Which Digital Transformation Conference Should You Attend In 2022?

Which digital transformation conference should you attend?

There is certainly no shortage of digital transformation conferences, congresses, events, forums, and summits. With so many choices, deciding which is right for you can be challenging, especially when considering current and future challenges.

However, which ones should you attend? Which conferences are deemed most important? And how can you get the best value from investing your time and money? 

In this article, we will examine several conferences in detail, including:

• What they cover
• Locations and dates
• Who should attend

And more.

Factors to consider when making your decision:

1. The focus of the conference

2. The Location

3. The Speakers

4. The Attendees

5. The Cost

The focus of the conference is an essential factor to consider. General digital transformation conferences cover a broad range of topics, such as an organization’s digital culture. There are also more specific conferences that focus on particular aspects of digital transformation, such as critical technologies, data analytics, or cloud-native platforms. 

The location is another critical consideration. If you are based in Europe, attending a US conference may not be practical. Conversely, if you are based in the US, attending a conference in Asia may not be possible.

The speakers are also an essential factor to consider. The best conferences will have a mix of industry experts and thought leaders. You should also look at the topics that they will be speaking about.

The attendees are another consideration. The best conferences will have a mix of attendees from different industries and sectors. This diversity can provide valuable insights and perspectives.

The cost is one of the most important factors. Conferences can be expensive, so you must ensure that the conference meets business objectives and is worth the investment.

Now that we have considered some of the factors you should consider when choosing a digital transformation conference, let’s look at some of the best seminars worldwide: 

The Top Six Digital Transformation Conferences In 2022:

1. Gartner Symposium/ITxpo

Gartner Symposium/ITxpo is one of the world’s largest and most important gatherings of CIOs and senior IT leaders. The conference covers various topics, including business intelligence, cloud computing, security, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.

The conference takes place in several locations worldwide, including Orlando, Barcelona, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, and Sydney.

Who should attend: CIOs, senior IT leaders, and enterprise-level decision-makers.

2. Forrester Forum

Forrester Forum is a conference for senior business and technology leaders. The conference covers the entire digital transformation ecosystem, including digital business, customer experience, machine learning (ML), and more.

The conference takes place in several locations worldwide, including New York, London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Who should attend: Senior business and technology leaders. 

3. Harvard Business Review Digital Summit

The Harvard Business Review Digital Summit is a conference for senior executives. The conference covers a broad range of topics, including digital transformation, customer adoption, customer engagement, leadership, and more.

The conference takes place in Boston, MA, and is part of the wider Digital Transformation Week.

Who should attend: Senior executives. 

4. Cloud Expo Asia

Cloud Expo Asia is a conference for senior executives and IT professionals. The conference covers many topics, including cloud transformation, DevOps, and digital transformation.

The conference takes place in Hong Kong.

Who should attend: Senior executives, IT professionals, and those seeking technology alignment.

5. Digital Transformation Congress

The Digital Transformation Congress is a conference for business leaders. The conference covers a broad range of topics, including digital transformation, customer centricity, composable enterprise, and more.

The conference takes place in London.

Who should attend: Business leaders. 

These are just a few of the best digital transformation conferences in 2022. When making your decision, be sure to consider the focus of the conference, the location, the speakers, the attendees, and the cost.

6. Gas Digital Transformation Conference

The Gas Digital Transformation Conference is the premier event for business and IT executives who want to learn how to use the oil and gas industry to power their digital transformation. The conference features a mix of keynote speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities. Attendees will learn about the latest gas technologies and how they can improve operations, drive growth, and create customer value.

The conference is held in Houston, TX.

Who should attend: Business leaders, CIOs, and oil and gas production executives.

Other Noteworthy Digital Transformation Conferences?

Many digital transformation conferences are held in countries worldwide several times per year.

In no particular order, here is a list of conferences that focus on digital transformation (even if they don’t carry the name “digital transformation conference”).

