At Marketplace, Users Flock to Mobile Tools

Mobile tools made a splash at the 2011 NACDS Marketplace event, helping attendees stay connected at the conference.

For the 2nd year in a row, attendees of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Marketplace Conference, held June 25-28 in Boston, Massachusetts, were able to navigate the conference hall, look up exhibitors, and manage their conference schedule from the convenience of a mobile app.

NACDS launched the app at last year’s event to positive reviews from conference-goers, who used it to maximize productivity in the show’s fast-paced atmosphere. At this year’s Marketplace, attendees also had the option of visiting the new NACDS mobile Web site—m.NACDS.org—to access conference information at their fingertips.

Launched in early 2011, the “guide to go” is a hub for mobile users, delivering regular updates about the association’s meetings, advocacy initiatives, and public relations efforts. Conference attendees can also find event-specific planning tools, including an updated schedule, floor plan, list of participants and sponsors, and other information on the mobile website.

The NACDS mobile app, like its companion mobile site, is compatible with most smartphone platforms, including the iPhone, Motorola Droid, and Blackberry devices. It can be downloaded for free at m.NACDS.org or from NACDS’ main Web site at www.NACDS.org.

“NACDS continues to explore innovative ways to enhance its member programs and services,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “Utilizing technology is an important way to maximize the continued value and experience that NACDS members expect from NACDS meetings and conferences.”

For other articles in this issue, see:

• Meeting Opportunity at the NACDS Marketplace
• Do Groceries Belong on Pharmacy Shelves?