Knowledge17 is the next installment of ServiceNow's huge conference that spans five days and boasts over 200 sessions on a variety of topics related to service managment. This year's conference will take place in Orlando, Fl. from May 7 through May 11.
According to the Knowledge17 website, 15,000 attendees are expected to be at Knowledge17, providing conference-goers with lots of chances for networking as well as a chance to talk to the pros in their fields. Here's what not to miss at the Knowledge17 conference.
The breakout sessions at Knowledge are what it's all about. They are an opportunity for you to learn new things and hear from thought leaders within your industry. Many of these sessions are lead by real ServiceNow customers, helping you gain insight on what they are looking for from a ServiceNow provider. There are also 120 hands on labs staffed with one "guru" per 20 attendees. Here are a few sessions you shouldn't miss:
This panel for leaders will be hosted by Chris Peake. If you want to learn more about how to keep your company and your client's information safe, this is the place! The Knowledge17 website lists this session as a chance to "Hear from ServiceNow's security experts on what they recommend to keep your ServiceNow instance is secure! Also ask questions about specific issues or concerns."
Josh Nerius hosts this session that will help creators learn to "Build business applications at light speed." The session's description says, "This talk delves into the factors that determine whether or not an existing library is likely to be usable, and will offer practical guidance to developers wishing to incorporate existing code into their ServiceNow applications."
Scitt Howley's breakout session will help you "Learn how to unlock incremental value from the platform you already use with the tools you already own. Leverage existing platform features to customize your own portals, build, test and integrate your own custom applications or even safely delegate development and administration to groups outside of IT."
"Toyota's Service Catalog journey to a single simple workflow driving approvals, routing, and tasks for any catalog item to simplify creation, maintenance, and flexibility of hundreds of catalog items," Knowledge17 says about this breakout session lead by Ravali Yadavalli, a ServiceNow Developer with Toyota Motor North America.
Check out this mini-case study (PDF) that highlights the steamlining V-Soft was able to bring a client through the ServiceNow platform.
Depending on the ticket package you have chosen, Knowledge17 may be providing some lunches. For dinner and nightlife, however, you're probably on your own. We've gathered a few spots worth checking out during your down time from the conference.
The Knowledge17 website has a huge list of hotels for conference-goers on their website. There are many options within walking distance from the conference center, as well as cheaper options that are a short drive away. You can even stay in one of the Disney World resorts if you're feeling a little magical! Most of the hotels range from $150 to $300 per night, depending on which you choose. Prices are listed on the Knowledge website.
There are tons of great restaurants located in Orlando. We gathered a few that are located close to the conference center for the meals where you won't have a provided meal from Knowledge17.
A mid-priced Cuban-inspired restaurant that features small plates, Caribbean decor and late-night salsa dancing. One review calls Cuba Libre a place with "classy people and atmosphere."
The Pub Orlando is billed as an "English-inspired pub with British eats, pour-your-own beer taps & a staff wearing kilts." If you have beer fans in your group, this is a great pick as they have a variety of different beers on tap as well as traditional British foods to sample.
For adventurous eaters, Everglades Restaurant offers traditional American fare as well as Florida-inspired menu items such as "gator chowder." One Google review says, "The Everglades Restaurant focuses on steak and fish fillets and they do both very well. The menu has a central theme that reflects the flora and fauna found in The Everglades National Park, located about five hours south of Orlando."
While there is plenty of action at the Knowledge17 conference, if you are looking for nightlife or a day of entertainment before heading home, Orlando offers plenty of things to do. There are, of course, the Disney World parks for the kid-at-heart as well as the Universal Studios parks. If you're not looking for an all-day commitment, here are some popular nightlife spots.
Located near the convention center, the Blue Martini Lounge offers "Martinis and champagne accompany a global tapas menu, live music and daily specials in a stylish space."
Downtown Disney is a "complex with restaurants, bars, live shows and shops, including the world's largest Disney store." This is a good alternative if your group wants to experience a little of what Disney has to offer but doesn't have time to devote to a full day at the parks.
ICEBAR is a unique concept for a city that stays warm year-round: a bar made of solid ice, in a room kept at freezing temperatures. While reviews say it is a little pricier than other local watering holes, the bar has been featured on several travel shows and is a fun experience for a group. Check out ICEBAR orlando right here.
Don't be surprised, there are folks who aren't sure if they should attend or not. For those folks and if that's you, here are a few ideas on why attending Knowledge17 may make a lot of sense.
Ready to make that request to your boss for Knowledge17? The smart folks at serviceNow even have that covered in this handy dandy form letter expalining the reasons you must attend at the bottom of the Why Attend? page found here.
If you are interested in attending Knowledge17, you're in luck! Click here for more information on how to attend this great conference.