Compare · vs organizer lead retrieval

The organizer's scanner records a badge.
It does not record what was said.

Lead retrieval from the show organizer costs $350 to $735 per device per show, works only at that show, and delivers a CSV days later without a single note. Here is what you get instead.

Prices from organizer exhibitor order forms, 2026. Every claim on this page is dated and sourced. We compare a situation, not a company.

How it usually goes

Two weeks, four handoffs, zero context.

Organizer lead retrieval

Weeks before Order scanners on the exhibitor portal. $350 to $735 each. Pick them up at the service desk.

Day 0 Scan badges. Type a note on a rented device if there is time. There is no time.

Day 3 Return the scanners or pay the late fee.

Day 10 to 14 The CSV arrives by email. Name, company, badge category. No notes, no priority.

Day 20 Someone imports it into the CRM. Half the leads are already cold.

Trade Show Companion

Weeks before Nothing to order. Add the booth team to the workspace.

Day 0 Scan any badge with your own phone. Speak a voice note. Structured lead with needs, value, next step, priority.

Day 0 Live company research attached. Duplicate check against existing customers.

Day 1 Prioritized follow-up list on every rep's desk.

Day 30 Quote, order and revenue in the same record.

Side by side

What the rental gives you, what we give you.

Organizer scanner Trade Show Companion

Cost per show, 2 devices $700 to $1,470 included

Works at every show, any badge

Captures the conversation, not just the badge

Voice note to structured lead

Hot, warm, cold with reason

Live company research

Lead available to the team days later, CSV immediately

Follow-up cockpit

Quotes, orders, revenue

Hardware to return

Scanner prices: exhibitor order forms of US association shows, 2026, $350 to $735 per device per show. CSV delivery times: typical organizer terms, varies by show.

The honest part

Where the organizer scanner still wins.

Badge data completeness

Some organizers encode more fields than the badge shows. If you need their full registration record, order the scanner as well. The conversation still lives here.

No phone policy

A few booths run without personal phones. A rented device solves that; we do not.

You only do one show a year

Then a $500 rental may be the cheaper line item. The trial still covers that one show for free.

Run your next show without the rental.

28 days, up to 20 people, no credit card. Any badge, no rental required. Keep the scanner order form in the drawer.

Book a demo Start free trial