ORM London has been providing client-based technology solutions in the entertainment business for the past ten years, and has worked a number of clients, traditionally for ‘non-client’ facing systems.

These clients include British broadcasters Channel 4 and ITV, with ORM London managing Channel 4’s sales website (combining live data with sales inventories) as well as a recent ITV sales conference.

Over the past 18 months, ORM London has increasingly been asked to design mobile products.

“People want to present information on mobile devices, and to show enterprise data in useful but beautiful ways,” said Mahesh Ramachandra, head of products, when speaking to TabTimes. “The small screen is becoming bigger and should become the cornerstone of interactivity.”

As a result of this, ORM London established a new division to look at enterprise and connected devices. This division was built on a global, product-by-product basis but ultimately paved the way for the introduction of its new iPad application, Event Check-In.

Event Check-In has been developed to change the way event organizers check-in people at events, and move them away from the archaic clipboard. “There is potential here for everybody”, said Ramachandra.

When ORM London first begun developing the solution, the digital agency first looked at scanners, and how they could be used to accept event invitations on the iPad.

Ramachandra  conceded that most didn’t work that well, but said that the firm ended up plumping for the CHS Cordless Hand Scanner 7X1, an Apple-certified device which accepts 1D and 2D barcodes, and which has traditionally been used by pharmaceuticals and warehouses.

So, how does Event Check-In work?

The solution offers a secure HTTP log-in and synchronizes all data between the user’s desktop and the iPad app. The desktop can be used to create the events, adjust the final design and edit guest lists, while the iPad offers a more basic set of functions, as it is mainly for checking people in.

One of the nicer features of the app is the ability for SMS text messages to be sent to the event host on a certain guest’s arrival, while guests can still be checked into the event (and subsequently, the system) even when internet connection is lost.

Data between the iPad and the internal server can be carried out manually or automatically (the latter offers synchronization every five, 10 and 30 minutes), and the scanner can still be used to check people-in without Wi-Fi or 3G. Those looking to register VIPs or synchronize to the sever will require some sort of internet connection.

Event Check-In has already been used for guest lists of up to 1,600 people and the scanner worked within 15 or 20 metres, meaning that the user doesn’t have to be close to the iPad at all times.

The user can search attendees by name or company name, and information on rooms and tables can be added, via desktop or iPad, so that this information can be seen by the iPad user when the guest arrives.

Ramachandra said that the scanner can be used by event organizers to individually scan each QR code or, if there’s a big group, complete multiple scans on one page, while the scanner also accepts codes presented on a phone or tablet.

For those looking to have a physical copy of their invite, they will have to download their QR codes and send these to the printer file as a zip file, explained Ramachandra.

The event creation part is done via the Event Check-In website, which also offers the chance to create and edit guest lists, view a dashboard summary or report on an event and create a colourful design for the front-end.

A report of the event can even to be transformed into an Excel spreadsheet for local viewing and multiple events can be stored on the desktop and iPad at the same time.

Final guest lists can be taken from any CMS and transported into ORM London’s CVS format.

In terms of pricing, ORM London sets-up the iPad and the Bluetooth scanner for £1,499 ($2,350) plus VAT and this includes training and telephone support.

The fee per event is £499 (approximately $785) and buyers must purchase a minimum of five event credits. More scanners are available for £399 ($625) each plus VAT, iPads for £335 ($525) each and a charging cradle for £79 ($125). Scanners can be rented for £50 ($80) per day, while event support is available for £750 ($1,175).

“We’re offering a nice hardware and system for an entry-level price. There are two audiences for our product – large corporations and event/marketing people, who are often left out when it comes to new innovation.”

TabTimes asked Ramachandra what ORM London plans to do in the future.

“Feedback is going to be a big thing, and a lot of companies are interested in taking private or open feedback during or after an event," said Ramachandra.

ORM London will also look to offer SalesForce support, allowing people to pull-up SalesForce reports, support name-tag printing and create a universal iOS device, as well as a HTML 5 app for Android, BlackBerry and PlayBook.

Ramachandra said that the firm is ‘holding back’ from Android at the moment, because it would have to specify the used device.

ORM London has working with a number of event organizers to date, and has experienced a lot of interest abroad and even from a school.