Many industry conferences offer a few operation sessions to attract a broader audience. However, the Ecommerce Operations Summit (April 3-5, 2018 in Columbus, OH) is the only conference focused exclusively on optimizing direct-to-customer and omnichannel operations and fulfillment.
Without a doubt, the content will be on target and help you grow and manage your business. However, we want to point out the tremendous benefits we and our clients have gained from attending the show in the past. Leading merchant companies often send a team of people to scour every aspect of the conference, take notes and report back to their management what was presented and how it could benefit their business. We’ve taken the same approach.
This is a unique conference that can add value to any ecommerce and omnichannel company.
Here are 6 specific benefits that go way beyond the content of presentations:
Orient Key Employees and New Managers
For years there has been a shortage of experienced managers and key personnel to manage our businesses. We and our clients have used Ecommerce Operations Summit 2018 as a way to bring new key personnel up to speed on ecommerce and omnichannel operations, including processes, systems and technology. There is no better way than this conference; no symposiums or schools can cover all that in three days.
Tours of Facilities
The ability to tour nearby fulfillment center operations of leading companies is a strong feature of Ecommerce Operations Summit. In the past we’ve found tour host companies to be very open in terms of sharing their processes, systems, operational standards and metrics. While your business may not be as large, our mid-market clients are always able to glean two or three gold nuggets that make the tours well worth the time. Tours have a limited capacity so act quickly to register.
Vendor Software and Technology
Many of the leading vendors of order management, enterprise systems, warehouse management, shipping systems, small package carriers, third-party fulfillment and consultant organizations are on display at the expo hall at Ecommerce Operations Summit. This is an excellent way to stay up to date on innovations, new product releases and technology and their benefits.
We have always found vendors to be a major knowledge resource. Away from the purpose of selling their product, we have found them to be helpful to our people getting an early orientation about the what systems are employed in the industry and the technology.
Ability to Ask Questions of Experts
Some conferences have too many attendees for you to ask questions of the presenters and the audience. We have always found attendees and presenters to be accessible and available to understand the finer points of their presentation and get clarification of something you’re thinking about doing in your business.
Develop New Industry Contacts
For 33 years we have found conferences to be a constant source of meeting new industry contacts and renewing relationships with prospects and clients. Whether you are an ecommerce merchant or a vendor, Ecommerce Operations Summit 2018 can work for you too. For key personnel new to your business, the conference gives them the opportunity to meet people that have industry knowledge – a potential resource for the future for your business to talk by phone or maybe have reciprocal visits.
Come to Our Breakout Session, Roundtable
This year at Ecommerce Operations Summit we’re leading a panel discussion, as well as a breakfast roundtable, both on Wednesday, April 4:
Breakfast Roundtable: What Are Your Direct-To-Customer Operations Metrics Showing You?
8 a.m.
We will exchange ideas about key operational metrics direct businesses should use, what they indicate, where the data comes from and how to use them to improve your business.
Panel: Translating Your Company’s Strategic Plan into Operational Objectives
3:30 p.m.
Come hear how three experienced managers translate their company’s sales plans to changes required in merchandise handling, process, facilities, systems and order volume.
Challenge yourself and your employees to create a plan that will maximize the benefits to your company. Take the time now to preview the conference and be sure to add it to your 2018 event calendar; you’ll be glad you did.
Brian Barry is president of F. Curtis Barry & Company