Zoho Backstage 4.0 lets event planners run more from a phone

Zoho has released Backstage 4.0, a big update to its event management software, timed to Event Organizers Day on October 23. The headline changes: planners can run more tasks from a phone, build an attendee app without writing code, and exhibitors can keep scanning leads even when the venue connection drops.

What changed on mobile

A feature called Organizer 360 puts core planning tasks on a phone. Zoho lists ticket classes, promo and access codes, speakers, offline check-in and badging. The company says it wants all organizer tools on mobile eventually and plans to add more modules in future updates.

Planners can also build and publish a full mobile app for attendees with no coding. They pick a look, add branding, and choose from ready-made parts such as agenda, speakers, floor map, chat, notifications and feedback. Zoho says critical fixes can reach users without the usual App Store update process, which helps when something breaks close to an event.

Tools for exhibitors and floor plans

Offline Lead Scanning lets exhibitors keep collecting leads when internet is weak or gone. A new Exhibitor View inside the attendee app lets them manage booth details, booth members and files, scan and export leads, and see lead analytics from a phone.

For the exhibition floor itself, Zoho added several tools:

• Import and export of AutoCAD-style DXF floor plans, including multi-floor layouts
• A 3D Floor Planner for placing booths and showing layouts to exhibitors
• Lock/Freeze Mode to stop accidental changes to an approved layout
• Booth pricing by area or a flat price per booth

An interactive floor plan can also be embedded on the event website, so visitors can search exhibitors before they arrive. Exhibitor Pro now supports video and marketing material at the booth level.

The AI additions

An AI Event Chatbot answers attendee questions about schedules and sessions through the event website, which should cut repeat questions for staff. Design Assist uses AI to give organizers a head start on badges, certificates and event content, while they keep control of the final result.

The most notable addition is a Backstage MCP server. In plain terms, it is a connection that lets AI apps such as Claude and ChatGPT work with Backstage data. Organizers can ask about registration progress, create a VIP ticket class, register an attendee or send an RSVP invite. Zoho says it supports 133 read and write actions. An AI Console lets administrators control which AI features are on.

What is not known yet

The material does not say what Backstage 4.0 costs, which plans include these features, or how fast they will reach every customer. It also does not explain how the AI connection handles permissions beyond the settings in the AI Console. Anyone considering it should check those details with Zoho.