiences, but fall short in supporting physical event execution. Choosing the right platform depends on which capabilities align with the event type, strong onsite and hybrid tools drive success for in-person gatherings, while advanced virtual functionalities are key for fully online experiences.

Disclaimer:

This blog is based on independent research and publicly available information. The insights presented reflect the views of QKS Group and are for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee completeness or absolute correctness. Vendors are welcome to provide clarifications or updates. If any vendor listed in this analysis wishes to provide additional context or clarification, we welcome a briefing call and will consider incorporating relevant updates. This analysis is not intended to disparage any vendor but to provide an informed, balanced perspective. We encourage open and constructive dialogue to foster transparency and a deeper understanding of the industry.

Author: Vaishnavi, Senior Analyst at QKS Group