If you’ve decided to attend a trade show, it’s always a sound business decision to partner with an experienced full-service exhibit company to set the stage for your display. But there’s one question that some industries are considering, and that is the relevance of the trade show in the modern age. After all, with artificial intelligence, or “AI,” being implemented in so many different aspects of business, does it still make sense to invest the time, money, and energy in trade shows?

The answer is still a resounding “yes,” and here’s why.

Artificial Intelligence Is Still Artificial

While it is true that artificial intelligence can be faster and, in some cases, instantly more responsive than a human, trade shows still provide the vital “human touch,” and, perhaps more importantly, are capable of a range of responses, instead of being limited to a variety of “canned” or predetermined interactions. AI can be enormously helpful in “first contact” scenarios, quickly responding to individual queries as they happen, and being completely attentive during those initial interactions.

However, what AI can respond to in a commercial setting is, for many reasons, including legal, limited. On the other hand, a trade show environment means you are able to interact both professionally and socially, and can make adjustments based on context and situation. Crucially, you can also react to context clues, such as body language, which is something that AI cannot do.

AI Is Not Always Accurate

While artificial intelligence is a valuable asset for pattern recognition, such as statistical or numerical analysis, it is not always the most reliable partner in matters of marketing, promotion, and sales. Agent Ais can still sometimes make unauthorized transactions that can cost both you and a customer or client time and money, committing to services you don’t offer, or even failing to offer services that you do, costing you sales.

To get the best results with the outcomes and variables you want, it’s always better to leave sales negotiations either to yourself or to trusted, experienced staff. Normal “textbook” sales can be easily left to automated solutions like AI. However, when you are dealing with a new client, customer, or even potential business partner, it is always better to take the time to meet, interact, and get a better sense not just of a client and their needs, but the clients themselves as people. Treating people as people always yields better results.

If you want to work with an experienced full-service exhibit company for your next trade show, contact Lighthouse Exhibits.