Informative Seminar Programme
Running alongside the main exhibition, there is an informal, but informative, seminar programme, with a key focus on audience participation, where visitors will be able to hear about opportunities in the ICT sector and how to exploit them. Listen to what the experts have to say on a range of topics, from convergence and diversification to marketing and corporate finance, and share your own experiences and observations with your peers.
The Speakers for each Seminar will be published shortly.
10am – 10.30 – Opening Keynote
Top Technology Trends and What They Mean for You – For our opening keynote, two leading analysts provide an overview of how the print, IT and communications markets have changed over the last 18 months and outline some of the key developments we are likely to see over the next three to five years.
10.45 – 11.15 – Panel discussion
Business as Usual for the Buyer? – A panel discussion on the impact of the last 18 months on end user customers. How have end user needs changed, in terms of their technology choices, procurement preferences and relationships with suppliers, and how should the ICT channel respond?
11.30 – 12.00 – Panel discussion
Making a Success of Diversification – Technology convergence, the changing requirements of customers and competitive pressures have made diversification possible and desirable, but what is the best approach – acquisition, partnership, expansion of in-house capabilities? Learn from the experiences of resellers/MSPs that have expanded their core offering with telephony, print, AV and more. What has worked for them and what hasn’t?
12.15 – 12.45 – Panel discussion
Marketing – Time for a New Approach – Technology choices and buying habits have changed radically in recent years, and marketing has struggled to keep up. Find out why the old ways of doing things are no longer fit for purpose and what vendors and their channel partners should be doing to promote themselves better.
13.00 – 13.30 – Sponsor’s keynote
A focus on security – Technology Live keynote from main sponsor Fortinet.
13.45 – 14.15 – Panel discussion
Cyber Security – A step too far? – How should the channel respond to the escalating cyber threat and the desire of customers to rationalise their supplier relationships? One option is to make the transition from MSP to MSSP, but how easy is that to accomplish, what are the pitfalls and are there better alternatives?
14.30 – 15.00 – Q&A
Corporate Finance – A Seller’s Market – Now is a great time to sell your business, but what should you do to maximise the sale price? We find out why investors are pouring into the ICT sector, what they are looking for and how to prepare your company for a sale.
15.15 – 15.45 – Panel discussion
Sustainability: Don’t be a Greenwasher – COP26, taking place in Glasgow in the first two weeks of November, is likely to give a big boost to governmental and corporate sustainability initiatives and accelerate your customers’ activities in this area. How is this likely to impact the ICT industry, what should you be doing to improve your green credentials and what are the pitfalls to avoid?
16.00 – 16.30 – Panel discussion
Preparing for the Future: Tomorrow’s Technologies Today – Our experts pick some of the technologies set to shape how we work and do business in the future, from full fibre and 5G to AI and machine learning.
