Play the Game at #SAPTechEd 2013 Las Vegas

(Edited: Apologies for any broken links leading to this blog. I’ve made a minor modification to the blog title.)

I’ve been fortunate to attend over 10 SAP TechEd conferences in my lifetime. In Las Vegas this year, I sensed something different (although not new) – a sentiment of fun, a spirit of community, and a feeling of casualness.

SAP TechEd is an opportunity to get educated about SAP and partner solutions. However, anyone who has attended school knows that “play” is an important component of learning. When we play, we trigger something deep inside that uninhibits our competitiveness, and at the same time, our creativity. Some have also said that embedding games into learning improves knowledge retention (How many of you learned your ABCs with a song? 😉 ). Evidence of fun and play were everywhere in Las Vegas this year, from the gamified mobile event app to our SAP Mentors band performing at the evening Networking Reception. How appropriate since the theme of this year’s SAP TechEd is “Get in the Game!” 😆 What a great message too! Beyond the social and gaming meaning, it’s also a clear encouragement for us all to participate – whether at TechEd, SCN or where ever we find ourselves.

Rather than share a video like last year (SAP TechEd 2012 in Shanghai – Look Inside), I hope the comic-strip style image gives you a glimpse into the social and fun aspect of this conference. Afterall, SAP TechEd to me is an opportunity for build and strengthen relationships with fellow SCN members! 🙂

Whether you’ve attended before, or plan to attend in the near future, what does SAP TechEd mean to you?

(Click on image below to enlarge.)