by Simon Hainsworth is the Founder and Managing Director of CSE.
Decades ago, predictions were rife that flying cars, underwater cities and personal jetpacks would all have become integral to our way of life by now. Clearly, reality hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations of the generations before us.
But there are a wealth of technological, environmental and social trends currently impacting the events sector which can give us an insight into the future, allowing logistics planners to make predictions about what their role may involve by the middle of the century. With a quarter of the 2000s already having passed, it’s time to look at three key trends which could well become the norm by 2050.
Control rooms, controlled by computers?
Robots running the world was another prediction borne out of the gigantic leaps made in technology – in particular artificial intelligence – as we entered the digital era. And it’s true that AI is now smarter than our ancestors might ever have dared hope possible.
But it’s also true that we are a long way off tech being able to reliably make the sort of nuanced, complex decisions required of logistics experts every single day.
We are already utilising AI to maximise route planning, provide early weather alerts and monitor traffic conditions; and with further advances almost a certainty over the next few years, we may well be able to hand more of the simplest decision making over to technology.
But there’s a big difference between being able to suggest a new route for a coach approaching a traffic jam, and placating a group faced with a lengthy airport wait due to an incoming storm. Similarly, scanning weather updates in case ‘rainy day’ plans need to be enacted is not the same as explaining diplomatically to star athletes or CEOs why private cars have been swapped for public transport to meet sustainability targets.
Expecting tech to be able to display judgement, empathy and develop genuine connections is a leap too far. And that’s why control rooms may become a place where computers make the straightforward decisions – but there will always be an expert (human) team sat beside them to sort the complex, the emotional, the sensitive and the downright messy situations that are far beyond AI’s reach.
Climate-first considerations
If there is any topic which has been as hotly-debated as technology so far this century, it’s the implementation of sustainability targets and strategies at events venues and by organising bodies across the world. But while alternative modes of transport, smart systems and carbon-offsetting have all become key planning considerations, by 2050 climate will not only be shaping how events are held, but also where.
Particularly pertinent to outdoor events will be the expected weather changes – indeed, an International Olympic Committee study showed 44% of potential Winter Olympics host locations will be unusable by the 2050s. The rise of extreme weather conditions like wildfires, cyclones and flash floods may also make certain regions out of bounds for events, with the IPCC stating the earth will experience a rise in ‘extreme events that are unprecedented, either in magnitude, frequency, timing or location’.
As a result, plans and bids will likely have to begin with a climate viability study; timings of repeated events may change dramatically; and a ‘carbon budget’ may well be introduced alongside the financial budget for each event.
A virtual reality?
Despite the increasing complexities of organising events on any scale, in-person occasions will very much remain a ‘thing’ in 2050 and beyond. There is no denying that technology has made virtual events more popular, but if a major global pandemic wasn’t enough to deter organisers, then the passage of time is unlikely to persuade many to switch to online-only.
The digital element of events will be enhanced over the next few decades, which is good news for attendees, who will have a wider range of experience-enhancing tech options whether there in person or participating online. While the continuation of live sports events needs no explanation, when we consider the corporate world, being in the same room is not a necessity. Yet, organisers can absolutely see the value of the opportunities that being physically together brings. Relationship building and networking are simply not the same online, and that’s why we’ll see a continuation of in-person business events, too.
All this is, of course, positive for logistics experts: climate change may add new challenges to the planning process, but in-person events will remain a firm fixture on the calendars of the 2050s. And AI might be there as an extra ‘pair of hands’, but there’s an almost zero chance of it becoming emotionally intelligent enough to exercise the judgement needed to iron out any wrinkles in the plan.
Computers and climate change might be the focus for the next few decades, but ultimately it’s the human element of event planning that will remain a constant: whether that’s the connection of meeting face to face to talk business or cheer on your team, or the peace of mind knowing there’s a living, breathing expert making the decisions needed for a successful event. Even if they’re not getting around using a personal jetpack or flying car…