• The Digital Transformation Conference is an event held in several locations around the world. Speakers offer insights into their transformation efforts, covering topics such as the user experience, customer-focused strategies, AI, and much more.
• Another “Digital Transformation Conference” took place in Ukraine in 2019. This conference focused heavily on AI, machine learning, and data science. Visit the website to find the time and location for the next event.
• The Digital Transformation Conference and Awards Ceremony is a conference located in Canada. As of this writing, the last conference occurred in 2019, with an audience of more than 200. The theme was “DX 2.0: Moving from idea to implementation,” offering best practices and advice for companies that want to advance their digital capabilities.
• The Transportation Marketing and Sales Association (TMSA) also holds its digital transformation conference. Naturally, their focus is on how digital transportation affects the transportation industry. However, speakers also cover more general topics, such as marketing, SEO, and strategy.
• Digital Transformation Asia is a conference hosted by TM Forum. In 2019, the conference topics revolved specifically around the opportunities presented by 5G. For three days, attendees will learn about AI, big data, cloud-native IT, and more. Keynote speakers come from Verizon, Air Asia, Ericsson, and more.
• TM Forum also hosts the Digital Transformation World Conference. Events include debates, fireside chats, keynotes, exhibitions, and social gatherings in the evening. 
• Another event to consider is the Digital Transformation Summit. As of this writing, the last event was held in Ireland, focusing on boosting business productivity through digital transformation. Speakers explored how companies can improve customer care, digital marketing, and revenue.
• Digital Summit also holds several conferences throughout the United States. Locations range from Boston to Raleigh to Atlanta. Ticket prices are reasonable – and since these events are held continuously throughout the year, it is a good choice for those who want convenience and affordability.
• Dreamforce is one of the largest digital conferences in the world. Salesforce customers flock to San Francisco to learn about everything from Salesforce to digital transformation strategy. Dreamforce is a four-day event with informational sessions, keynotes, fireside chats, and much more.

Other conferences certainly focus on digital transformation. However, to gain the most value from a conference, it pays to look beyond “digital transformation.” Customer engagement is another area that ties in closely with digital transformation. Industry leaders are investing in increasing their operational efficiency by using technology to focus on and enhance the customer experience and drive innovation.

Customer-facing digital innovation can be achieved through enhanced thought leadership discussions that explore technology innovation, emerging technologies, cultural change, and a new wave of strategic approaches that change how businesses operate in the digital spectrum.

Going Beyond “the Digital Transformation Conference”

Digital transformation conferences are excellent opportunities to learn, network, and represent your own organization.

However, when it comes to technology conferences, events that focus on digital change are just the tip of the iceberg.

Countless other conferences focus on specific themes, industries, or topics, such as:

• Specific types of technologies. Today, some of the most exciting technologies include AI, IoT, blockchain, 5G, AR, and VR … just to name a few. Businesses that plan to explore these technologies should undoubtedly consider attending conferences that revolve around such technologies.
• Particular industries. Many conferences focus on digital transformation within a specific industry, such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, or banking. These events usually feature case studies and lessons learned from those who have already undergone digital transformation within that particular industry.
• General business and management topics. Other conferences focus on general business and management topics, such as leadership, innovation, marketing, change management, or company culture. While these conferences might not be explicitly about digital transformation, the insights gained can still be applied to a digital transformation initiative.
• Business strategies. As digital transformation can impact nearly every aspect of business – marketing, sales, customer service, etc. – some conferences focus on digital business strategy. These events help businesses understand how to make the most of digital transformation and put together a plan for success. 
• Business disciplines. There is a conference for virtually every business discipline imaginable – from marketing to IT specialties to finance. Due to the ubiquitous influence of technology, even these conferences tend to focus heavily on technology and digital transformation. While digital transformation conferences are excellent resources, businesses should consider attending other events. There is a wealth of valuable information to be gained from various sources.
• Themes. Other conferences revolve around a specific theme, such as the customer experience, user experiences, design, etc.  The focus on digital transformation is often implicit in these conferences, as technology is integral to achieving such objectives. Ultimately, the best conference for your organization will depend on your specific goals and needs. However, when it comes to finding valuable insights into digital transformation, businesses should look beyond “digital transformation conferences” and explore all the different types of events that are out there.
• Specific products or software. Some conferences and events are devoted exclusively to one product or service. Dreamforce, as mentioned, is for Salesforce customers – but its scope extends far beyond Salesforce. Other conferences for major mainstream products, such as Hadoop, WordPress, Oracle, and more, can be found. These conferences can provide excellent insights into using these products for digital transformation. 
• Customers and user groups. In addition to product-specific conferences, there are also customer and user groups for many popular products and services. These groups usually have their own events, which can be excellent opportunities to learn from and network with other users. For example, the Salesforce user group events are called “Trailblazer Community Events.” LinkedIn has a user group called “LinkedIn Local,” which hosts events in cities around the world.

Because there are so many conferences, choosing the right one is a strategic decision.

The conferences listed above are good choices for busy professionals who want to learn more about digital transformation. But there are many other excellent conferences out there – too many to list here. 

To find the right conference for your organization, it’s important to consider your goals and objectives: 

• What do you hope to achieve by attending a conference?
• Are you looking to network with others in your industry?
• Learn about new technologies?
• Hear from leading experts?
• All of the above?

Your answers to these questions will help you narrow your options and choose the best conferences for your needs. However, when it comes to technology conferences, events that focus on digital change are just the tip of the iceberg.

Technology conferences come in all shapes and sizes. There are small regional events and large international gatherings. Some events focus on specific industries, general business management topics, and individual products or software.

With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which conferences are right for you and your organization. However, it also pays to consider other events and select the ones that offer the most significant potential returns.