As of my last update in October 2023, here's a comprehensive overview of Oxford Abstracts and Vivenio, focusing on their primary functions, target markets, market presence, and differentiating factors:

Oxford Abstracts

a) Primary Functions and Target Market

• Primary Functions: Oxford Abstracts is primarily known for its abstract and conference management solutions. It facilitates the easy submission, review, and management of conference abstracts. The platform also supports the organization of conference schedules and can handle registrations.
• Target Market: It primarily targets academic institutions, professional associations, and organizations that host conferences, seminars, and academic events. Its users typically include conference organizers, academic researchers, and professionals in the scientific community.

b) Market Share and User Base

• Market Share: Oxford Abstracts is a well-regarded player within its niche, particularly within the academic and scientific research communities. Its market share, relative to other specialized conference software, is modest but significant in its sector.
• User Base: The user base consists of academia, research institutions, and professional societies that require specialized tools for managing scientific conferences and the associated abstract submissions.

c) Key Differentiating Factors

• Specialization: It offers a specialized focus on academic and research-oriented events, providing features tailored to managing the abstract submission and review process with a high degree of customization.
• User-Focused: The platform is designed to cater to the specific needs of researchers and academics, facilitating peer reviews and detailed reporting.

Vivenio

a) Primary Functions and Target Market

• Primary Functions: Vivenio is an event management platform that offers a wider range of functionalities beyond conference abstracts. It provides tools for event registration, ticketing, attendee management, and engagement features.
• Target Market: Vivenio targets a broader market that includes corporate clients, event planners, marketing agencies, and businesses of various sizes that conduct conferences, tradeshows, workshops, and corporate events.

b) Market Share and User Base

• Market Share: Within the general event management software market, Vivenio has a competitive presence. Its broad functionality appeals to a wider audience compared to niche products.
• User Base: Its user base is diverse and includes corporate entities, event management companies, and non-profits. The platform serves industries ranging from entertainment to corporate to educational events.

c) Key Differentiating Factors

• Versatility: Vivenio's advantage lies in its broad application across various types of events. It supports a wide array of functionalities that cater to different aspects of event management.
• Scalability and Integration: It offers robust integration capabilities with other platforms and systems, making it suitable for larger organizations with complex event needs.

Comparison

• Specialization vs. Versatility: Oxford Abstracts specializes in abstract and academic conference management, while Vivenio provides a versatile and broader suite of event management tools.
• Target Audience: Oxford Abstracts is more niche, appealing to the academic and research sectors, whereas Vivenio targets a broader range of industries.
• Functionality: Oxford Abstracts focuses on the abstract submission process, while Vivenio provides comprehensive event management solutions.

Conclusion

Both Oxford Abstracts and Vivenio offer valuable tools for their respective audiences. The choice between them would largely depend on the specific needs of the event organizers: specialized academic conferences would benefit more from Oxford Abstracts, while events requiring broader functionalities might find Vivenio better suited.

Oxford Abstracts and vivenio are both platforms that cater to specific needs in the realm of event management and academic submissions. While they serve slightly different markets, there are overlapping features and distinct differences. Here's a breakdown of their feature similarities and differences:

a) Common Core Features

1. Event Management:

   • Both platforms facilitate event management, allowing users to create, organize, and manage events efficiently.

2. Registration Management:

   • They provide tools to manage participant registrations, track attendance, and handle payment processing if applicable.

3. Abstract and Submission Handling (Oxford Abstracts focus):

   • The core function of Oxford Abstracts, but vivenio also offers types of submission management for events which might include call for papers or proposals.

4. Customizable Forms:

   • Both offer customizable forms for registrations or submissions, allowing for tailored data collection as per the event's needs.

5. Communications Tools:

   • Integrated tools for sending notifications, reminders, and updates to participants and organizers.

6. Data Reporting and Analytics:

   • Comprehensive reporting features to analyze different metrics pertinent to events or submission processes.

b) User Interfaces Comparison

1. Oxford Abstracts:

   • Typically features a more academic and submission-focused interface, designed primarily for ease of use in handling abstracts and paper submissions. Its user interface is intuitive for academic conference organizers and participants, focusing heavily on submission tracking and review processes.

2. Vivenio:

   • Vivenio is centered around broad event management which includes UI elements tailored for a variety of event types, such as corporate events, seminars, and exhibitions. Its interface often emphasizes flexibility and customization to cater to diverse event workflows beyond academic conferences.

c) Unique Features

1. Oxford Abstracts:

   • Peer Review System: Specifically geared towards academic rigor, Oxford Abstracts provides advanced features for peer review and scoring of submissions.
   • Program Building: Allows creation of detailed academic programs, including session types, formats, and tracks that are suited for conferences with multiple parallel sessions.

2. Vivenio:

   • Widget-Based Customization: Offers extensive widget integration for even more customizable event webpages and interactions.
   • Interactivity Features: May include options for live polling, Q&A sessions, and interactive tools to engage participants during events.
   • Exhibitor and Sponsor Management: Tools specifically designed for managing exhibitors, sponsors, and their interactions with attendees, emphasizing revenue generation and partnership engagements.

