Empowering connections : How an algorithm can contribute to meaningful meetingsbetween participants and exhibitors at professional events

This project explores the potential of a rule-based matchmaking algorithm in the context of networking at professional physical events, particularly trade shows. Despite significant technological improvements and readily available digital communication tools, physical events remain vital for interactions and networking in a professional setting. However, meaningful connections between participants and exhibitors can be limited by lack of direction and overwhelming event dynamics. The project were initiated by the Swedish event management company Trippus and was aimed at developing a matchmaking prototype in a professional event setting. The prototype developed helps participants find relevant exhibitors by matching them based on the following parameters: job area, job title, interests, and event goals. The prototype follows a rule-based matchmaking logic that establishes clarity for users. All parameters contribute to a weighted scoring system, where scores between 0 and 1 are calculated based on predefined categories. These scores are then combined into a general "match" score, which is shown, giving users the opportunity to clearly see why they matched. The prototype is implemented as a web application using Vue.js for the frontend, Express.js for the backend API, and Python scripts to implement the backend logic. The frontend provides an easily understandable and intuitive user interface aimed at minimizing input errors. The backend includes handling JSON-formatted data, managing user interactions, and generating the matchmaking results. User testing confirmed the prototypes effectiveness, with participants indicating satisfaction with both the usability of the interface and the relevance of matches. Considerations such as transparency, algorithmic bias and secure data handling were addressed. Future improvements could include perfecting the algorithm parameters, exploring some form of artificial intelligence integration, and extending the prototypes relevance to settings beyond trade shows. In general, the developed prototype demonstrates significant potential to improve the professional networking scene and enhance the overall experience at these event.