Seoul’s Coex convention and exhibition venue has launched an e-commerce service to facilitate contact-less business transactions for its exhibitors during the time of Covid-19 considerations.
The service, offered through a partnership with online commerce platform, Grip Company, is expected to commence from 2H2020. Once activated, consumers will be able to purchase products from exhibitors participating in shows held at Coex without having to visit the event in person.
“This service will allow consumers to purchase products and services of export companies through mobile apps in real-time,” shared Lee Dong-won, president of Coex.
He added that the online service will help to reduce face-to-face contact during business transactions, and will benefit small- and medium-size companies looking to expand their distribution channels and boost domestic demand.
Although Coex is investing in moving transactions online, the venue has not neglected face-to-face events. It held its first physical exhibition in three months since the outbreak of Covid-19, an event specialising in gardening and landscaping on June 3.
Coex also played host to the Seoul International Dental Exhibition & Scientific Congress (SIDEX) from June 5 to 7, where some 7,800 dentists were pre-registered for the event. It is regarded as the largest dental festival of the year. To encourage participation, event organisers dangled a lottery with prizes to be won by participants.
Although concerns were raised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Dental Association pushed ahead with the event but with strict quarantine measures in place. This included the installation of thermal imaging cameras, the compulsory use of KF94 masks by attendees, as well as the disinfection of exhibition spaces.
Lee indicated that SIDEX’s push ahead will “help boost lacklustre sales from 1H2020”, and urged associations to work together with Coex to create a successful event instead of choosing to cancel their meetings.
