Intro
About Media.Monks
Media.Monks stands as one of the world's largest marketing and advertising services companies, operating from 57 offices across 33 countries. As a subsidiary of S4 Capital, a publicly-traded and globally recognized digital media company, Media.Monks has carved a niche in hosting large-scale experiential events. Their clientele boasts of global brands such as Meta, Amazon, Nike, HP, FIFA, AT&T, Bayer, and many more. Their expertise lies in orchestrating in-person, virtual, and hybrid events across more than 33 countries, tailoring each event to the unique requirements of renowned brands.
Challenges
Navigating the New Normal: Media.Monks' Evolution in the Face of the Pandemic
The year 2020 brought with it unprecedented challenges in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic. With sudden lockdowns, social distancing norms, and other restrictions, businesses worldwide had to pivot and adapt. Media.Monks, known for its high-profile events catering to enterprise customers such as Meta, Burberry, and McDonald’s, faced a particularly daunting task. The immediate solution seemed to be transitioning to virtual platforms. However, the challenges were manifold:
01.
How to seamlessly transition events designed for up to 20,000 attendees to an online format?
02.
How to replicate the invaluable networking opportunities that are the hallmark of business events?
03.
How to ensure a consistent experience for attendees across different regions, from APAC to EMEA to North America?
Moreover, Media.Monks had to ensure that each of their numerous virtual and hybrid events remained unique, catering to the specific expectations and requirements of different clients.
This meant that every aspect of their platform, including chat functionalities, had to be highly configurable. The need for scalability was paramount, with the platform needing to support tens of thousands of users one week and potentially none the next. Integration with their in-house SDK and other digital event vendors, especially video broadcasters, was also crucial. Given the high stakes of their events, robust event support was non-negotiable.
Solution
CometChat: A Strategic Partner in Event Evolution
270k +
total users supported
20k +
attendees per event
150k +
messages sent
Recognizing the unique challenges they faced, Media.Monks sought a flexible and customizable solution that could meet their diverse requirements. Their search led them to CometChat, a platform known for its adaptability and ease of integration.
Key aspects of the solution included:
01.
Rapid customization
With each event being distinct, Media.Monks required a platform that allowed for quick and extensive customization. CometChat's SDK seamlessly integrated with Media.Monks' in-house event SDK, enabling them to tailor chat functionalities to suit individual client requirements.
02.
Multiple integration methods
CometChat offered a variety of integration methods, allowing Media.Monks to create bespoke chat experiences. Whether it was through SDKs, UI Kits, or ready-made chat widgets, Media.Monks could launch chat functionalities in mere minutes.
03.
Scalable and secure infrastructure
Given the scale of Media.Monks' events, it was imperative that the chosen solution could handle large numbers of users without compromising on performance or security. CometChat's robust infrastructure ensured scalability, allowing for smooth operations regardless of the number of attendees.
04.
Responsive support and flexible pricing
Beyond the technical aspects, CometChat distinguished itself with its exceptional support and flexible pricing model tailored for events. This ensured that Media.Monks could efficiently manage their events without worrying about unforeseen costs or technical hitches.
In essence, CometChat provided Media.Monks with a comprehensive solution that not only addressed their immediate challenges but also equipped them with the tools to innovate and enhance their event experiences further.
"The look and feel of every event is different. It's never the same. We develop a new front-end every time per customer requests. CometChat makes that rapid customization possible."
Anna Hovhannisyan
Senior Project Manager , Media.Monks
Result
CometChat: The Catalyst for a New Era in Virtual Events
Key outcomes included:
01.
Diverse interaction modes
CometChat's versatility enabled Media.Monks to offer a range of interaction methods to their clients. From networking rooms designed for intimate groups to live session commenting with moderation, group chats, video chats, and commenting threads, the platform catered to varied client preferences. Some clients preferred open interactions among keynote audience members, while others sought more moderated or limited interactions.
02.
Adaptable solutions
CometChat's flexibility shone through in its ability to cater to different client needs. Whether a client wanted audience interaction to play a secondary role to speakers or desired multiple networking rooms to boost attendee interaction, CometChat delivered.
03.
Responsive partnership
Beyond the technical solutions, the relationship between Media.Monks and CometChat stood out for its collaborative nature. Media.Monks found in CometChat an adaptable and responsive partner. Whenever they needed access to the SDK or required specific concurrency for events, a simple call to CometChat sufficed. As Anna Hovhannisyan, Senior Project Manager at Media.Monks, noted, "CometChat is always very helpful, answers our questions quickly, and is very collaborative. It’s really as simple as making a phone call."
In conclusion, the partnership between Media.Monks and CometChat not only addressed the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic but also set a new standard for virtual events. With enhanced interaction capabilities and a focus on customization, Media.Monks successfully elevated the virtual event experience for their global clientele.
