Overview

AI Matchmaking in Zoho Backstage helps participants discover relevant connections based on their profile information and networking preferences. Once Networking and Matchmaking are enabled for the event, participants can view recommended connections and interact with them from the Networking page.

Before you begin

1. AI must be enabled for the portal before AI Matchmaking can be configured. You can enable AI from Portal Settings > AI Console.
   
2. After AI is enabled, you can configure AI Matchmaking under Configure AI Features to set its default state for new events. Changes made here apply only to events created afterward and do not affect existing events. The setting can be customized for individual events from their AI Console.
   
3. Networking must also be enabled for the event from Manage > Engagement > Networking before Matchmaking can be configured.
   

Changes made in the portal-level AI Console determine the default AI configuration for new events and do not affect existing events.

How AI Matchmaking Works

AI Matchmaking uses participant profile information, interests, and other configured information to identify relevant connections within the event.

Interests indicate the topics participants are interested in and can help improve matchmaking recommendations. At least five interests must be selected when configuring interests for the event.

Matchmaking works within the access rules configured for Networking. This means the participants who can access networking and appear within its features depend on the Networking Access and profile visibility settings configured for the event.

A participant’s profile information is used for AI Matchmaking only after they make their profile public for networking. Zoho Backstage does not access or use profile information from participants whose profiles are private.

Enabling Matchmaking for an Event

1. Open the required event.
   
2. Navigate to Manage > Engagement > Networking from the Dock.
3. Enable Networking if it is not already enabled.
4. Under Networking Features, enable Matchmaking.
5. Configure the matchmaking rules based on the participant information you want to use for recommendations.
6. Republish the event website to make the changes available to participants.

Enabling Networking also gives you access to other networking features, including the Attendee Directory, Messaging, and Meeting scheduling. These features can be enabled independently based on the networking experience you want to provide.  

Configuring Interests for Matchmaking

Interests can be used to help participants discover people with similar preferences and improve the relevance of matchmaking recommendations.  To configure the interests available for your event:

1. Navigate to Manage > Engagement > Interests from the Dock.
2. Click Add Interests.
3. Enter an interest in the New Interest field and click Add.
4. Continue adding interests relevant to your event.
5. Select at least five interests that participants can choose from.
6. Click Save.
7. Republish the event website to apply the changes.

You can return to the Interests page and select Edit Interests if you need to modify the configured interests later.  

Use interests that represent meaningful reasons for participants to connect. For example, a technology event could include interests such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Product Management, and Developer Tools.

Controlling Who Can Use Matchmaking

Matchmaking follows the access configured for Networking. You can make networking available to everyone eligible for the event or restrict it to specific participant groups. To configure access:

1. Navigate to Manage > Engagement > Networking from the Dock.
2. Locate the Networking Access section.
3. Click Manage.
4. Choose the participants who should have access to networking.
5. Save your changes.
6. Republish the event website, if required.

Networking can be made available broadly or restricted to participant groups such as attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors.  

This configuration applies to the networking experience as a whole and determines who can participate in the networking features available for the event.

Managing Profile Visibility and Consent

You can choose how participants provide consent to make their profiles available for networking. Consent can be collected through profile settings, during onboarding, or through the registration form. To configure consent collection:

1. Navigate to Manage > Engagement > Networking > Preferences tab from the Dock.
2. Enable Consent Collection.
3. Under Consent Collection Methods, select where participants can manage their networking consent:
   
   • Profile Settings
   • User Onboarding
   • Registration Form
4. If you select Registration Form, customize the consent request message shown to participants. You can enter up to 255 characters.
5. Click Save after updating the consent message.

By default, participants can manage their privacy preferences through the enabled consent collection methods. If all consent collection methods are disabled, participant profiles will be publicly visible in networking features and directories, and participants will not be able to modify their consent choices.

A participant’s profile information is used for AI Matchmaking only after they make their profile public for networking. Zoho Backstage does not access or use profile information from participants whose profiles are private.

Participant Experience

When Matchmaking is available, participants can use the Networking page to discover recommended connections rather than relying entirely on manually browsing participant profiles.

The recommendations are generated from the information available for matchmaking, such as participant profile information and configured interests. Participants can then open a recommended profile and use the networking options available for the event to interact with that person.

The rest of the experience depends on the Networking features you have enabled. For example, enabling Messaging allows participants to chat with one another, while enabling Meeting allows them to schedule meetings. Messaging also requires the Discussions page to be enabled on the event website.  

Disabling AI Matchmaking

You can disable Matchmaking for an individual event without disabling Networking entirely. Navigate to Manage > Engagement > Networking and turn off Matchmaking under Networking Features. Other enabled networking features can continue to be available.

You can also disable AI Matchmaking for an individual event from its AI Console when you no longer want AI-powered matchmaking to be available for that event.

Disabling AI at the portal level changes the default AI configuration for new events. Existing events and their AI feature configurations are not affected.

If you have any questions, please contact support@zohobackstage.com