Thoughts about going to a software user conference.
Right now, Camelot is preparing for our sesquiennial Camelot User Conference, where our clients from all over will meet with us in Charlotte, NC to learn more about the current state and future of Excalibur. Before going any further, I have to admit that I did research the proper way to refer to an event that occurs every 18 months, and that term is sesquiennial.
While planning for our own conference, I’ve tried to consider how to bring the most value to our diverse crowd of users. The Camelot User Conference has always brought a unique cross-section of the logistics industry. We see different age groups, people just starting their careers, or those preparing for retirement. Some users have plenty of experience in the logistics industry, and others are just starting out. Companies attending could be primarily 3PL warehousing, others are freight brokers, maybe some 4PLs mixed in. We have clients that have been partners with us for 20 years returning for their 10th conference, and others who just signed up to use Excalibur. There will be representatives from many different US states and multiple countries.
When I think about how to provide interesting and engaging content that will hit the right spot with everyone, it can be overwhelming. Then I remember my experiences as a participant at a software conference and what I took away from it. I have had a unique opportunity while at Camelot to both host and present at conference events such as the Camelot User Conference, as well as attend conferences such as those hosted by Microsoft and the Dynamics NAV community.
When attending software conferences over the years, I can remember good ones and bad ones. There were sessions that blew my mind with innovative content and others that I zoned out because it didn’t apply to me. Now when I reflect back, I realize that the biggest take away was really immersion. Having time to step away from the daily work and get surrounded by this other community and this wealth of knowledge had a long-term effect. Even the classes that weren’t as immediately relevant to me stuck with me and maybe became useful years later, or maybe just gave me insight into another way to do something.
At this moment, I am preparing to make the most engaging, beautiful, informative, inspiring, and creative PowerPoint slides that ever existed in regard to software for the 3PL industry. That is no simple task, by the way. For those considering whether to attend the Camelot User Conference, I would encourage them to come to meet with us for the great presentations and knowledge sharing but also come for the immersion factor.