Have I told you lately how busy July is for us?
Chris Nesbitt, left, and Dylan Fulk ask the important questions about HR at Innovation Zone.
We had an amazing time at Cultivate’14 last week in Columbus, Ohio. There was definitely more traffic than last year, which isn’t just a good sign for the exhibitors, but it’s a good indicator for the horticulture industry as well.
We were honored to be joined by Jim McCormack of Sage, who lent his expertise in the Innovation Zone, where we discussed how technology can help automate human resources. This is a huge issue in the horticulture industry (immigration, Affordable Care Act, OSHA, etc.), and we’re doing our best to keep this conversation going.
Also, Grechen Pruett from Green Mountain Systems was on hand to announce Grower Vertical for Sage ERP’s integration with DemandLink, which provides simple and robust forecasting, replenishment and business intelligence tools to the live goods industry. This seemingly simple tool is already providing a huge benefit to large-scale greenhouses, and we’re looking forward to teaming with them.
But as soon as Cultivate’14 ended, my attention started to focus on Sage Summit, which starts this weekend at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It’s not a very good sign that I was already up half the night last night in anticipation. (That’s not completely out of the norm … I get like a little kid at Christmas when I’m going on a trip.)
We have 35 customers and 8 of us from Practical Software Solutions attending Sage Summit. I just sent them out some last-minute reminders and details, and I thought I’d share a few here:
- No app this year: There’s not going to be a Sage Summit 2014 app for smartphones and tablets this year. However, all of the information that was on the app is now accessible through the mobile-friendly Sage Summit website. Log in with your registration credentials to gain access.
- Social stations: Instead of there being a central Social Lounge, there will be many lounge areas, according to Danielle Cote, vice president of event marketing at Sage. “We have several recharge lounges – which will allow people to sit/meet while recharging devices,” she said. “And various other meet/seat areas sprinkled throughout the show floor.”
- No first-timer session: You may have been looking for the Sage Summit first-timer session in the catalog, whether to sign up or to point someone in that direction. Danielle said there wouldn’t be one this year. “The event is so entirely new, I really wanted to experience the first year so I could develop a new course for 2015 and beyond,” she said. (That’s a very intriguing statement for everyone, not just first-timers.)
- It’ll be a scorcher: Temperatures are expected to be above 100F/38C all week. If you’re just going to attend Summit and you’re staying in Mandalay Bay or the Luxor, the only time you’ll be outside is traveling to and from the resort. If you’re planning on doing any sightseeing during your trip, please make sure you dress accordingly and stay hydrated.
- Watch the keynotes online: This is more for people who aren’t attending Sage Summit (but is also useful if you’re needing to eat a late breakfast after a night of *ahem* networking). Sage will offer live streaming of the daily keynote speeches from Tuesday through Thursday. Click here to learn more about how to watch.
- Join the conversation: Twitter is a really great place to find out some of the buzz going on during Sage Summit. And it’s not just Sage people saying how great Sage is. Following #SageSummit can lead you some interesting sessions (or let you follow ones you can’t attend), find the vendors you’re looking for on the trade show floor, and learn about contests while you’re there. And if you’re not into social media, don’t be afraid to start up a conversation with a stranger (at least one who’s wearing an event badge). You may make a few friends, like I did last year.
That’s it for now. I’m sure there are other pro tips, so if anyone else would like to leave a few in the comments section, please feel free. Until then, safe travels everyone heading to Sage Summit!