Within3 senior vice president of client success, Amanda Sweeney, writes in the Journal of mHealth that even as many events have returned to traditional face-to-face settings, some pharma teams are exploring ways to use virtual technology for medical congresses.
“Two years on from the start of the pandemic, companies who reverted straight back to the traditional face-to-face congress setup are now exploring ways to enjoy in-person interaction while incorporating the benefits of virtual engagement,” writes Sweeney, who adds, “There’s no single answer as to how teams should do this.”
However, teams should keep some high-level guidelines in mind as they plan their next congress approach. These include:
- Don’t resist the pull of in-person. We’ve all missed interacting with peers.
- On the other hand, don’t ditch virtual altogether – online and in-person can work together.
- Think augment, not replace. Virtual makes live interactions better and more focused.
- Make flexibility your watchword. Give your team room to make events work for your objectives.
Sweeney points out that while there’s no virtual replacement for real-time, in-person conversations with colleagues and KOLs, there’s room to create a new path forward. “For life science teams to future-proof their congress planning, they must gain an understanding of how virtual and face-to-face work together, creating a new model that offers the best of both ways of working.”
