ISSPD International Congress

Case Study

CrowdComms

Case Studies

ISSPD: International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders

How CrowdComms Helped ISSPD Deliver a Seamless Global Congress

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Enabled Seamless Hybrid Participation for Global Delegates

Delivered Faster Workshop Check-in Through Lobby Kiosks

Enhanced Onsite Navigation and Communication

Achieved $14,000 in Cost Savings via Integrated Event Technology Platform

BACKGROUND

The ISSPD planned its Congress in Boston, USA, bringing together a highly engaged, academically focused audience and a programme of 225+ sessions.

Like many international societies hosting events in the US, ISSPD faced growing complexities around delegate travel, data management, and onsite logistics. At the same time, the organising team wanted to modernise the attendee experience, reduce operational friction, and ensure the Congress ran smoothly for both onsite and remote participants.

Initially, ISSPD began conversations with CrowdComms to explore a mobile event app, but as discovery progressed, it became clear there were opportunities to streamline the entire event workflow by consolidating key event technologies and improving the reliability of attendee data across platforms.

EVENT GOALS

ISSPD set out to deliver a delegate-first Congress that felt seamless, professional and easy to navigate, while ensuring the organising team stayed in control behind the scenes.

Key objectives included:

- Launch a high-quality mobile app to support a content-heavy programme
- Streamline event operations and simplify data management across tools
- Improve data reliability and flow, reducing manual work and last-minute fixes
- Enable hybrid flexibility, supporting delegates impacted by visa restrictions
- Enhance onsite experience, including fast check-in and clear wayfinding
- Create new sponsorship value, helping to underwrite the programme costs
- Retain freedom of choice, using best-in-breed tools where needed — without being forced into a closed ecosystem

PRODUCTS USED

ISSPD adopted CrowdComms as an integrated platform, including:

Event App: A fully integrated mobile app giving delegates instant access to 225+ presentation details, speaker info, and session schedules — all powered by Oxford Abstracts.
Registration & Badging: A streamlined solution that handled pre-event registration and auto-generated professional badges, ensuring a smooth and organized check-in process.
Self-service Registration Kiosks: Kiosks enabled fast, contactless check-in and badge collection — cutting queues and ensuring workshops started on time.
Digital Signage (powered by kiosks repurposed onsite): Kiosks were transformed into dynamic signs for real-time updates, wayfinding, mini-poster locations, and last-minute room changes as well as valuable sponsorship opportunities.
Virtual / Hybrid Delivery:
- Live streaming for real-time remote participation
- On-demand recordings to support post-event engagement and flexible access
Onsite & Online Support Services: Responsive, cross-time-zone support before, during, and after the event, including onsite staff managing registration, signage, and technical delivery for virtual attendees.

CHALLENGES

The Congress faced several logistical and participation hurdles:

App-first requirement, with growing tech stack pressure
The initial need was an event app, but the broader challenge was how to run the Congress efficiently without adding new admin burdens or introducing fragmented data systems.
Demand for virtual attendance options
Due to a number of international visa issues, some delegates were unable to attend at the last minute, limiting global participation. Some delegates still wanted to participate remotely, creating pressure for a seamless hybrid solution.
Compressed and constrained registration environment
With workshops beginning at 9:00 AM Sunday, the team needed fast check-in. However, venue limitations prevented a traditional registration desk setup during peak arrival times. Badging delays weren’t an option.
Complex onsite layout for mini posters
The venue layout and mini-poster locations required clear signage, and schedule/location changes (including gala updates) needed fast communication.
Last-minute programme and space changes
The gala location shifted shortly before the event, requiring real-time direct communication to avoid confusion.
Sponsorship revenue opportunities
Sponsorship was critical to funding the programme. ISSPD needed ways to increase sponsor value, without increasing workload or adding additional vendors.

SOLUTION

CrowdComms supported ISSPD by delivering a flexible event platform that streamlined workflow, strengthened data flow, and improved the attendee experience — while still allowing the client to retain best-in-breed tools where needed.

From app to integrated event tech ecosystem
After initially exploring CrowdComms for the mobile app, the client quickly realised that expanding usage into registration, onsite services and lead scanning could:

reduce reliance on multiple suppliers
simplify operational workflows
centralise attendee data
improve accuracy and confidence onsite
save money over time

Reliable data, even without full API connectivity
Despite limitations from the previous registration platform (including the lack of API access), the CrowdComms team worked closely with the organisers to import attendee data accurately, helping to ensure a smooth onsite check-in experience.

Hybrid flexibility built into the workflow
CrowdComms enabled the team to seamlessly switch delegates from in-person to virtual access when travel issues arose — supporting international participation even when visas prevented attendance.

Smarter onsite operations with kiosks + badge printing
When a conventional registration desk couldn’t be set up due to space constraints, CrowdComms recommended placing kiosks in the hotel lobby. Delegates could check in and collect badges while arriving — meaning many attendees were ready for Sunday workshops without queueing the next morning.

Digital signage that improved flow — and created sponsor value
CrowdComms kiosks were also repurposed into digital signage across the venue, supporting:

mini-poster topic navigation
directional signage for different areas
last-minute updates such as gala room changes

Just as importantly, this feature enabled ISSPD to offer premium sponsor visibility opportunities, helping to generate additional sponsorship revenue and directly support the financial success of the Congress.

Lead scanning and sponsor engagement opportunities
With lead retrieval and lead scanning in place, sponsors gained better engagement outcomes — and ISSPD improved exhibitor value, helping future-proof the commercial model of the Congress.

Support that felt like an extension of the team
The organisers highlighted CrowdComms support, onsite and online, as a standout, with quick responses, practical help, and real-time insights that kept leadership aligned throughout the event.

CONCLUSION

By expanding from a mobile app-only approach to a more integrated CrowdComms deployment, ISSPD delivered a Congress experience that was seamless for attendees and dramatically easier to manage behind the scenes.

Key outcomes included:

• Streamlined workflow for organisers, reducing platform switching and manual effort
• Improved data confidence and reliability, especially at onsite check-in
• Hybrid resilience, allowing rapid support for delegates impacted by visa issues
• Faster, smoother badge collection, supporting an early-start workshop schedule
• Clear onsite wayfinding and communication, even with complex layouts and late updates
• Additional sponsor revenue generated through digital signage, creating incremental event income and increasing sponsor value
• High attendee satisfaction, with the organiser reporting not a single complaint across all three days

“I chose CrowdComms because I was looking for an app, and I found a great deal more.”

"CrowdComms provided solutions to problems I hadn’t even encountered yet, and helped make the Congress shine."

-Fran Rickenbach - Management Excellence, Inc.

CROWDCOMMS IN ACTION

At CrowdComms, we dive headfirst into every project, becoming full-on members of your team to ensure your event’s success. From seamless on-site registration and badging to our feature-rich event app, networking tools and live polling, our commitment to collaboration drives dynamic and memorable experiences.

See us in action below and discover how we make every event extraordinary.

WHY WORK WITH US

CrowdComms specialises in event and conference mobile apps, virtual and hybrid event platforms, and registration and badging solutions.

Whether you’re planning an internal conference, product launch, organizing a trade show, or hosting a webinar, CrowdComms has a solution for you. In person, virtual, or hybrid, all available in one platform. From complete self-managed to full-service solutions, CrowdComms caters to events of all sizes and complexities.

Ready to elevate your next event? Contact the team today to discover how CrowdComms can support your event experience!

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