by Claire Donovan, Director of Engagement Strategy at Slayte
You’ve noticed it too, right? Everything from coffee service to name badge printers is suddenly 30% more expensive. Across the non-profit and association world, leaders are sounding the same alarm: "We used to break even. Now we're just hoping not to lose money." So what’s actually changed — and what can we do about it?
The Culprits (Spoiler: It’s Not Just Inflation)
Yes, costs are up. But the more serious issue? Inefficiency. Let’s take a deeper look at what’s really driving the financial strain on events today.
1. Staff Time Is Your Most Expensive Resource
Hiring is hard. Keeping good people is harder. And over the last two years, the cost of skilled event professionals has risen across the board. But here’s the part that’s within your control: how much of their time is wasted on manual tasks.
Most organizations we speak to are still:
- Manually entering speaker bios across their website, internal review spreadsheets, and printed programs
- Sending 10+ emails to coordinate scheduling changes that could have been automated
- Copy-pasting CE credit data back into their AMS post-event
Why this matters: Time wasted is budget lost. Even at modest pay rates, 20–30 hours per week of repetitive task work across a 3-month planning cycle equals thousands of dollars.
How Slayte helps: With Slayte, speaker bios entered once populate across all downstream systems: event website, mobile app, printed programs. Our review workflows mean reviewers can leave feedback inline, no spreadsheets needed. Post-event CE tracking can be automatically tied to check-ins — no data entry required.
2. Too Many Tools (and They Don’t Talk to Each Other)
The average association tech stack now includes:
- An AMS (maybe Novi, Rhythm, iMIS...)
- A call-for-speakers portal
- A separate mobile app
- A custom-built website
- A survey tool
- An exhibitor lead retrieval platform
All of these need to be manually stitched together — if they integrate at all.
Why this matters: Every handoff between tools is a chance for error, delay, and additional labor. Not to mention: you're paying for redundant functionality across platforms.
How Slayte helps: Slayte offers an all-in-one experience: speaker submission, reviewer workflows, scheduling, check-in, CE credit issuance, virtual streaming, sponsor tracking, and mobile access — all in a single interface that integrates directly with your AMS. That means fewer platforms, lower costs, and no data entry gap.
3. Wasted Sponsor and Exhibitor Potential
Sponsorship ROI has become harder to prove. And with attendance numbers fluctuating post-pandemic, sponsors are more cautious than ever about re-upping their commitments.
Where the hidden cost lies: If exhibitors or sponsors don’t receive qualified leads, insights, or brand visibility, their renewal rates drop. And finding new ones is even more expensive than keeping the old ones.
How Slayte helps: Our exhibitor platform includes lead retrieval, banner exposure on the app and site, in-session sponsor attributions, and detailed reporting to show sponsors exactly how much value they got. That keeps them happy — and coming back.
4. Underutilized CE Programs and Missed Revenue
Credentialing, certifications, and CEU offerings are some of the most underleveraged revenue sources in associations today. But if tracking attendance is difficult, or issuing credits is a manual nightmare, many organizations forgo it altogether.
Why this matters: You're leaving money — and member satisfaction — on the table.
How Slayte helps: When attendees check into sessions (either via mobile or badge scan), we track it automatically. You can assign CE credit rules by session or track, then issue completion certificates in just a few clicks. It’s streamlined, auditable, and a tangible member benefit.
5. No Time Left for Strategy
Perhaps the biggest hidden cost of all? Leadership teams so tied up in tactical coordination that there's no time left for strategic growth, member engagement innovation, or partnerships.
How Slayte helps: When your team isn’t chasing down speaker headshots or fixing last-minute room changes, they can focus on the big picture. Our customers routinely report fewer planning meetings, faster turnaround, and more time for the things only humans can do.
A More Sustainable Future for Events
Rising costs are a reality — but they don’t have to derail your event goals. Associations that succeed in 2025 and beyond will do so not by cutting corners, but by cutting waste.
If you’re ready to move from patchwork tech and post-it notes to a connected, modern experience — let’s talk.
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Until next time,
Claire
