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Welcome to UC2009

Posted in May 6th, 2009

So this is what early May looks like around here. Gray, overcast and a bit rainy. It’s no wonder that I’m feeling a tad glum.

It’s been a couple of years since I was at home on May 6th, and to be honest, I was really hoping that I wouldn’t be here right now. It’s not that I don’t like the place; it’s just that I would much rather be elsewhere.

May is meant to be the time of year for attending the annual Datawatch User Conference but that clearly won’t be the case this year, and that’s a shame. This year we won’t hear the greeting, “Welcome to UC2009!” I can only speculate that the current economic conditions have played a role in the decision, and whether it was for internal reasons, or because it was felt that the customers wouldn’t be able to, or would choose not to, attend I’ll never know. Either way, I find it disappointing.

I’m disappointed that I won’t have the opportunity to catch up with good friends face to face, and hopefully make some new ones as has been the case in the past. This would’ve been my fourth conference, and that’s not uncommon. I seem to recall that there was a gentleman in Phoenix last year for whom it was his seventh time attending. You can always network within your community, but the Datawatch User Conference really is a special and unique event that attracts many from completely different industries who, despite the different backgrounds, often perform similar functions and have similar experiences, so it’s easy to find common ground and make good connections with peers.

I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to hear first hand from people around the world about how they have improved their businesses, their jobs, heck, even their lives just by using a certain software product. There’s so much information that others offer freely that you can take back home with you and implement to improve your own situation.

I’m disappointed for the attendees who won’t be able to attend an event under a single roof that showcases all of the affordable and easy to implement solutions that work. They need them more now than ever before. Datawatch offers a whole suite of terrific products that are built on Monarch technology, and they continue to develop and refine their offerings all the time. The conferences are an ideal opportunity for both sides; it’s a win-win circumstance.

Hopefully things will change enough over the next year so that you and I can get together at UC2010 and laugh about it. For now though, Drea, a contributor to BusinessPundit.com, has some ideas about who’s behind the current financial conditions, and lists the villains as she sees them.

Since I can’t thank you for attending my presentation at UC2009, I’ll thank you instead for continuing to visit the Internet’s only site dedicated to helping you excel with Monarch.

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3 users commented in " Welcome to UC2009 "

Grant said,

in May 7th, 2009 at 4:36 am

I completely agree with you Sandy. The potential and need to pass on and share ideas for working with Monarch concepts has never been more pertinent than it is now as a means to help people do their work whilst easing or even eliminate restriction on businesses imposed by budgetary constraints.

As one user, completely new to Monarch and with only a rather old version to hand, wrote elsewhere just hours ago, a few hours work can produce a result that, in their case, saved 4hrs report analysis per person per week in a team of people involved with efficient stock replenishment. Pretty impressive stuff.

So, a new user with little if any training makes something like a 10% effiency gain in a single process with very little time or effort. Imagine what the potential might be with a little additional training and exposure to some broader ideas and concepts. Just the sort of things that previous UCs delivered so well and so cost effectively.

Let us all hope that UC2010 proves to be bigger and better than ever on the back of some solid economic progress by that time.

Grant

Scott Eshleman said,

in May 7th, 2009 at 6:09 am

It would have been my first UC and realizing that my employer was NOT going to pay for it, I was fully prepared & willing to pay for it myself. I missed UC2008 and regret it now more than ever. I had inquired about UC2009 and about the availability of receiving/buying the UC2008 training take-aways/downloads in the Monarch Forums but got no response there.

http://www.monarchforums.com/showpost.php?p=11361&postcount=3

However, when asked during a webinar, the response that I received was “Datawatch will not be having a 2009 Users Conference due to the economy. With companies laying off people rapidly and budgets getting tighter, Datawatch feels as though travel budgets would get cut, too.”

I’m still waiting on any response regarding the availability of the Post-Conference downloads & training materials.

Sandy said,

in May 7th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Thanks for your comments, gents.

That’s a great story Grant. It nicely demonstrates just what can be achieved in terms of return on investment. And as you said, with everything that Monarch offers, they’re bound to benefit from it even more, and soon.

Scott, it’s unfortunate that you haven’t received a reply from your forum post, but it’s quite possible that it was simply overlooked by Datawatch. I’d recommend contacting them more directly, perhaps by telephone.

Look at this way, you’ll have more time to save for a do-it-up-right road trip for UC2010.