Shakespearian theme to industrial IT seminar

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 4, 2002

Cambashi's 13th annual sales and marketing seminar has been designed to reflect the changing face of the IT industry.

Cambashi's 13th annual sales and marketing seminar, to be held for the first time this year at Gaydon Motor Heritage Museum in the UK, has been designed to reflect the changing face of the IT industry.

An advisory council, commissioned by Cambashi late last year, identified significant changes in both the IT user community and the purchasing process itself as key themes for the coming twelve months.

The seminar, to be held on 23rd April, has been structured around these topics.

The advisory council, now in its second year and comprising representatives from industry leaders such as Autodesk and Microsoft held a series of discussions hosted by Cambashi in November 2001.

As a result, the principal objectives of this year's seminar will include an examination of the potential effects of user industry restructuring, a phenomenon which has been precipitated by the significant rise of outsourcing and strategic alliances within industry.

Also to be discussed will be the continuing changes in the buying process currently facing sales and marketing managers, due to the fluctuating importance of subsidiary departments such as IT or procurement.

A second element to arise from the council's discussions was the need for a new approach to naming the seminar.

Mike Evans, Senior Partner at Cambashi comments: "Historically, the seminars have had somewhat esoteric names: last year's event was called 'Chinese whispers win marketing marathons'.

The advisory council encouraged us to take a much more grounded approach.

The aim of the 2002 seminar, called simply 'Sales and marketing of IT to industry', is to provide delegates with a wealth of comprehensible yet in-depth market information which can then be exploited in their individual workplace".

Completing the changes in this year's approach is the shift in location from the Cambridgeshire countryside to the more accessible Gaydon.

This decision was made following not only advice from the council but also results taken from a survey of delegates over the past three years.

Says Evans: "The resounding conclusion was the need for a larger and more convenient site.

We want to make the seminar as accessible as possible, both in terms of information presented and location chosen".

Cambashi's history and reputation, built on a consistent program of first hand field research and a detailed knowledge of the IT in industry market, will be further substantiated with a range of independent presentations.

Offering an authoritative insight into issues currently facing IT in industry, user presentations will include opinions on the increase of globalisation and outsourcing, the identification of industry hot spots and a look at the future of procurement.

Experts from Cambashi will be reviewing the PLM and enterprise application markets, voicing opinions on what lies in store for both in the coming year.

Evans comments: "We will identify and review the areas considered significant to users and marketers of IT to industry.

After listening to the recommendations of our highly respected Advisory Council we have taken the decision not only to modify our approach to these issues but also to change the location.

Both moves are intended to make the seminar more accessible and profitable for our delegates".

Gaydon is easily accessible from major routes and is in close proximity to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Says Evans: "We're hoping that the venue's proximity to Stratford will elicit particular inspiration, particularly as the seminar takes place on the bard's birthday".

The Shakespearian theme is hoped to influence the presentations, a process begun by Evans himself being unable to resist the title, "Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety".

Taken from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part Four, but very appropriate to his presentation on the threats and opportunities facing those wishing to invest in IT.