Value of TechEd

[Former Member]

Just wondering what others views are on the value of TechEd? This would be my first TechEd & would have to pay for it myself, im thinking of TechEd Munich. Just trying to understand if it is value for money and what others views were after attending previous TechEd's?

Thanks

Phillip

[marilyn_pratt]

Good question, Phillip and it would be helpful if you qualify your question with whether you are looking for feedback from a customer perspective, exhibitor perspective, independant consultant perspective, partner perspective or even SAP perspective.

For example: <a href="http://www.sapteched.com/usa/partners/home.htm">Exhibitors and Partners</a> have information on the SAPTechEd website.

From an internal employee perspective, I can say that during my 8 years engaged in SAP Education, attending TechEd was always a priority and goal in order to get the most comprehensive and practical look at emerging and current technology in practice. As an SAP instructor, I wanted to be certain that I had "hands-on" exposure to tools, applications and technology that my customers were either using or planning to use. The workshops, hands-on and education sessions were a consolidated way of ramping up my own knowledge, even as an employee!

Now that I am working with the collaboration team of SDN and BPX I can say that TechEd has expanded for me personally into an important networking event. The clubhouse and community day are ultimate destinations to "exchange" notes, hear real feedback, foster important connections be they company to company, industry to industry, or community to community.

The only downside...time management and creating a personal agenda that encompasses all the sessions and activities that are of interest.

It would be important that each of the folks answering your question also qualifies if their perspective is one of community, customer, partner, employee or combinations of those perspectives.

[Former Member]

I attended Tech Ed Las Vegas last year and am attending again this year. Attending these kinds of things, I think depends a little on your interests/needs as Marilyn mentions. From a business value perspective, if you can come away from a conference like this with one good idea or problem resolution, that almost certainly makes it worth while.

Tech Ed provides a mix of session topics, for the most part, I think that SAP presentations tended to focus on the newest stuff, with SAP customers presenting the "how we use it" sessions, which is not too terribly surprising.

If you work with SAP full time, you almost certainly come away with enough to make it worth while. However if you are attending TechEd with the goal to learn about one specific thing, then these conferences, like all conferences, runs the risk of not meeting your expectations. Some sessions will be great, most good, a few fair, and perhaps a stinker or two. While at Tech Ed you can always post inquiries or requests to meet with someone that might have experience in an area you are looking for more info and can meet up with them.

I thought Tech Ed was well organized compared to other similar events I have attended. I found the Hands-On sessions to be very good and a good chance to see the current/newest technology, especially if you come from a shop that is not quite cutting edge.

[former_member188975]

Hi Pizzaman,

Not sure if you read my post in the BI forums (about the TechEd and Community Day, just created it this morning)... A lot of folks from the BI forum do not go around to other forums...I thought that your reply here is really good and so added the link to my thread.

Regards,

Bhanu