Why User Groups Are An 'Invaluable Experience'
Hundreds of EFI users gathered for last year's EFI Connect users conference.
With the EFI Connect user conference starting next Tuesday in Las Vegas, this is a good time to examine the value of user conferences, particularly for Web-to-Print and MIS users.
“Attending the Avanti user conference has helped my company tremendously,” praises Scott Williams, CEO of Taylor Printing Group. “Between meeting all the other users, the educational sessions and round table discussions, the information flowed freely and continued even after the conference. Combined with having access to Avanti experts in one place to answer questions, I consider the conference a must-attend event.”
One of the key benefits attendees cite is learning new tips and techniques for getting the most out of their software. Often, attendees find out about features they didn't know they had.
"I have found the users group conference to be an invaluable experience, and I would highly recommend it to any level of Avanti user," raves Karen Meyers, business manager at Michigan Farm Bureau Centralized Print and Mail Services, and a frequent attendee of the Avanti User Conference. "I always return to the office with different ideas or methods to implement in the system, and some of them have been significant time savers."
"At these events you get to meet actual users of systems or equipment you are implementing or even exploring for future investments," says Jimmy Vainstein, senior project manager at The World Bank Group, who is heading to EFI Connect next week. "The latter proved to be an excellent way of gathering useful information when we were exploring our investment in EFI’s Pace MIS. The conference allowed us to gather real feedback straight from the source."
User conferences are a mixture of educational sessions and peer roundtables, where other users reveal ways they are using the software to be more efficient and maximize ROI. Being able to talk one-on-one with software company experts is invaluable. This is what will happen at the Avanti User Conference, which will take place May 23-26 at the Grand Hyatt in Denver. It will feature concurrent tracks for both Avanti Classic and Avanti Slingshot customers. Avanti experts will be on hand to answer questions and reveal hidden gems, tips and tricks.
"The networking with Avanti staff and other users is always a highlight of the conference," affirms Meyers.
“Avanti and the user group executive committee remain focused on delivering relevant, educational content that helps our community eliminate breakpoints, maximize ROI and achieve peak performance,” says Patrick Bolan, president and CEO of Avanti. “The conference is also a fantastic opportunity for our customers to help set the future direction for Avanti's software development.”
- Companies:
- Avanti Computer Systems
- EFI
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
