Speaking to TechGraph, Vishal Puri, Co-Founder of Spalba, explains how its platform uses technologies like Digital Twins and real-time analytics to provide event planners with interactive previews while giving venue owners deep data to optimize sales and marketing strategies and help event planners make informed decisions faster.
Read the interview in detail:
TechGraph: Spalba is using SaaS technology to revolutionize venue bookings. How does this innovation truly change the game for event planners and venue owners in terms of business strategy and customer engagement?
Vishal Puri: Spalba’s SaaS platform brings unmatched transparency and efficiency to the entire value chain of venue booking, which includes discovery, exploration, collaboration, planning, and booking. Automation of the entire value chain, fundamentally using immersive Digital Twins technology, is altering the way the industry works.
For event planners and corporates, it eliminates guesswork by providing immersive virtual tours, 3D event setups, accurate layouts, and direct hotel connections with faster response times, allowing them to make faster, informed decisions.
For venue owners, Spalba acts as a powerful sales accelerator, enabling them to showcase their spaces to a global audience, engage clients remotely, and streamline the planning process. This dual impact drives higher conversion rates, shortens sales cycles, and elevates overall customer satisfaction, reshaping the business strategy for both stakeholders.
TechGraph: With the venue booking industry increasingly reliant on digital solutions, what unique challenges did Spalba encounter when first developing this platform, and how were these challenges overcome to create a seamless user experience?
Vishal Puri: One of the biggest challenges we faced was bridging the gap between the traditional, highly manual venue booking process and the expectations of a tech-driven audience. Convincing venue owners to adopt digital solutions required us to emphasize ROI, operational ease, and the competitive advantage our platform provides.
On the user experience front, integrating complex tools like digital twins and 3D setups without overwhelming users was another hurdle. We addressed this by creating a highly intuitive interface that simplifies even the most advanced features, ensuring that both tech-savvy and non-technical users can navigate with ease.
TechGraph: Venue owners are under constant pressure to increase their revenue while balancing operational efficiency. How does Spalba empower them to maximize earnings without compromising service quality or customer relationships?
Vishal Puri: Spalba helps venue owners achieve this delicate balance by equipping them with tools to optimize every stage of the sales and planning process. Our platform reduces operational overhead through features like TOURS by Spalba, which enables immersive digital walkthroughs for potential clients, virtual recces, and automated layout designs.
This not only enhances the client experience but also saves valuable time for venue teams, allowing them to focus on building stronger relationships. By simplifying operations, streamlining venue showcasing, and enhancing marketing efforts, Spalba empowers venue owners to boost revenue while maintaining exceptional service quality.
TechGraph: The event industry is diverse, with varying needs for venues of all scales. How does Spalba’s technology ensure that it’s not just another booking system, but a robust solution that caters to the unique dynamics of each venue type?
Vishal Puri: What sets Spalba apart is its ability to adapt to the needs of different venue types, whether it’s a boutique villa, a large convention center, or a mid-sized hotel. Our digital twin technology provides a dynamic, immersive way to showcase venues, no matter the scale.
Additionally, Spalba offers tailored subscription packages to meet the unique requirements of each segment. For example, while a booking engine may not add significant value for large hotels, it can be a game-changer for smaller venues, helping them enhance their digital presence quickly and effectively.
Our tools are also designed with flexibility in mind—venues can customize layouts, offer tailored packages, and cater to event-specific needs. This ensures that Spalba is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a platform that understands and meets the unique operational dynamics of every venue.
TechGraph: In an environment where data drives decision-making, how does Spalba’s platform utilize real-time analytics to not only enhance booking rates but also to inform venue owners on better ways to market their spaces?
Vishal Puri: Data is at the heart of Spalba’s platform. Our real-time analytics provide venue owners with actionable insights into customer behavior, venue performance, and user activity. Through features like digital twins, we capture data on how clients interact with virtual tours—such as the spaces they explore most or how long they engage with specific areas.
This allows venue owners to understand customer preferences more deeply, identify their most booked spaces, and optimize their marketing efforts. By leveraging these insights to craft targeted campaigns and adjust pricing strategies, venue owners not only enhance booking rates but also strengthen their overall sales approach.
TechGraph: Looking beyond bookings, how does Spalba enable venues to build lasting, profitable relationships with event planners, and what kind of tools or features support this relationship-building in your ecosystem?
Vishal Puri: Spalba goes beyond being a transactional platform by creating opportunities for ongoing engagement between venues and event planners. Features like personalized venue recommendations, seamless collaboration tools, and real-time feedback collection foster stronger connections. Planners can design and visualize entire event setups on the platform, while venues can proactively address their needs, building trust and long-term relationships. Ultimately, Spalba’s ecosystem is designed to nurture partnerships that translate into repeat business and lasting loyalty.