In the meantime, the Automic World Conference is already one week past, but I’m still all hyped up. This event was the bomb. The best Automic Conference I’ve ever attended! Therefore, first things first: High praise for the Automic Team – especially for the primarily responsible Sabrina Bäcker.

But actually, everything got started with a little disappointment.

Before it got going: Dead battery, jammed roads and an LSD trip

I traveled from Vienna to Berlin on the first day of the Conference and had to get up pretty early. In the taxi to the airport I installed and tested the app for the Automic Conference. Actually, a great idea to disseminate information via an app.

However, before even arriving at the airport, the app had all but drained my phone battery and heated up the device so much, I could have brewed my breakfast coffee on it. Therefore, I won’t use the app at the conference, but at the Christmas Market next winter when I need to warm my hands.

The networking already started at the airport because many Automic users were on the same plane. That was a great coincidence because they invited me to take one of the transfer buses that shuttled the Automic team from the airport Berlin Tegel to the hotel. Thanks to Berlin’s traffic jams, that trip took longer than the flight from Vienna – time I was able to spend with Automic CEO Todd DeLaughter who I sat next to on the bus.

The first fantastic networking event.

The next highlight would follow directly afterwards because that hotel made me feel like Johnny Depp in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” on one of his LSD trips. Everything is pink, multicolored and somehow crazy. Great, but definitely crazy. The photo below shows my room, all in blue and pink.

Pink bed in the nHow hotel

The Keynotes: AE V12 is approaching

The first keynote speaker was Todd DeLaughter. He told a few stories about how customers use Automic. One of the best: A retail chain with various small stores automatically stocks its shelves with umbrellas as soon as a rainstorm is predicted.

He advised the many IT people (about 80% of attendees) to present themselves as automation advocates in their organization. It’s a way to help the company and strengthen their own position there.

Todd DeLaughter doing his presentation

In the second keynote, Gwyn Clay talked about the new version of Automic.

Are you as anxious as I am to see the launch of Automic V12? The Conference has significantly heightened my own anticipation again. The planned release date is now September 2016, with minor version updates (12.1 and 12.2) to follow mid-2017 and early 2018. And what we were able to see about the new version was fantastic.

The new interface AWI (Automic Web Interface) will replace the Rich Client. Although Rich Client will continue to be available as an option, it will no longer be updated. The AWI already knows a few functions that Rich Client does not have; for instance, the Dashboard Objects.

The second important improvement in V12 is the possibility to upgrade agents directly from the AE. It functions via the user interface, automations (schedulable) or rollback.

Perhaps the most important innovation is “Reporting & Analytics”. After about 10 attempts, Automic appears to be on a good path. Statistical data is stored in a Reporting Database and reports can be created from the dashboard. The feature was introduced in a live demo on the second day of the Conference, and it looks pretty good.

In addition to the keynotes, there were other exciting presentations. Of course, much about the V12 innovations, but also a few very exciting customer presentations. In any event, a very balanced mix overall: Technical presentations, introduction of features, and user reports.

Besides the presentations: Networking in the rain

As happens mostly with such conferences, the time between the presentations turns out to be even more important. During the welcome reception, the breaks and the evening events I was able to network with many old and new acquaintances from the Automic World. In my opinion this is most important: To talk with others and hear the stories and experiences.

During the evening event on Monday, there was a tremendous cloud burst just before dinner. In spite of the canopy over the outside area, quite a few of us were drenched and had to temporarily escape to the inside. The photo below, with the Oberbaum Bridge in the background, shows the empty tables and lets you get an impression of the rainstorm. Nevertheless, the mood at the event remained high, and after the weather calmed down, the tables were again occupied.

Storm at the Automic World Conference

The Bottom Line: The best Automic Conference ever

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: This was a super event. And most of the attendees agree. Especially the networking was great.

I’m already looking forward to next year – and to the Automic World North America this fall.

Did you attend this Conference? What was your impression and what do you remember most? I would love to get your comments.