The changes began in about 2007.  Trade show booths were replaced by table tops.  Company executives stopped coming and sent local sales reps instead.  And the buyers?  They just stopped showing up.  The last trade show conference I participated in was ICCM Canada in 2008.  The last trade show I went to was the ACCE show in Phoenix and it was a waste of time.

I didn’t go to Enterprise Connect, formerly VoiceCon, this week because I haven’t yet seen any evidence that trade shows have improved since they took their 2007 nose dive, but I was surprised to see press releases this week touting company “booths” on the show floor and appearances by company executives, like Mike Sheridan from Aspect.  I know a few other execs, like Tim Kraskey from Calabrio, will also be there.  Does this signal a turnaround in contact center trade events – perhaps even a throwback?

I’m looking forward to hearing about the Enterprise Connect from those who attended.  I’d like to think that the return of the industry event, where we speak to each other face-to-face instead of over Facebook, is making a comeback.  I hope so.