When an Event Registration Platform Isn’t the Right Fit
Let’s not kid ourselves—event registration platforms are pretty damn good. They save time, reduce stress, and make you look like the most organised person in the room.
But (and it’s a big but)… sometimes, you don’t need one.
Slightly contrarian, I know. A company that builds an event registration platform saying you might not need one? Stick with us.
Sarah, an event organiser for a national law firm recently found herself asking this very question: Do I really need a platform, or is this something I can handle with a spreadsheet and a bit of elbow grease?
Sarah’s Story: The Networking Breakfast
Sarah’s tasked with running a monthly networking breakfast—nothing too fancy. A couple of dozen attendees, some coffee, a few pastries, and a short presentation.
Her boss suggests looking into a registration platform to manage sign-ups and communications. So, Sarah checks out a few platforms. But here’s the thing: her guest list is 20 people. They’re mostly people she already knows. There’s no need for branded registration pages, automated reminders, or ESG reporting yet.
Sarah’s on the ball and quickly sees that a spreadsheet and a few emails are more than enough for this specific set of events.
When spreadsheets work:
Small-scale events: If you know everyone by name and can manage RSVPs manually, why overcomplicate it?
Low-stakes gatherings: If it’s just coffee and networking, you don’t necessarily need analytics or custom branding.
Budget-conscious events: When there’s no wiggle room for extras, spreadsheets can still do the job.
Fast Forward 6 months: The Sustainability Conference
Six months later, Sarah’s small breakfasts have grown into a hit. Now, her boss wants her to organise a half-day sustainability conference.
150 attendees, corporate sponsors, event analytics, the lot.
Suddenly, her spreadsheet doesn’t look so clever. Managing registrations, tracking dietary requirements, and sending reminders all manually? That’s a meltdown waiting to happen.
When a platform like Mitingu is a lifesaver:
Bigger events: Spreadsheets get messy fast when your guest list hits triple digits.
Branding matters: Corporate sponsors want their logos front and centre on registration pages and event comms.
Time is money: Automation takes care of reminders, confirmations, and follow-ups so you don’t have to.
Data-driven insights: You’ll need reports on engagement and sustainability to show how your event went down.
The Truth About Event Tools
The truth is, not every event needs a registration platform. But when you scale up—whether it’s attendee numbers, complexity, or expectations—it becomes less of a "nice-to-have" and more of a necessity.
So, if you’re staring at a spreadsheet wondering if it’s time to make the leap, here’s the test:
Are you juggling dozens (or hundreds) of attendees?
Do you need to make a professional impression?
Is tracking success and reporting on outcomes part of the deal?
If the answer’s yes, it’s time to ditch the spreadsheet. And if not? Keep it simple—for now.
Your Move
Whether you’re ready to upgrade or just testing the waters, we’re here when you need us. Because when the time comes, Mitingu helps you run events that people remember.