7 Things You Need To Know About This Year’s Connect Customer Conference

We are so excited for this year’s ECI Connect Customer Conference which will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center from 11-13 November 2024. We have been planning for nearly two years to uplevel the event to make it more of a “can’t-miss” conference.

Here is what we have planned to make this year better than ever:

There is no better way to kick off this year’s Connect Customer Conference than with a keynote from one of the top-rated speakers in the world: Jesse Itzler! He is an Emmy-award-winning artist, New York Times bestselling author, part owner of the Atlanta Hawks, ultramarathon runner, and exceptional husband, father, and businessman. He has mastered the art of success by taking an unconventional approach. Jesse’s keynote talk will inspire and excite us all.

The past few years have amplified how critical it is to stay on top of industry trends and discussions to give your business a competitive advantage. Previously, our conference sessions have relied heavily on software training and the sharing of best practices. While these are still valuable and prominent topics, this year we are bringing more discussions about trends and evolving hot topics into the spotlight.

Presented as industry expert panel discussions, customer-led discussions, roundtables, and industry expert talks, these sessions are sure to spark interest in everyone from the day-to-day software user to the executives. Additionally, many are designed to provide takeaway action items that customers can apply as soon as they return to the office.

Throughout the three days, there are countless opportunities for you to connect, learn from, and strategise with your industry peers. Whether it is during an interactive breakout session, while grabbing a quick bite between classes, or at our evening events, you are sure to find a connection that will make the trip well worth it.

Not sure where to start? Here are some networking tips to get you ready for the Customer Conference:

• Schedule meetings ahead of time - If there are specific ECI team members, partners, or customers that you want to connect with, reach out to them ahead of the event to schedule a time to meet up.
• Use #ECIConnect hashtag – Be sure to use the #ECIConnect hashtag on social media to connect faster with other attendees before, during, and after the event.
• Ask open-ended questions - Consider asking these open-ended questions to get the most out of your conversation: How are you using your software to tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges? What software features are making the biggest impact on your business? What industry trends are you taking most advantage of right now and how are you applying them? What sessions are you most looking forward to at the conference?
• Follow up quickly – As soon as you make the connection or right after the Connect Conference, be sure to send your new contact an email or connect with them on LinkedIn to stay in touch.

You never know what you will uncover during these conversations. Over the years, we have seen new partnerships made, unique strategies uncovered, and great friendships created during the Connect Customer Conference.

If this is going to be your first Connect Customer Conference, past attendees will urge you to schedule time in the Tech Lab. It is a unique opportunity to sit down in person with ECI’s product experts to strategise and improve your day-to-day use of the software.

The show’s expo hall will be open all three days of the event and is designed to be more than a place to discover new products and solutions – it's also a hub of valuable insights and networking opportunities. Here, you can connect with ECI experts, partners, and customers to gain the knowledge and insights that can help you optimise your investment and stay ahead of the competition.

BONUS: Our expo vendors always come with awesome swag and giveaways so save some luggage space for your return home!

We understand that every penny counts when it comes to running a business, so we wanted to pass along some savings so you can get more value out of your software investment. This year, we are offering two great ways for you to save up to $400 USD per attendee registration for the conference:

• Early Bird promotion – Plan early and save big. Through 31 July 2024, you can save $250 USD for individual conference registrations or more if you are bringing a larger group (details below).
• Group discount – Interested in bringing three or more people on your team to the event? Make sure you register everyone together to take advantage of our group discount where you can save at least $150 USD per person or $400 USD per person if you secure your spots before July 31st.

The best part is that there are no coupon codes or extra steps to take to activate these great deals. So, save your seat now!

This year marks our 25th year as a company and what better year for it to happen than one when we have our Connect Customer Conference?! We can't wait to celebrate in person with the amazing customers who helped us reach this incredible milestone. As a Connect attendee, you are invited to join us at the Glass Cactus on Tuesday night (12 November 2024) to raise a glass for the next 25 years together.

Before we know it, November will be here, and we are excited for you to join us for our 2024 ECI Connect Customer Conference.