Event onboarding

Definition

Event onboarding is the process of guiding the attendee from confirmed registration through full event activation (app use, active session participation). It is critical to maximize engagement: a poorly "onboarded" attendee is a passive attendee.

Details and formula

Typical phases of corporate event onboarding:

1. Registration + calendar confirmation: right after form

2. Welcome email (T-7 days): logistical details, app link, profile to complete

3. Personal profile (T-5 days): bio, photo, interests for networking matching

4. Pre-event content (T-3 days): preparatory content (white paper, intro video)

5. App download + tutorial (T-1 day): reminder + walkthrough of main features

6. Smooth check-in (T-0): pre-generated badge, no friction at entry

7. First session prompt (T+10 min): push notification "welcome, here's your agenda"

Context and typical ranges

Errors that ruin onboarding:

• Silence after registration: only automated email → attendee forgets
• App download requested on arrival: too late, long check-in queue with people downloading app
• Optional profile: without profile no matching, no active networking
• Pre-event materials too long: 50-page white paper → 0% reads; better a 3-minute video
• Channel excess: email + SMS + push + WhatsApp = saturation, attendee mutes everything

How it applies in OAK EVENTS

OAK EVENTS automates the entire onboarding flow with pre-configured sequences, behavior-based smart prompts (e.g., did they open the app? did they complete the profile?), profile gamification ("complete profile" badge for those reaching 100%), and in-app first-use tutorial.