# What is lead retrieval?

Lead retrieval is how exhibitors capture visitor details at a trade show or conference, for example by scanning badges with an app the organiser supplies. The scan passes the visitor's registration details, such as name, company, role and email, to the exhibitor.

## What a scan captures, and what it misses

A badge scan records who stopped at the stand, not why, what they asked or what your team promised. Add a note at the moment of the scan, because the export holds little else. Corridor conversations stay outside the scanner.

## An example

At the agritech demo day, the Mavuno Agritech team scans each visitor's badge, and the export lists names and companies. A visitor who wants a pilot on three farms is only in the record if someone typed it while Amani Wekesa was talking.

## In Marrow

Marrow files a photo of an event badge like a business card, so someone you meet away from the stand is captured too. Marrow is in Beta.

## Related

- [Digital business card](/glossary/digital-business-card)
- [Follow up](/glossary/follow-up)
- [How to follow up after a conference](/guides/follow-up-after-a-conference)

Last updated 10 October 2026. Canonical: https://usemarrow.com/glossary/lead-retrieval