The full-service event management company Bishop-McCann has announced its new, proprietary Joy Index, an innovative measurement tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to quantify attendee engagement and experience in real-time.
This tool leverages cutting-edge technology and is designed to help planners understand quickly—in the middle of an event—what truly resonates with their audiences to create more impactful and joyful events.
A New Standard for Measuring Event Success
Historically, post-event surveys were the main way to gauge an event’s success, relying on attendees recalling what they learned or how they felt. These one-dimensional surveys fall short of providing a clear picture of in-the-moment attendee engagement, a measurement that is so critical for event planner success.
The Joy Index changes that by using a combination of AI-powered tools (including facial analytics and wearable technology) to deliver an instant, more accurate, science-based measurement of attendee emotions and reactions.
“With the Joy Index, we’re moving beyond vanity metrics like five-star ratings. Our approach lets us track real-time engagement, moment-by-moment, to see exactly how attendees are reacting,” said Rob Adams, CEO & Owner, Bishop-McCann in a media announcement. “It’s not passive feedback; it’s authentic data capturing how people truly feel. This allows us to dissect every session and make adjustments on the fly to ensure our events resonate deeply and effectively with the audience.”
Two Key Technologies Drive the Joy Index:
- Immersion Platform: This platform, created by renowned neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak, measures changes in attendees’ heart rates using attendees’ own smartwatches or fitness trackers. The collected data helps to assess their emotional engagement (referred to as neurologic immersion). By analyzing this information, event organizers can see which parts of an event were the most impactful, moment-by-moment.
- Zenus AI: This facial analytics tool anonymously analyzes attendee expressions and energy levels during events. The system provides an overall energy score, as well as insights into how different demographics, such as gender and age groups, engage with content. All data is collected ethically, ensuring complete anonymity for attendees.
A Real-World Example
During Bishop-McCann’s annual off-site event, BMC4M, in Cancun, Mexico, the Joy Index was used to track attendee engagement. Select participants wore smartwatches that provided real-time data on their engagement and safety, which was measured through the Immersion Platform. Zenus AI also captured facial analytics during key sessions, providing insights into the energy and reactions of the audience.
“By combining these data sets, we were able to identify key moments of peak engagement and areas for improvement instantly while the event was taking place,” said Todd Moritz, Bishop-McCann VP of Event Technology. “Did the video have the impact we expected? Did the keynote land with the audience? The Joy Index offered a new level of insight into the attendee experience, unlocking a wealth of data and potential for planners to truly understand how they can tailor events to keep the audience engaged and joyful.”
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