UFAQ
Unfrequently Asked Questions.
That's what this section is all about.
We want to answer the less obvious - or more difficult - questions that you really want to know the answers to.
So ask the questions - and you'll find the answers here.
Q: Why Has Softworld Moved From The NEC To Olympia?
A: Softworld has first and foremost moved from Birmingham to London (rather than from venue to venue), and the reason is that 3 out of 4 visitors came from London and the South East. We also know that many more are more likely to visit a London show.
And what's true for visitors is also true for journalists. Is it better for you?
Having decided to move to London, Olympia was the best venue, not least because of its transport connections, its size and facilities.
We're sure exhibitors, visitors and journalists will find it a more rewarding experience.
Q: Why Are You Going To Have More Regional Shows?
A: Same answer - but different.
While most exhibitors and visitors are based in the South East, there are still many who are not, so rather than expecting them to travel to us, we decided to go to them.
It's all part of being more customer focused, and honing what we offer to meet the market's needs.
In the course of the next few years, Softworld will be held in several parts of the country - and will return every few years.
The North West and Scotland are currently top of the list.
Q: Is Softworld Suffering From The Effects Of The Recession?
A: We've found that recessions are often good for exhibitions - and especially for exhibitions that offer real practical solutions for their visitors.
During recessions, directors and managers have to deliver more for less, so any show that can - in a one day visit - deliver on that expectation will succeed.
But we've also pre-empted recessionary pressures by reducing the costs of exhibiting - and adopted a much more down-to-earth, customer focused approach. Smaller stands, more shell scheme stands, and encouraging a more arrive-and-exhibit attitude.
The focus is on presenting products and talking face-to-face to past, present and prospective customers - and much less about brand image and flashy hospitality.
Q: Surely Very Few Companies Are Investing In New Systems In These Hard Times - So Does Softworld Really Have A Role?
A: Absolutely. Because few companies are investing in new systems, the show is focused on how companies can achieve better value - more productivity - out of existing systems - and up-grading rather than starting again.
Software and systems are so powerful these days that they can achieve much more than is actually asked of them.
Online working, for example, is one way of reducing costs: 1 in 2 companies (49%) are planning to introduce more e-business enabled functionality – from procurement and e-recruitment to invoice handling and e-payments - and 9 in 10 companies already have systems that would enable online working – they are just not using them, or not using them to their full capability.
Softworld is a live solutions focused environment - from exhibitors' stands through case study presentations of what other companies have actually achieved to master class presentations from people who know now what is likely to happen tomorrow.
In fact, Softworld is more relevant and valuable than ever.
Q: Softworld Seems To Be Jumping On The Green Bandwagon Like Everyone Else...?
A: If that was true it would be pointless. But our approach is entirely a practical one.
Some companies are required to "go green" - and we can help them best achieve that at lowest cost and with most productivity gains.
Some companies would simply be better off - their bottom line would be better off - if they adopted green practices.
Other companies are missing out on increasingly significant chunks of new business by not being "green".
So, it's not about the "green agenda". It's about green solutions that make better business sense.
That's why we call it the Green Business Solutions Conference. It will do what it says on the tin.
Ask A Question
Mandatory fields marked with an asterisk*
