Attending supply chain events and conferences can be a game-changer for your career and your organization. Our team has attended countless supply chain events — covering everything from practitioner-focused conferences to analyst gatherings and vendor showcases. With this experience, we know that to get the most out of these events, it takes more than just showing up.
Many pre-conference guides provide a high-level overview of how to navigate that particular conference, often focused on their top speakers or (shhhh) the bigger sponsors. We're going to dive deeper to give you insider tips and tricks and actionable strategies to make the most of every opportunity.
1. Start Mapping Out What Conferences You Want to Attend, Well in Advance
The first step in making the most of supply chain events is selecting the right ones to attend. The supply chain industry hosts numerous conferences throughout the year, each with its own focus and audience. Some conferences are industry-specific, like NRF for retail or LogiPharma for pharmaceuticals. Others, such as Gartner’s Supply Chain Symposium or NASCES, target specific domains. There are also events like the ARC Industry Forum that offer a blend of research and technology showcases, and conferences that emphasize research findings, such as those hosted by IDC.
By planning which events to attend well in advance, you can avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure you choose conferences that align with your interests and goals.
Actionable Steps:
- Create a Calendar of Events: Create a calendar for the next 6-12 months, prioritizing conferences and events related to your industry or area of interest. With a clear view of upcoming events, you can identify potential scheduling conflicts ahead of time and set reminders for upcoming deadlines.
- Connect with Your Team: Events aren’t for one person, utilize the calendar to identify the stakeholders in your organization that can benefit from the education and peer insights available at these events. Larger conferences may warrant multiple attendees to capture all of the content available.
2. Get Clarity on What You Want to Accomplish
Before you step foot in the conference venue, have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. Are you there to learn about the latest trends about AI in supply chain? Maybe you're looking to connect with vendors for potential partnerships, or you want to benchmark your company's performance against industry standards.
Actionable Steps:
- Set Specific Goals: Define whether your focus is on learning, networking, exploring new technologies, or a combination.
- Create a Targeted Agenda: Once you know your objectives, map out the sessions and events that will help you meet them. Many conferences offer a detailed online agenda weeks in advance, so use this to your advantage.
- Sign Up Early: Some sessions, especially workshops and executive roundtables, have limited seating. By building your agenda and registering early, you ensure you won’t miss out on these valuable opportunities.
- Identify Keynote Speakers: Keynote sessions are often led by industry thought leaders who can provide insight into emerging trends and innovative practices.
3. Leverage Free Conference Resources
Conferences are not just about sessions and workshops; they often provide a wealth of free resources that can be invaluable for your business. These include white papers, industry reports, and benchmarking data that can offer insights into the latest industry trends.
Actionable Steps:
- Review Your Business Challenges: Identify areas where your company faces challenges and look for resources that address these issues.
- Book Vendor Meetings: Many technology vendors have deep industry knowledge and valuable use cases to share. Book one-on-one meetings in advance to get tailored advice and insights. (Advice: if you are not in the market for their solution but just want to talk, let them know. The nice ones will still be happy to talk and will focus on helping you.)
- Connect with Analysts: Industry analysts can provide a broader perspective on market trends and future directions. Make use of the opportunity to speak with them during the conference to gain insights that can inform your strategy.
- Participate in Benchmarking Programs: Some conferences offer industry benchmarking programs, allowing you to measure your company’s performance against industry standards. Take advantage of these to see where your business stands.
4. Don’t Make the Biggest Mistake: Lack of Follow-Up!
One of the most common mistakes conference-goers make is not following up after the event. Whether it's a session you found insightful or a conversation with a vendor or analyst, it's crucial to maintain those connections.
Actionable Steps:
- Reach Out on LinkedIn: After a session you enjoyed, connect with the speaker on LinkedIn. Send them a personalized message about what you learned and how it resonated with you. This personal touch goes a long way in building a professional relationship.
- Request Additional Resources: If you had a meaningful conversation with a vendor, follow up by asking for case studies or additional resources to help deepen your understanding of their solution and how it aligns with your specific needs.
- Create a Follow-Up Plan: Allocate time in your calendar post-conference to organize and act on the contacts and information you gathered.
5. Be Ready to Walk and Talk
Conferences are not just for sitting in sessions; they are dynamic environments where the world’s top supply chain leaders gather. Be prepared to move around, engage in conversations, and absorb as much as possible.
Actionable Steps:
- Wear Comfortable Clothing and Shoes: Conferences are often held in enormous spaces. You'll be on your feet for most of the day, so dress comfortably.
- Stay Hydrated: Bring a reusable water bottle. Keeping hydrated will help maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
- Prepare Icebreakers: If you’re new to networking, having a few questions or talking points ready can help break the ice. Simple questions like "how are you finding the conference so far?" or "what interesting sessions have you attended?" can spark valuable conversations.
6. Take Advantage of Informal Networking Opportunities
Some of the most insightful conversations happen outside of the formal sessions — during lunch breaks, coffee breaks, or in the hallways between sessions. These informal settings are great for making genuine connections.
Actionable Steps:
- Connect with Like-minded Peers: Embrace opportunities for meaningful conversations. You may have a chance to sit with new people during lunch or coffee breaks – use that time to engage in valuable discussions.
- Exchange Business Cards: It might seem old-fashioned, but business cards still have a place in today's digital world. Exchanging business cards can facilitate follow-up after the conference.
- LinkedIn: For those more digitally-minded, use LinkedIn’s QR code scanner to quickly connect with people. Whether it is a business card or LinkedIn, remember to follow up!
7. Share the Knowledge
Sharing in caring! Once you return from the conference, make an effort to share the valuable information you've learned with your team or colleagues. This can have an amplifying effect on the value of your attendance.
Actionable Steps:
- Create a Summary Email: Put together an email summarizing key insights and takeaways from the conference. Include links, presentations, or other resources that can benefit your team. Often, many conferences allow you to download sessions. Take advantage of this opportunity to share the knowledge you gained with those around you.
Bonus Tip: Meet With Us at Your Next Supply Chain Conference 😊
Thanks for reading! Attending supply chain events can be a highly rewarding experience if approached with the right strategy. By planning in advance, setting clear objectives, leveraging available resources, and following up afterward, you can maximize the benefits these events offer.
At John Galt Solutions, we attend numerous supply chain events throughout the year to stay at the forefront of industry trends and innovations, and connect with leaders like you. We believe in the power of these gatherings to foster learning, networking, and collaboration. Explore our event calendar and see where we'll be next!
We'd love to meet you in person, discuss the latest in supply chain planning, and explore how we can work together to tackle your unique challenges.
