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Re: The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

Thanks for the update, @Diana_Levey . I will miss the "old" Discovery events. But there are lots of things I have liked about the events we have done in that last 12 months. This definitely feels like the right decision.

Re: The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

That's a great quote from Ronald Andrews, but will anyone have a similar quote about a virtual conference format? I personally have never been to a virtual conference that I felt was as valuable as in person.

Re: The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

Hey - So are y'all seeing this as a long-term decision or a decision for the next 12-18 months and then we'll see?  I personally can't think of a single thing I liked better about virtual Discovery than in-person. I have very distinct positive memories of every in-person Discovery I have attended.  I have completely forgotten the virtual ones.  Virtual Meet the Developers retained maybe 5% of the value of in-person (and still needs a re-think for virtual). Many of my most worthwhile conversations at Discovery have been at mealtime. I hope we'll work toward returning to in-person events, with added virtual components, once the pandemic is fully behind us.

Thanks!

Eric

Re: The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

I love seeing the passion in the above comments and questions. No argument about how wonderful in-person exchanges can be at Discovery Summits.

That is exactly why we will host in-person "Discovery Summit Special Segments" when and where there is user interest and it's safe to gather. Those events will facilitate the kinds of exchanges you obviously are missing right now.  

Later this year, employees will have an opportunity to gather with users at Special Segments in Shanghai and in Cary. That's because we deem those gatherings to be safe, and we expect that there are enough users wanting to meet with us to justify the cost.

Next year, ideally, we will host five Special Segments to supplement the online Discovery Summits. 

The real change here moving forward is that the default Discovery Summit event will be online so that users and prospects who can't travel can still participate. Instead of looking at this as if we're losing something, it could be seen as gaining opportunities to engage with users we've been missing by just having in-person Discoveries. 

Re: The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

Instead of looking at this as if we're losing something...

The point is that we are losing something. Pretending that we're not just makes us look out of touch and in denial. It's fine if we think that the various benefits of virtual conferences outweigh that loss, but it would be better to address that directly than act like virtual conferences will "incorporate the elements that have always made Discoveries special" when for many (if not most) of JMP customers and staff the number one element that made Discoveries special was face-to-face, in-person interactions.

The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

It takes a division to create a Discovery Summit. That’s why everyone in the division should be aware of how this series is evolving to meet our needs -- and those of our customers.

Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve had to make some quick changes to this flagship event series. In the process, we’ve seen just how many more JMP users and data explorers we can reach online than in person. (It’s in the thousands.) And so we’ve decided that, in the spirit of democratizing data exploration best practices, Discovery Summits will remain online.

 

Each online event will incorporate the elements that have always made Discoveries special: high-level keynotes, user-presented papers and posters, networking sessions, and opportunities to talk with our technical experts – asking questions and making suggestions too. We’ve figured out how to do all of that in a virtual environment where borders and time zones are less of a factor, and travel budgets don’t factor in at all.

This is the plan moving forward: Discovery Summits are online.

That said, in some regions we will also host an in-person Discovery Summit Special Segment to accompany the online event – either a couple of weeks before or after. We’ll do this when and where demand is high and risk of gathering is low.

The first Special Segment will be held in Shanghai on June 24, where VIP users from across the province will gather for one-day of curated content including case studies from Unisoc, Lenovo, CATL, Baosteel, Shougang Qiangang, AT&S China, STMicroelectronics Shenzhen, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, Zai Lab, Hua Medicine, Abbott China, Kostal, Suez Water. The online Discovery Summit China will take place in July, catering to users across China who could not have traveled to meet in person.

Discovery Summit Americas will be online Oct. 5, 6 and 7 this year, featuring conversation-starting keynotes, simu-live papers, poster presentations, Ask the Experts sessions and networking opportunities. And, like China, the Americas region will have an in-person Special Segment for JMP users who are able to travel to Cary. We are positioning it this way: This portion is for dedicated JMP users who absolutely must have a conversation with John Sall, for statistical thinkers who need the focus of an immersive environment, and for the kinesthetic learners who need to be hands-on in a real-life Beta lab. This one-day, in-person event will be held at SAS World Headquarters on Oct. 21. (This is one day only because we have no idea if US people are ready for an in-person event.) 