In summary, while both Oxford Abstracts and vivenio share a set of core event management features, they each offer unique functionalities that cater to their specialized markets. Oxford Abstracts has a strong academic focus, particularly in handling submissions and peer reviews, while vivenio offers broader event management solutions with enhanced interactivity and customization options suited for various industries.

Oxford Abstracts

a) Best Fit Use Cases for Oxford Abstracts:

1. Academic and Research Conferences:

   • Universities and Academic Institutions: Oxford Abstracts is a premier choice for universities, colleges, and research organizations that host academic conferences, symposiums, or seminars. It facilitates the submission, review, and management of abstracts, making it ideal for scholarly events.
   • Scientific and Research Associations: Organizations involved in scientific research often require robust tools for managing large volumes of paper submissions and peer reviews.

2. Medical and Healthcare Conferences:

   • Medical Associations and Hospitals: With the need to handle numerous abstract submissions efficiently, especially for large-scale medical conferences, Oxford Abstracts can streamline the process.

3. Professional Associations:

   • Industry Conferences and Workshops: Used by various professional associations to organize industry-specific conferences that involve abstract submissions, such as engineering, psychology, or social sciences.

d) Industry Verticals and Company Sizes for Oxford Abstracts:

• Industry Verticals: Primarily caters to academic, scientific, medical, and professional sectors.
• Company Sizes: Suitable for medium to large organizations with frequent needs for conference management, including universities, large research bodies, and professional associations.

Vivenio

b) Best Fit Use Cases for Vivenio:

1. Corporate Events:

   • Large Enterprises: Vivenio is well-suited for large-scale corporate events, annual general meetings, and trade shows where participant engagement and comprehensive event management are crucial.

2. Exhibitions and Trade Shows:

   • Event Organizers and Trade Associations: Ideal for managing large exhibitions or trade shows due to its capabilities in handling registrations, ticketing, and attendee engagement.

3. Government and Public Sector Events:

   • Public Sector Organizations: Useful for governmental bodies organizing public debates, forums, and conferences with potentially high attendee numbers.

d) Industry Verticals and Company Sizes for Vivenio:

• Industry Verticals: Vivenio serves various sectors, including corporate, governmental, trade, and large public events.
• Company Sizes: More suitable for medium to large companies or organizations, including multinational corporations, public sector agencies, and professional event management firms.

Summary

• Oxford Abstracts specializes in handling academic and research-focused events with robust abstract and paper management capabilities, catering primarily to the educational, scientific, and medical sectors of varying sizes.

• Vivenio excels in broader event management, suitable for corporate, public, and trade events, offering features like registration and attendee interaction, thereby serving larger corporate entities and public sectors.

These platforms cater to different needs based on event type, industry focus, and organizational size, allowing users to choose based on specific event management requirements.

To determine which product offers the best overall value between Oxford Abstracts and Vivenio, a comprehensive analysis of their features, usability, pricing, and customer support needs to be conducted. Here’s a conclusion and final verdict based on general factors relevant to such platforms:

a) Best Overall Value:

Oxford Abstracts generally provides the best overall value for academic and research-focused conferences. It is well-suited for organizations or events that prioritize robust abstract management with features tailored to academic conferences.

Vivenio might offer better value for corporate events or those requiring more dynamic event management solutions beyond abstract handling.

b) Pros and Cons:

Oxford Abstracts:

• Pros:
  • Designed specifically for academic conferences, with strong abstract management and peer review features.
  • User-friendly interface tailored towards researchers and academic staff.
  • Offers tools for managing submissions, reviews, and presentations effectively.
• Cons:
  • May lack some of the broader event management features needed for non-academic events, such as ticketing or broader attendee engagement tools.
  • Integration with other event management systems may be limited.

Vivenio:

• Pros:
  • Comprehensive event management platform with capabilities for registration, ticketing, and attendee engagement.
  • More flexibility for corporate or mixed-type events that require dynamic scheduling and broader event management functionalities.
• Cons:
  • May not offer the depth of features specific to abstract management needed for academic conferences.
  • Could be overwhelming for users looking specifically for a streamlined abstract submission process.

c) Specific Recommendations:

1. Identify Event Needs: Users should first clearly identify the specific needs of their event. If the primary need is managing abstracts and papers for an academic conference, Oxford Abstracts is likely the better choice. However, if the event requires broader management tools, Vivenio might be more suitable.

2. Trial Both Platforms: If possible, trial both platforms to get a hands-on understanding of their interfaces and available features. This can provide practical insight into which software better supports your workflow.

3. Consider Integration and Support: Check if either platform offers integration with other tools you're using and assess their customer support responsiveness, as this can play a crucial role in ongoing event success.

4. Look into Long-term Needs: If your organization regularly hosts a variety of event types, investing in a platform like Vivenio that offers scalability across different event formats might be more efficient long-term.

Ultimately, the decision between Oxford Abstracts and Vivenio should be driven by the specific type of event, the depth of specialized features required, and the anticipated future needs of the organization.