Not Another Virtual "Event"

It already feels like a lifetime ago, but in February, I returned from a site visit in Florida for our annual SAP Global Partner Summit, one of the marquee events my team manages, scheduled to take place on May 11 in Orlando.

Then suddenly everything changed. As the pandemic took hold, plans were paused as we absorbed the magnitude of the situation. It was evident that an in-person event would not be possible…the question became, what happens now?

Understanding the need to help our partners and customers maintain critical business continuity, the obvious choice was to pivot SAP Global Partner Summit to a virtual event. Thankfully transitioning to digital platforms isn’t something that’s new to us.

In 2019, my team executed Innovate LIVE by SAP. Live-streamed across multiple platforms, this “event” showcased how SAP and partner innovations support the growth aspirations of small and mid-sized organizations. It included interviews and presentations with SAP partners, customers, and business guru Gary Vaynerchuk.  With a worldwide audience of over 200,000 views – we achieved a number unfathomable by in-person standards and far eclipsed our own expectations.

This experience opened my eyes to the possibilities of broadening our horizons. I knew this had become less of an ‘event’, and more of a digital marketing campaign.

Today I am pleased to tell you about SAP Global Partner Summit Online. Designed for our partner ecosystem, the platform is filled with relevant content to inform, educate, and inspire partners to move business forward in our ever-changing and challenging world.

Is SAP Global Partner Summit Online an event? Yes, in the sense that you register for it and there is a date when it debuts. But the value of this format gets extended way past the June 3 premier. If you didn’t catch it already, access it now. If you missed something, go back and watch it on your own schedule. Consume the content on your terms, wherever you choose, whenever you’re ready.

Centered on the theme “Partnering on the Road to Recovery,” we provide practical advice and resources are partners need to navigate the unsettled business climate of COVID-19. Our CEO, Christian Klein shares insights on today’s most pressing business issues, while top executives unveil updates and partner-specific opportunities as part of our vision, strategy, and Next-Generation Partnering movement.

Guest speaker Nataly Kogan, CEO of Happier provides guidance on leadership and improving emotional health with science-backed skills and practices. Chief Economist, Simon Baptist of the Economist Intelligence Unit offers a prediction of where the global economy is headed, timelines for recovery, and what this means for partners and their customers.

The four breakout tracks: Partner Innovation, Partner Economics, Partner Experience, and Products and Solutions include content with 36 information and enablement sessions, containing detailed materials and training resources, helping explain why customer success and the intelligent enterprise is more important than ever.

Will we miss the networking and face-to-face meetings of an in-person event? Of course. But as we look to keep everyone safe, manage fiscal responsibility, and reach broad audiences, we must find ways to adapt.

Are your teams considering a virtual event? If so, I encourage you to consider seeing this through a different lens. View this not as another event, but as an opportunity for a long-lasting digital campaign or series of virtual activities that enable you to engage a far-reaching audience.

Learn more about partnering with SAP and the SAP PartnerEdge program.