I go to a lot of tech conferences a year. Some would argue too many. As a result, I go to a lot of keynote speeches in a drab convention centre or hotel ballroom. As an analyst, we usually get front row seating. We appreciate this, but we then get close to the train wreck that increasingly hitting the vendor keynotes.
Google Next 17 – Ran about an hour late and almost all presenters had to use an Autocue they were that passionate about the topic
IBM Interconnect – Three customers, average age of the firms, 119 years, Bank – Check, Telco – Check, Tax Agent – Hold my seat, I am so excited.
AWS Summit Australia – Five White Middle Aged Men, and not enough respect for the audience to even localise a local weather application to Sydney, we just got Seattle and Fahrenheit
Any Product Firm – CEO’s going straight to the product and miss the outcome and client benefit, using a demo that inevitably fails.
Oracle Open World – Mark Hurd – “Why does everyone look bored.” I will let you decide that one.
Keynotes must improve. This is the vendor’s time in the sun. Why they continue to not learn from their previous mistakes is beyond me. They need to know the audience, respect the audience and leave the audience wanting more. No-one does it anymore, but the vendor that does crack it will benefit and engage the audience. Use it or lose it.
If you require further information, please contact Phil Hassey, CEO of capioIT. capioIT is an advisory firm focused on helping organisations to understand emerging technology as the world becomes Digital. Phil may be contacted easily in the digital and real world.
phil@capioit.com
+61422231793