| You just received an invite from your software | | | | user meeting takes people away from their busy day |
| company for the "Annual Client Software User | | | | to day activities, and allows for thought and |
| Meeting". Which of the following will you do? | | | | discussion amongst people who have a common goal. |
| - Jump for joy and immediately begin making | | | | Though no one really has time for these meetings, it |
| arrangements to attend! You have been waiting for | | | | is an investment that the client and the software |
| this great opportunity all year long and the | | | | firm will make. It has been proven that clients that |
| excitement generated can hardly be contained! | | | | take advantage of the opportunity, always do better |
| - Put the invitation aside. If you have nothing better | | | | with the software. |
| to do you may go, or you may send someone else | | | | Your typical client user meeting will offer a blend of a |
| from your company that might benefit. | | | | few of the following components: |
| - Toss it into the "circular file" without opening it. | | | | 1. new product introduction |
| "Those things are a complete waste of time". What | | | | 2. existing product enhancements |
| could you possibly gain by attending? You throw it | | | | 3. education on how to use current products |
| out every year. There are many different | | | | 4. speakers offering insight on general business issues |
| perspectives when it comes to a client software user | | | | such as marketing, industry topics of interest, and |
| meeting. Some viewpoints are based upon favorable | | | | management/financial |
| or non-favorable experiences at past meetings. | | | | 5. roundtable discussions among users |
| Others are opinions based upon how "the individual | | | | 6. workshops |
| thinks the meeting will be". Last, you have a group | | | | 7. food and good company. "Hobnobbing" with other |
| that doesn't think there is any value in going to a | | | | folk who use the same software can be extremely |
| "software meeting" because they are not "technical | | | | valuable. Information sharing, networking and building |
| people". | | | | relationships with others users can offer great insight |
| Why do people go to these meetings anyway? What | | | | and improve the way you work with the software. |
| is the profile of these "user meeting attendees"? Are | | | | A software user meeting allows you to work with |
| they a "technical bunch" that enjoys talking about | | | | the software firm at a different level. You're giving |
| "software stuff"? Who really can benefit from a | | | | advice and in a sense becoming part of the |
| software client user meeting? | | | | development team. This allows you to protect your |
| To find out answers to all of the above, it's best to | | | | investment by getting more of what you need and |
| attend the next software client user meeting that | | | | want. Your industry changes and you have to explain |
| you are invited to. Each software firm runs its own | | | | to the software firm what you want so that they |
| meeting and has its own style and focus for a user | | | | can give it to you in the form of new products and |
| meeting. The common thread is that all software | | | | enhancements. |
| firms run these meetings in order to educate the | | | | Most meetings offer learning sessions to improve |
| users of their software. What varies is the style in | | | | your use of the features that you have. Users walk |
| which the education takes place. | | | | away from meetings almost in disbelief that they |
| The meeting agenda should provide you with good | | | | have some wonderful features that they didn't realize |
| insight as to what to expect. Typically, software | | | | they had. More than likely it was covered in training, |
| firms gear these meetings at owners/managers of | | | | but with so much to absorb, who can remember all |
| their client companies. The goal is to educate the | | | | of the tools and whistles and bells that are built into a |
| "top brass" so that appropriate decisions can be | | | | comprehensive and extensive software suite. |
| made at the top relating to the software used. This | | | | It's a great opportunity to meet the voice over the |
| also means that the sessions will not be as technical | | | | phone that services you. It's also exciting to be one |
| as you might expect. | | | | of the first to see new enhancements that will soon |
| The goal of every software firm is to produce | | | | be released. It's possible you will have learned about |
| software that the users will benefit by using | | | | some dynamic new ways that your firm can be using |
| long-term. A software solution purchased today can | | | | the software to increase sales and marketing, service |
| quickly become irrelevant tomorrow. The world | | | | clients and employees better or expand your |
| changes and software must change too. In order to | | | | business. People always walk away from a client |
| service the needs of the client, it is important the | | | | meeting richer than when they came. |
| software firm have some dialogue with its clients. | | | | So, the next time you receive an invitation to a client |
| This is important throughout the year, but can be | | | | software user meeting, what are you going to do |
| especially meaningful at a client user meeting. A client | | | | with it? |