We’re Back: A Review of UConnect Live Conference

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the UConnect Live conference put on by GS1 in Orlando. My colleagues and I weren’t really sure what to expect from this year’s show, and I think we all walked away feeling our expectations were exceeded. It was great to see some familiar faces, people we have done business with over the last 16 years, as well as meet professionals from companies we haven’t worked with before. We thought the activity in the exhibit hall was the highest it’s been in years and it was great to hear about some of the challenges and success stories. At one point, on Wednesday evening, we had a line of folks at our booth waiting to speak with us, share their observations and discuss industry trends. Companies from all industries were in attendance; however, the food/beverage and grocery industries stood out. We spoke with several people whose businesses are evaluating ways to improve Supply Chain processes with EDI, some were looking at implementing new ERP systems, and others were in need of full time staff or contract resources to supplement their projects. We also spoke with small suppliers looking to grow their business while increasing their ability to process EDI transactions. Another hot topic was EDI compliance and the types of solutions and strategies being discussed to ensure those needs are met. I would say it was highly educational for us and also encouraging to see how our services aligned with many organizations’ goals and objectives. Suffice to say, EDI is far from dead, as pundits predicated several years ago.

We have already signed up for next year’s event in “the desert” and look forward to seeing you there. Viva Las Vegas!