Stream > Case Studies > Hopin Enhances Virtual Event Experience with Stream Chat Integration

Hopin Enhances Virtual Event Experience with Stream Chat Integration

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Event-Driven Application
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Virtual Private Cloud

Applicable Industries

Equipment & Machinery
Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Time Sensitive Networking

Services

System Integration

About The Customer

Founded in 2019, Hopin aims to make the world feel closer by enabling brands and communities to create engaging, live experiences. Through its platform, attendees can learn, interact, and connect with people from anywhere in the world. Hopin allows anyone to create live virtual, hybrid, and in-person events that are highly interactive and immersive. During the pandemic lockdowns, Hopin became an essential solution for connection. In the long term, Hopin has helped to forever change how people communicate and connect with event organizers across marketing, sales, internal communications, and more as they plan to continue creating virtual and hybrid experiences as an integral part of their strategy.

The Challenge

Hopin, a leading shared experiences platform, was faced with the challenge of enhancing its Virtual Venue’s chat solution to ensure reliable scalability and speed. The company was experiencing a surge in demand for larger events, and it was crucial to provide a reliable and bug-free messaging system for attendees. The in-house chat solution needed to perform optimally as the company grew rapidly. Hopin’s engineering team decided that integrating a third-party in-app chat solution was the best way to meet these demands. The company was looking for a tech partner, not just a provider, to help guide the integration process and provide ongoing support.

The Solution

After evaluating several third-party chat providers, Hopin chose Stream for its reliable infrastructure and ability to support millions of concurrent connections without latency. Hopin integrated Stream’s React Chat SDK into its platform using a custom UI, a process that took about six months. The company worked closely with Stream to troubleshoot integration issues, add new functionality, and resolve problems immediately. Stream’s co-founder and CTO, Tommaso Barbugli, was even available for calls and support important elements of the partnership. Hopin also leveraged Stream’s robust messaging features that drive virtual event attendee engagement, such as emojis, likes, Giphys, and direct messages.

Operational Impact

The integration of Stream Chat into Hopin’s platform has resulted in a higher-performing chat with improved user engagement and satisfaction metrics. The non-text features such as emojis, reactions, at-mentions, and especially Giphys have increased user engagement in a virtual event environment. The speed and performance of Stream Chat contribute to an exceptional user experience, allowing attendees to focus on networking and event content. With Stream’s support, Hopin continues to innovate to achieve its goal of helping attendees “Feel Closer” during virtual and hybrid events. As hybrid events become the norm, Hopin is well-positioned to meet the demands of both in-person and online attendees.

Quantitative Benefit

Integration of Stream Chat into Hopin’s platform took roughly six months
Stream's API supports millions of concurrent connections without latency
Hopin is beginning to see more returning users, indicating increased customer retention