As part of the team that creates Ariba LIVE for procurement, finance and sales/marketing executives each year, I am keenly aware of the hours upon hours of preparation it takes to make Ariba LIVE the industry leading event that it has become. Creating world-class conferences is really an exercise in managing a million details. So, when people ask me why we spend so much time and money on developing and delivering Ariba LIVE I always step back and reflect on what I have observed throughout the course of those very special two and half days each year.
First, Ariba LIVE is truly a conference for the people, by the people. The team at Ariba sets the stage for that peer-to-peer learning and networking and then gets out of the way. Whether it is the keynotes written and delivered by practitioners telling their candid stories of transformation including their triumphs and tragedies or the myriad break-out sessions that address topics that are top of mind to attendees and delivered by a combination of third party experts and customers – this conference is based on peer-to-peer interaction. Check out the link below to see Dr. Marcell Vollmer, Chief Procurement Officer and SVP at SAP, discussing SAP’s own internal transformation journey to the cloud from last year’s Ariba LIVE.
And, that sharing of experiences, best practices and future aspirations comes in the formal sessions mentioned above, but also in the informal dialog that occurs each day at breakfast, lunch as well as networking receptions. I’ve witnessed one practitioner sharing how he attacked a specific “difficult” category, giving another both the motivation and tips to take it on within her own company. I’ve moderated fascinating debates about how to take procurement to the next level, both in terms of delivering more value to key stakeholders as well as positioning the group more strategically in the eyes of executive management. And, best of all, I’ve seen the exchange of business cards (yes, the old fashioned way) of people who want to follow up and continue the dialog with their peers well beyond the two and a half days of Ariba LIVE.
Last, for those that do want to understand the technology roadmap and how to use Ariba as not just a solution to increase efficiency and reduce costs but also as a platform for innovation within their companies, there are Ariba led sessions and executive 1:1 meetings that provide that guidance.
The truth is, after the delicious food is gone, the beautiful stage is broken down and the sessions move from live interaction to recorded Slide Share presentations, the community continues to interact. At the end of the day, that is the power of Ariba LIVE.
Become part of that active community today – register now for Ariba LIVE 2014!
Use discount code SMR50 to save on your registration.
