Benefits of AppForum Attendance Detailed in New Q&A with PODi's President
ROCHESTER, NY—January 6, 2010—Registration is still open for 2010 AppForum conference presented by PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative. The event, which will be held January 25-27 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is said to offer attendees an unbiased take on all facets of the digital print business—from business strategies and sales to technology.
PODi recently released a transcript of a Q&A interview with Rab Govil, CEO of Caslon and president of PODi. As the leader of PODi, his focus has been on building a vendor neutral, digital print-focused organization that supports a global community of print and marketing service providers with research, resources and support.
Govil addressed some questions about the conference and why it’s become a staple of the digital print community.
What makes the AppForum so special?
Govil: The quality of the content and the cooperative atmosphere and sense of community. Unlike many other conferences, our speakers, track chairs, and keynotes are all folks who are actually out there making money with digital printing. They come to the AppForum to share knowledge and first hand experience. The event has no hidden agenda. It isn’t about selling attendees any specific product. It’s about helping them find the answers that are right for their own situations. We like to say it’s where the leaders in digital printing get together.
How is the conference structured?
Govil: It’s all about education and networking. We have a full day of Pre-Conference Intensives and then two more days with four tracks and 24 different sessions. Plus Keynotes, break out sessions, and a vendor fair. We hold it in the beginning of the year, so people can take what they’ve learned home and institute change that will make a difference in the upcoming year.
Who comes to the AppForum?
Govil: People who are using digital print to build their businesses—hundreds of marketing and print service providers and enterprise marketers. Some are focused on using print on demand to expand their printing services. They’re looking for the latest ways to use technology and automation to increase efficiency and profits. Others are transitioning their businesses to become marketing service providers. Or they’re looking for ways to use digital print and 1:1 marketing to promote their own products.
What will people find at the conference? Is there content for sales and operations folks, as well as for management?
Govil: We encourage teams to attend—there are sessions for management strategy, sales training & techniques, direct marketing, leading edge applications, and print on demand & technology. The conference has been designed for attendees from all facets of a business—management, sales, and operations & technology.
Improving sales is the top issue for most people. How can the AppForum help?
Govil: We’ve got some of the industry’s best sales talent lined up this year to train and share strategies. Kate Dunn will be offering a full day pre-conference S3 Sales Training intensive. Peter Winters will be sharing insights on getting to the CMO and transitioning to selling marketing services. Linda Bishop has tips for using case studies to illustrate complex solutions and close more sales.
What are the hot topics this year?
Govil: We are always on the lookout for new applications and applications that are ready to ramp up. This year we have sessions on custom publishing, marketing resource centers and cross-media campaigns. Social media is on everyone’s mind and so we’ll be addressing how that fits in the mix as well.
There are some really interesting Keynotes. How were they chosen?
Govil: Even in this difficult economy, people are doing fascinating things with digital print. Out of the box thinking is creating new opportunity. We want to show attendees that they can take advantage of these new technologies in exciting ways, too. Ford Motor Co.’s smart use of personalization really clarifies the power it brings to marketers. We’ve got a panel of innovators, who are using new tools like smartphone apps, augmented reality, QR codes and personalized greeting cards. Really inspirational stuff! And I’ll be speaking about all the new opportunities that are being opened up thanks to healthcare reforms.
So this is the 8th annual AppForum. What’s new this year?
Govil: A lot! We have an entire track and a full day pre-conference intensive devoted to print-on-demand strategies and operations. Folks will learn all the newest ways to harness technology and increase efficiencies. We’re also offering for the first time, pre-conference intensive Workshops with Bill Wagner on Leadership and on Building a Winning Sales Team.
We’ll be honoring the annual PODi Best Practices Awards winners and attendees will have the chance to speak with them in person about their prize-winning case studies and see the winning applications.
For fun, we’re using a real-time polling system that works with people’s cell phones. And we’ll be doing speed networking to make it easier for folks to connect.
For more information on PODi’s AppForum, visit www.podiforum.org.