IRIS Events

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a product marketing manager at Google; my role has evolved since this engagement. I was the lead on our efforts for a few markets, particularly Pakistan.

What challenge were you trying to address with IRIS Events?

We’ve worked with them over a few different projects. The initial reason we hired them was for event management. We were trying to launch the biggest YouTube event we’d ever held in Pakistan for our biggest advertisers and agencies. 

Since YouTube was newer to the Pakistani market, we needed a local event and production agency to help us secure our first major B2B event in that location. "

What was the scope of their involvement?

IRIS Events helped us secure the venue for our event and handled the logistics. They also put together the visuals and content for the B2B event. They were responsible for the corresponding collateral, too, for the interactive exhibits and giveaways. 

What is the team composition?

I had two primary contacts, including Bilal (Director). I interacted with about 6–7 people from the main team. 

How did you come to work with IRIS Events?

They were recommended by one of the country consultants we had based in Pakistan. He had seen and heard about them producing other major events for multinational companies. He had been in contact with Bilal and was able to connect us for the project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started with the major projects in November 2018.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

One of the things we look at is customer sentiment to see if our key messages and narratives landed well with the market. For every major project that they’ve worked on for us, we’ve seen significant gains in those areas that we analyze. We’re also looking at the immediate product adoptions we’re able to see 4-6 weeks after a major production.

How did IRIS Events perform from a project management standpoint?

They are great. Even when we give short deadlines, they still meet it with what we need. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re able to take our ideas that are crafted for other markets and localize them in a way that is meaningful for local customers. For example, they can take an activity we run for customers in Singapore and adjust games or content to make them more localized. 

They have wonderful contacts and relationships with primary vendors and venues that we want to work with there. They’re able to negotiate good prices and deals that help us stay in our budget. We have very strict security requirements for our venues and customers, and they have helped us digitize our experience to show places with poor internet access who we are. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing. They’ve improved their graphic design skills and visual materials over the years we’ve been working together. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Program Manager assigned at a social media company managing public policy programs in Pakistan.

For what projects/services did your company hire IRIS Events, and what were your goals?

A nationwide program's launch event with a variety of government and CSO partners.

How did you select this vendor?

IRIS has delivered various event projects for us in the past and is to go choice for all such tentpole activities.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

We had partnered with IRIS to arrange a virtual launch event for a global social enterprise initiative that we were rolling out for the Pakistan market. We worked with IRIS to develop the launch strategy that was then executed by them. As part of this execution, they developed the event creative, Marcom materials, video assets and most significantly produced and managed the virtual event broadcast.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

My primary POC was the agency’s Director, however, there was an entire creative and operations team working on the project.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We had a successful launch event that was attended by the company and stakeholder leadership as well as our invitees. The event was glitch-free and all stakeholders were happy with the outcome.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We found them to be very hands-on with processes, which had been very methodical. Trixes were developed to manage all tasks on the project along with timelines and responsibilities. This also gave us a clear view of the project status at any given time.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

A couple of things that really stood out were the level of detail orientation and secondly their ability to anticipate things that can go wrong and preemptively have fail safes in place to avoid them.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Whilst the event was flawless for us, perhaps the team could improve on the post-event analytics and reporting for us to be able to better gauge our impact.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Hotel Manager at hotel chain.

For what projects/services did your company hire IRIS Events?

Concept Design of high profile VIP reception dinner and Ramadan set ups for entire hotel

What were your goals for this project?

Something unique and high end offering for our guests

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with them on various projects of Google and YouTube and private events

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

they gave a complete solution for all types of events for e.g. annual YouTube conference or Google regional conference. They have also designed entire theme for Ramadan for both our properties.

What was the team composition?

We worked together with them in operarions and design in order to come to their guest expectations. It has been the other way round as well and we have hired them for our own private events and they have delivered up to guest expectations

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

YouTube and Google events were very successful and we had huge footfall for above events with amazing feedback

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had great chemistry working along each other and the best part was that our teams came up with some great creative ideas when ever we worked with each other and achieved both revenue targets whilst staying within our budgets

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their creative honesty and quality of work were impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

some time they can be very expensive though the work is of top quality but still value for money could some times be a challenge

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Commercial Officer for Khaadi Pakistan and am.responsibke for all of the company's retail operations and have a revenue and profit reaponsibility. There are 60 stores nationwide and I have a team of 1000 people. The revenue that I manage is approximately Rs. 20 billion.

For what projects/services did your company hire IRIS Events?

We hired them to manage our Business Conference for our team in Turkey covering engagement and work plans and culminating in a Gala Awards event.

What were your goals for this engagement?

To reward the team for past performance and build motivation for the next year.

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with IRIS before in my previous company for similar events but on a larger scale. They had done an amazing job there.

Describe the engagement in detail.

There was the business part, then the team building and the main gala event. They were also key in helping organise our excursions.

What was the team composition?

Store managers, the commercial pakistan team and the Management committee.

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

It was an action packed day that was run from 8 am to midnight that kept everyone on their toes, great thinking on challenges came out. There was also super camaraderie that was built.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They worked in Tandem with my HR Head Seemal Tariq and also ensured great response to any of our demands.

What did you find most impressive about this vendor?

Their ability to get us value for money and deliver way beyond our expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really.