Supporting the biggest product launch in IFS' history
The Brief
IFS develop and deliver enterprise software for customers around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. As recognised leaders in their industry, IFS have consistently grown their turnover and customer base, even during the 2020 pandemic and resulting lockdowns. As video production partners for over 8 years, AR Media were asked to assist in delivering the company’s single biggest product launch in their history, the launch of IFS Cloud and the global brand refresh.
The challenge
As a global software provider, IFS traditionally hold conferences every 18 months in locations across the globe. These events include keynote presentations, motivational speakers, breakout sessions and a large-scale trade show spread over 3 days.
With the world in lockdown, the challenge became how to bring the wealth of information, updates, entertainment and the most important product launch in IFS’s history to their clients through a virtual platform.
The product launch
The AR team collaborated with event organiser Jodi Egan, Senior Manager of Global Events to ensure we understand the 120+ videos and animations required from the many stakeholders and presenters.
With a production schedule in place, AR Media then orchestrated the planning, project managing, filming, editing and covid precautions of these videos both with our own team in the UK and with crews in Australia, Sweden, Sri Lanka and the United States.
“...your dedication, professionalism and willingness to put in some seriously long hours made it happen and we’re really grateful. No task (or change, re-edit or re-re-edit) is too much for you and it’s that amazing attitude that enabled us to deliver an event that we’re really proud of with and that’s shown in the very positive feedback from our customers and senior management team”. Jodi Egan, Senior Manager Global Events
The outcomes of these projects included real-time software demos, drone footage, outside broadcasts and green screen keynote presentations. At the same time, we also produced videos for behind-the-scenes of the IFS rebrand story and the new brand video for their Moment of Service message.
This is the first project I’ve worked with you on and it’s been an absolute pleasure working with such a professional team, thank you for your patience, and for delivering excellent results – the platform with all the content looked amazing!! Laraine Taylor, Global Events Operations Manager
The product launch results
2021 was a big step into the unknown for IFS. To put an event online that would meet their customers' expectations and attract new prospects was a big ask, but meet and exceed it they did.
Thousands of people attended the live event, learning of IFS’s future roadmap, new innovations and technologies.
Thousands more watched the live stream keynote session on LinkedIn
And tens of thousands watched the breakout sessions post-event and the videos AR Media created are still in use with the sales and marketing teams on a daily basis.
“It was great seeing your hard work up in lights, and I know a lot has gone into the storyboarding, sourcing, filming, editing (and all the re-edit asks 😊). The hours, nights and weekends you put in don’t get lost on us. We’re grateful, so thank you”. Oliver Pilgerstorfer, Chief Marketing Officer
Are you planning a conference that requires video?
127 videos, 3 days, 20 cameras = IFS World Conference
127 videos, 3 days, 20 cameras = 1 happy client
The job:
In October 2019 AR Media was commissioned as video partner at the IFS World Conference in Boston, USA. A 3-day event bringing over 2,000 clients, partners, celebrities, and employees together to talk big business. We were both excited and privileged to be involved.
The client:
IFS are a global business software provider that enable manufacturers and service providers to optimise their business costs, processes, and offerings through intelligent information. The team at AR Media had worked with IFS for over 5 years and in 2019 we became a trusted partner in video production capitalising on our experience of their industry, their product and the events they organise.
But this time was a little different. This time our client wanted over 100 breakout sessions captured and edited. A daunting task.
Preparing for the world conference:
AR Media flew out a team of 8 comprising: camera operators, editors, and project managers, plus cameras, lights, and lenses. At the venue, we set-up basecamp with 4 edit suites and hired an additional 13 cameras and operators to cover all breakout sessions. With everything in place our teams split into 2; a mobile team ready to work with our client to record interviews, events and capture the conference atmosphere. The 2nd team focused entirely on capturing, backing up, and editing the breakouts after every session.
The IFS World Conference
As the event went live we were there to capture people arriving, visiting trade stands, attending keynote speeches, and networking.
We were setup in each room working with the on-site AV engineers to capture audio direct from the desk, and liaising with the AV team running the main stage to capture the Keynote presentations. Presenters included Tony Hawk, Tia-Claire Toomey, and Lewis Pugh.
Our mobile team were on call day and night, working closely with the IFS Marketing team to capture interviews on the fly, delegate reactions and soundbites about why they’d come and what they’d got from attending. Appreciation night had them working into the night capturing the atmosphere, networking, events, and live acts including Lewis Capaldi.
The breakout team were in action throughout the event, managing camera operators, filming every breakout session, juggling up to 13 simultaneous sessions and began editing on-site to deliver professional video of the presenters cut with the slides they presented.
In summary
Attendees are C-suite professionals from market leading manufacturers. They invest a lot of time and money coming to this event so it has to provide real, tangible value. IFS achieve this by providing a 3 day event packed with networking opportunities, world class keynote speakers, and access to IFS experts who can show them how to get the most out of their software.
AR Media’s remit is to provide a reminder of what attendees experienced, events from other parts of the conference they may have missed, and to give prospective clients an idea of why they should attend in the future. Or in simple terms; 127 videos, 3 days, 20 cameras and 1 happy client.
See the closing video at: https://vimeo.com/371641862
Are you planning a conference that requires video?
Download our event video checklist below or contact us to talk about your requirements:
studio@ar-media.co.uk or 01604 621600