Trade shows aren't what they used to be. Gone are the days of hoping branded stress balls and free mints would drive meaningful conversations. Today’s most successful exhibitors know: the right tech can turn your booth from forgettable to can't-miss.
Here are some of our favorite trade show tech tools designed to help marketing and sales teams drive engagement, capture leads, and leave a lasting impression.
1. Lead Capture Tools That Don’t Feel Clunky
Forget paper forms or awkward badge scans that go nowhere. Modern lead capture tools are built to integrate seamlessly with your CRM and sales process.
Favorites:
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iCapture — Scan badges, business cards, or enter info manually — it syncs directly with HubSpot, Salesforce, or your favorite CRM.
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AtEvent — Perfect for multi-show schedules, it helps track leads by event and ties activity directly to campaigns.
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Captello — Gamifies lead capture with built-in contests, quizzes, and spin-to-win wheels.
2. Digital Kiosks & Interactive Touchscreens
Static banners are fine. Interactive content? That’s memorable.
Use kiosks to:
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Show product demos
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Host quizzes or surveys
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Let attendees "build their own" product or package
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Show interactive maps or video content
Tools to Explore:
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Kiosk & Touchscreen Rentals from providers like ExpoLogic or SmartSource
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Felt App — Turns iPads into personalized content hubs for one-on-one demos
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Intuiface — No-code interactive touchscreen design tool
3. NFC & QR Codes — Reimagined
Make connecting effortless with tap-and-go or scan-and-save options.
→ Popl or Dot Cards — Digital business cards that instantly save your contact info.
→ Custom QR codes — Link directly to gated content, exclusive offers, or appointment scheduling.
→ NFC-enabled swag — Think branded keychains or stickers that deliver a lead magnet with one tap.
4. Big Screen Moments
LED walls or projection mapping aren’t just for the giant booths anymore.
Consider:
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Social media walls pulling in live content from event hashtags
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Live data dashboards visualizing customer stats or industry trends
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Motion graphics that stop people in their tracks
Rental Partners:
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PixelFLEX
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AV Concepts
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ABCOMRENTS
5. The Crowd-Pleasers
Sometimes, it’s the unexpected tech that draws the biggest crowds.
Options we love:
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AR/VR Experiences — product walk-throughs or virtual site tours
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Photo Booths with instant social sharing
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Prize Wheels or Games that collect data to enter
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AI Chatbots for pre-qualifying booth visitors on tablets or screens
Final Tip: Tech is Cool — But Strategy Wins
Remember, the flashiest booth tech won’t deliver results without a plan to follow up fast and nurture those leads.
→ Integrate with your CRM.
→ Pre-plan lead scoring.
→ Align sales + marketing around post-show messaging.
Because the real magic? Happens after the trade show ends.
