Since the pandemic struck in March 2020, most events have been placed on hold, almost indefinitely. For anything close to a conference or expo experience, community members in the UC&C environment now rely on virtual events, where they can interact with speakers and sessions from the comfort of their own homes.
Of course, as wonderful as virtual events can be, many of us still miss the experience of interacting with people in person. Fortunately, one of the UK’s best UC events is finally coming back, as a hybrid in-person and digital conference that anyone can attend.
Running on the 15th and 16th of September 2021, Commsverse will be welcoming us all back to the unique benefits of in-person conferencing, with the ultimate insight into all-things Microsoft Teams. I caught up with Mark Vale, founder of Commsverse, and Microsoft MVP, to learn more.
What Can We Expect from Commsverse this Year?
Mark initially founded Commsverse because he wanted a conferencing experience that was designed specifically for tech enthusiasts. “I wanted to create a conference for people who want some really deep-dive insights into the technology they’re using in the communication industry, without having to worry about sales pitches.”
Commsverse has been bringing people together in the communications landscape for years, and it’s widely regarded as the best technical conference built for Microsoft Teams users in the current market. Fans of the Commsverse experience know they can trust this event to provide a platform where they can share expert knowledge and ideas, while looking for new opportunities in Teams.
This year, Commsverse will be bringing back the incredible in-person interactions that today’s communication leaders have missed for so long. Attendees can expect the same dedication to high-quality content and speaker expertise, spread out over a total of two days. To ensure that everyone can take part, no matter their situation, there’s even a virtual attendance option too.
Commsverse is, of course, taking extra precautions to ensure that in-person attendees will remain safe while at the event. This includes limiting the number of people in the conference hall at any given time, to allow for reduced crowding.
What’s Collab Day and Config Day?
Whether you choose to dive back into the in-person conferencing experience with Commsverse, you’ll have a range of options for consuming content. This year’s event has been spread out over two days, so attendees can choose which option is best for them based on their job role or industry knowledge. “You can come on Collab day, on the 15th of September, or Config day on the 16th of September, or you can attend both!”
Collab day is about teaching people how to work better in Teams in the new hybrid environment. The day focuses heavily on sessions intended to boost collaboration, improve productivity, enhance efficiency, and empower organisations to streamline processes with things like automation. “We’ll be offering work-from-home tips and guidance for the new workforce.”
Config day, on the 16th of September, focuses more on deploying and managing Teams, and the wrap-around services that might come with your solution. This day covers things like deploying Microsoft Teams solutions, accessing direct routing, migrating to Microsoft Teams, and more. “We’ll be covering everything from direct routing, to meeting rooms, contact centres, and the management of all your Microsoft Teams tools.”
Essentially, the conference split over two days means that whether you’re interested in the user or admin end, you’ll have both bases covered.
Why Did You Go Hybrid This Year?
Commsverse has always been an in-person event, and Mark told me that the concept of going hybrid still feels a little new to him. “Ultimately, we wanted to make sure that everyone who wanted to attend could. There are going to be a portion of our attendees that just can’t come to this in-person, and we don’t want them to miss out.”
Thanks to Microsoft Teams technology, people who can’t make the full experience in-person will be able to join each session live using Microsoft Teams. They’ll be able to hear and see the speaker, interact with speakers, and more.
This ensures that everyone will have a chance to connect with some of the biggest names in the community when it comes to Microsoft Teams. “We’re working with some major names to deliver the best content. Because these people aren’t linked to a specific sponsor or vendor, you know you’re getting real-world valuable content. There’ll be exhibitor stands available in the exhibition hall too, so you can follow up and ask for more information.”
While the biggest benefits of the Commsverse event are going to come from interacting and networking in person, the availability of a hybrid, digital version of the event will make this content more accessible to the masses. It should also ensure that the best speakers who wouldn’t be able to attend in person can still make it to provide their sessions.
What Are You Most Excited about?
When I asked Mark what he was most excited about in terms of the upcoming event, he told me that he felt as though this in-person experience was the beginning of a return to normality. “We’re going to finally be able to meet people again. It’s going to be a chance to catch up with some of our regular attendees and meet new faces too. That’s something that’s so difficult to replicate online.”
Mark told me that every attendee gets the VIP experience when it comes to Commsverse, and everyone has a chance to be a real part of the community. “I’ve really missed the spontaneity of meeting and interacting with people in the real world. I think most people really do feed off the energy of others, and we’ve been missing out on this social experience.”
For those who want to experience the benefits of Commsverse for themselves, it’s important to get tickets now! The in-person event places will run out quickly, so don’t miss your chance.