 

Discovery Summit Korea and Discovery Summit Japan will take place in November and will be completely online.

 

Next year, however, we anticipate holding Special Segments to supplement all five of our online Discovery Summits. Some of these will be multi-day events, and all will have a feel of Discoveries of the past.

If you'd like to read more about the series and where we are, this page has goals and components and other explanations: https://community.jmp.com/t5/Discovery-Planning-Library/Discovery-Summit-Series-Goals-and-Plans-as-of-10MAY2021/ta-p/383718

So much has changed! Here is a Q-and-A that might help.

What should you tell US-based customers?

Tell them to block their calendars now for Oct. 5, 6 and 7 from noon to 5:30 ET so that they can participate in Discovery Summit Americas online – at no charge. We’ve learned that online events work best when participants can focus, so we really are serious about blocking calendars. And watch www.jmp.com/discovery-americas for event details.

What should you tell customers who are close to Cary? How about users who really, really want to gather with us?

Tell them that we’ll have a small gathering in Cary on Oct. 21 -- a Discovery Special Segment. We are working out details for that in-person event now. (There will be a charge for the event, but we will have free passes for VIPs; sales will have access to passes.) Details to come.

What should you tell Shanghai-based customers?

Tell them to register now for the June 24 event that will focus on artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, intelligent manufacturing, data-driven innovation, new applications of cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough development trends in clinical trials. JMP users in Shanghai can register now:  www.jmp.com/discovery-china

What should you tell customers in China who are not located in Shanghai?

Tell them that the presentations and discussions they love about Discovery Summit will happen online for them in July. Details will be made available soon.

Would anybody want to attend a Discovery Summit online and also a Special Segment?

Absolutely! Content between online and in-person events will be complimentary, and presentations will be tailored to work best in the appropriate format. So a user could find value in either event – or both events!

What role will R&D play in the events?

We want users to have opportunities to give product feedback whether they are online or onsite, and whether they are in the Americas, Europe or Asia. That means we may be asking R&D staff to be online for Discovery Summit China, Americas, Korea, Japan and Europe. In the future, we may ask some R&D staff to travel to support in-person Discovery Summit Special Segments. Of course, interpreters will be available when appropriate for online and onsite events.

Who manages which aspect of the events?

Great question!

• Holly Connor’s global events team is responsible for budgets, format, schedules, production, logistics, giveaways, food, fun, and communications from promotions to follow-up.
• Jeff Perkinson’s global customer care team handles Steering Committees, papers and posters, and pre- and post-conference training opportunities.
• Dan Valente’s product management team handles Ask the Expert sessions and product feedback opportunities like the Beta lab.
• Anne Milley manages the keynote selection process as well as handling other VIP speakers and guests.
• Regional marketers work with the above teams on ALL of those aspects, ensuring that the event is tailored for the region’s languages, cultures, business practices, customer preferences and more. These teams' engagement and experience is absolutely necessary for success.

Will having online Discovery Summits and Special Segments be twice as much work for the team?

You bet! But we sure do love a challenge!

Is this plan perfect? Can it be tweaked in the future?

Nope! Yes. We're doing the best we can to make decisions that make sense for the business, for our customers and for our staff.  

What else do you want to know?

Post questions below, please, so everyone can benefit from the additional questions and answers.

 

Online events democratize data exploration best practices

Customer CareEventsFeature StoryMarketingProduct ManagementSalesRe: The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

DOE practitioners know all about tradeoffs. Yes, in person meetings are wonderful and irreplaceable. But they are not without cost: financial expense, opportunity cost, environmental impacts from travel-related emissions.

There have been a few silver linings from this terrible pandemic: one of them, I think, is the opportunity to fully consider the costs and benefits of our normal business practices. I applaud our management for hitting the reset button. Thinking about Discovery and other in-person events is healthy and necessary. We don't have to make all-or-nothing decisions. But let's take this chance to imagine a new future. 

Re: The Evolving Discovery Summit Series

JMP Discovery has always been a favorite among customers and JMP employees.  It gives us that unique and rare time to bond with customers in a way that no virtual world allows.  While thousands registered for Virtual Discovery,  few actually attended.  I will miss this one time per year, where so many amazing people gathered in pretty incredible locations to share ideas and then go back to their offices and buy JMP.