Is Attending Sage Summit 2017 Worthwhile?

As I prepare to attend my seventh Sage Summit (yes, I said 7th), I’m being asked by customers and co-workers alike if it’s really worth attending. We all get invited to so many events, trade shows, and conferences, that realistically we can’t attend them all and have to do the Pro vs. Con debate – even if we don’t write it out.

So, here’s my debate list for Sage Summit:

PROS:
TAC LightbulbINTERACT WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO USE THE SAME SAGE PRODUCT AS YOU.

It’s an amazing place to find out tricks & tips from other daily users – let alone all the Sage experts in the trade show! Hearing what other users are taking advantage of often leads to new ways to improve your business or the ROI on your Sage Solution.

TAC Lightbulb GET TO KNOW YOUR SAGE PARTNER BETTER.

We spend a fair amount of time with our customers at Summit and building that relationship has definitely improved both of our businesses. I’ve lost count of the number of casual conversations where a client mentions a work annoyance that seems completely unrelated to their Sage Solution or comments “I wish I had a program that could do X for me”, only to have one of our Consultants respond with “Oh, that’s not hard, we can set that up for you next week”.

There’s only so much that can be reviewed in meetings, but two days at a conference opens up a lot of opportunities to delve deeper.

TAC LightbulbSEE WHAT’S COMING DOWN THE LINE.

You’ve created, or are thinking of creating, a partnership with Sage for the next few years minimum. Why not find out more about where this partnership is heading? Summit is often where new features or products are announced, letting you be the first to see & explore the upcoming technology for your industry.

TAC Lightbulb THAT LEADS TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS TO ATTEND – FEEDBACK.

You have the opportunity to talk freely in forum/workshop format with the developers & support team of your Sage solution. Are there things you really wish it did? Things you want added next version? Instead of mumbling them at your computer screen, this is your chance to really hash these out with Sage.

TAC LightbulbNEW IDEAS GALORE.

At this point, we all know how to do our jobs well, but can definitely use a shake up now & then. Every year, I come home from Sage Summit with minimum 20 new ideas to implement at work. The sessions aren’t all technical or product related. There are sessions on everything from accounting tips to marketing trends, and a large number of training classes that qualify for CPE credits.

CONS:
TAC Lightbulb LACK OF COFFEE AT THE MID-MORNING BREAK.

Yes, I’ll admit, this is my biggest pet peeve at Sage Summit. It’s out at breakfast & lunch, fine, but I’m a West Coaster – we’re all about coffee! Making me run to the café for that much-needed pick me up between morning sessions, especially after I may have been out a smidgen late at evening networking events, is unappreciated.

TAC Lightbulb toronto, AS AMAZING AS IT MAY BE, ISN’T EXACTLY CLOSE.

While Sage is finally bringing Summit up to us in Canada and there are a lot of clients in the GTA, there are also a lot of us spread across the country that know travelling to Toronto isn’t exactly a short hop.  As much as flying lets me catch up on my movie watching, I do understand that it’s not completely ideal.  If this is a big issue, don’t forget that Sage Sessions will be having one-day events in Calgary & Vancouver later in the year.  It’s definitely a much smaller event with less of a training focus, but a good option for those who can’t make it to Toronto.

TAC Lightbulb LOTS OF WORK TO COME HOME TO.

With everything going on at Summit, different sessions all day, a huge trade show, and evening events, it’s difficult to get my normal day-to-day work done. I tried the first year and failed miserably, so now I let everyone at work know that I’m off limits, put my “out of office” on, and plan ahead with a quiet week after Summit, so I have a chance to catch up.

I realize the Con list is fairly short and you may think that’s because I’m promoting the event. I actually tried quite hard to come up with some more Cons and am honest to goodness, unable to. Sage Summit is hands down, one of the best events for Sage customers and partners alike.

If you have any questions about the event, we would be happy to answer those as well, and help you decide if it’s worthwhile for you personally. If you decide to attend, check out our tips on how to survive Sage Summit 2017 and make sure to contact us to register – we have a special discount rate available!