Automation and integrations were worth their weight in gold

From student initiative to ecosystem for leaders

Oslo Business Forum began as a voluntary initiative at BI Norwegian Business School. Two students with a burning desire to do more for their fellow students created what has become one of Norway's most respected leadership conferences.

"That spirit of community and the burning drive to build something together — it has been a common thread running through these halls from the very beginning."

Thea Grønbeck, Project Manager at Oslo Business Forum

Ten years later, the company operates across three business areas and has grown into a full ecosystem for leaders — combining community, tools, expertise, and international conferences.

"It's about being seen"

For Thea, the work starts long before conference day. As project manager, her job is to ensure smooth processes — both for the delegates in the room and for the team working behind the scenes.

"The delegate experience is probably what we work hardest on throughout the entire year. It starts with the very first contact. It's incredibly important to us that people feel seen and heard — that they matter."

The team has mapped every single touchpoint from first contact to the moment a delegate walks out the door after the conference. The goal: everyone should feel they belong, that they are part of a community, and that they are welcome back.

"One of the most beautiful things we see is how personal it feels to arrive at our conference. You get a badge with your name on it, you are welcomed — and that sets the standard for the rest of the experience."

Looking for a single end-to-end partner

With thousands of delegates and hundreds of student volunteers, complexity grew quickly. Oslo Business Forum needed a partner who could cover the entire chain — from registration and invoicing to communication and check-in.

"We were looking for a single partner who could help us ensure safe and controlled attendee management — with the right communication system and a solid invoicing setup. And it's incredibly reassuring to know there's always someone in your corner working towards the same goal."

Close support from Checkin became especially important during the most intense periods.

"That's absolutely critical for getting through the toughest pressure — the final days before the conference itself."

Integrations make the difference

When asked what delivers the most day-to-day value, Thea doesn't hesitate.

"The part of Checkin that probably gives us the greatest value is how straightforward the integration options are. I don't know what we'd do without the integrations we have with our CRM systems and other services."

Data flowing seamlessly between systems means fewer manual errors and more reliable processes — before, during, and after the event.

"The fact that Checkin is so compatible with all the other key systems we use every day is by far the most valuable thing for us."

From handwritten lists to QR codes in seconds

The time savings have been significant. Thea remembers clearly what it was like before.

"It wasn't many years ago that we were standing there writing delegate lists by hand — for hundreds, up to several thousand attendees. Now we scan a QR code and check-in is done."

The impact goes beyond practical time savings.

"It's about eliminating queues, eliminating frustration — and setting the standard for the first impression we want to create. It has streamlined many processes that used to be slow and manual."

Ambitions that demand the right partners

Oslo Business Forum is aiming high. With a target of reaching NOK 500 million by 2030, they are now stepping into new business areas — and that demands more from everyone: the team, the partners, and the suppliers.

"When we scale, we need good partners around us who grow at the same pace, who are equally ambitious, and who can see where we're headed. The choice of a single end-to-end partner is absolutely critical to how you grow — and whether that success lasts."

The fact that Checkin is an end-to-end partner that can deliver across so many areas creates enormous confidence — before, during, and after every event.