Feels like the first time: Tips for First Timers at #SAPPHIRENOW #ASUG2018 @SAPPHIRENOW
With over 500+ ASUG sessions and several more on the SAPPHIRENOW show floor, it can be a little intimidating for a first timer at 2018 ASUG Annual Conference (co-located with SAPPHIRENOW)
What should you do? Where should you go? For me, I always make time for the ASUG sessions, as ASUG offers customer-driven content.
First time to 2018 ASUG Annual Conference SAPPHIRE NOW – what do I need to know? Or perhaps you haven’t attended the conference for several years…on today, which is exactly 20 years from the day I first attended ASUG Annual Conference 1998 in Toronto, I thought I would share some suggestions.
Start planning your agenda now.
Waiting to go onsite at the Orange County Convention Center can be scary, so plan your day ahead of time. Have back up sessions in case your first choice session is full.
I recommend starting to plan your week now. Search the session catalog keyword or filter by technology, session type, or technical level to find sessions.
Wear comfortable shoes
I know one year, Danny Pancratz, ASUG Education Director, shared that he had walked over 17K steps and it was still early afternoon! It is a long convention center.
Wear a sweater
Yes, I know, Orlando in June will be super-hot, super humid outside. But inside the convention center it is really cold, so pack an extra sweater.
Reusable Water Container
This tip came years ago from fellow ASUG volunteer/SAP Mentor Jim Spath. SAP doesn’t offer bottled water, so the water will be in containers at various stops on the show floor and outside ASUG sessions.
Write a post-trip report
After each session, write down a few things you learned and want to follow up on afterwards
Complete the survey immediately after attending the session
Speakers depend on your feedback to improve and value you feedback.
So I haven’t registered….
SAP has a convince your boss letter to download today
Explain that you will be a more valuable asset to your organization by attending SAP’s largest user conference.
Consider a June 4th ASUG Pre-conference session
Time is running out on a few sessions. I am most familiar with this one:
Hands-On Data Visualization and Dashboards with the Designer Edition of SAP Lumira and SAP Analytics Cloud, in Orlando on Monday, June 4th:
- Kick off the week with Hands-On Data Visualization and Dashboards with the Designer Edition of SAP Lumira and SAP Analytics.
- Get a comprehensive overview of SAP Analytics Cloud and Lumira Designer
- Learn How to integrate the designer edition of SAP Lumira and SAP Cloud Analytics into an existing SAP software landscape
- How to use the designer edition of SAP Lumira and SAP Analytics Cloud to create compelling visual stories on premise and in the cloud
- Detailed, hands-on exercises with SAP Lumira, designer edition
- Detailed, hands-on exercises with SAP Analytics Cloud
Spaces are filling up so register soon.
Power…where is it?
Sometimes it is hard to find power; I recommend packing a portable power strip
Social Media
Follow hashtags #ASUG2018 #SAPPHIRENOW; you can also follow @ASUG365 and @SAPPHIRENOW
Read past attendee blogs
Here are a few of my own:
And one by the great Jelena Perfiljeva
My promotional video:
See you there? What tips did I miss? You can also attend this ASUG Conference preview webcast on May 16 Deep Dive Preview of ASUG BI/Analytics/BusinessObjects Sessions at ASUG Annual Conference
See part 2 here
From my experience, I'd add: book the hotel as early as possible and don't rely on the shuttle bus being there on time or at all. There are not as many hotel rooms available around the convention center in Orlando as in Vegas and any hotels within walking distance are booked very fast.
The shuttle buses have limited space and can be very slow. Also if your hotel is one of the last stops there might not even be any space left on the bus. Hotels can usually arrange for car service and you could look for some carpool buddies to share the ride with.
Most importantly, smile and try to have fun! 🙂
Excellent - thank you for commenting, Jelena
Thanks for sharing Tammy, it reminds me it might make sense for me to order a SAP Mentors sweater in terms of preparing. As well as packing my battery pack and I was thinking about getting a SIM card also to ensure I have mobile access throughout the conference, outside, at the Hilton, in case I run out of the WIFI range somehow.
I was looking for a blog post by John Appleby but I couldn't find it back where he was discussing about travelling items such as a silencing headphone, suitcase etc. I remember it was an interesting read but unfortunately, I cannot find it back.
Was it this one, Tom?
How to travel like a pro – 10 tips for frequent flyers
Yep, that's the one 🙂
Excellent tips Tammy! Thanks for sharing! So we've even had ASUG Annual Conference in Toronto, eh?! Wow that would be a nice location in the future!
As for tips, I would add that while you're at SAPPHIRE, try something different! It means getting out of your comfort zone, but that's usually where the interesting things happen! Imagine the stories you can tell and blogs you can write after! Here are some examples:
So, this tip and examples are for attendees who don't already do these things (my bias for extroversion). If you already do, great! And remember to rescue the wallflowers!
Jason, Unfortunately I can not be at SAPPHIRE this year but I absolutely loved your suggestions here.
Contrary to you, I've a strong bias to introversion and I can see how your tips can help me going outside my comfort zone with minimal pain.
Thank you for sharing,
Regards,
Douglas
Hi Douglas, I won't be at SAPPHIRE this year as well, but I hope others will benefit from Tammy's and others' tips.
I tried to make my points specific to SAPPHIRE. I can also see how many of the tips shared above can be applicable to preparing ourselves for attending other events and conferences as well. Hope to see and meet you at an upcoming SAP event, and see you in action. (That's a subtle offer to keep you accountable). 😉
Regards,
Jason