ARC Advisory Group announced that to support the critical social distancing requirements brought on by the COVID-19 crisis, the annual ARC European Industry Forum, “Driving Digital Transformation in Industry,” May 18-20, 2020, will move online as ARC’s first-ever virtual forum. The event will use the most advanced virtual event tools available to offer live streaming of user presentations, expert panel discussions and audience interaction, ARC reports.
“The current situation with the coronavirus led us to re-invent our European Forum as a virtual event. There is a feeling of solidarity in the industry right now that if we are creative and flexible, we can overcome this unfortunate disruption and minimize its impact on our lives and our businesses," says forum manager David Humphrey. “We have redesigned the agenda around industry theme-blocks of 90-minutes each. We feel that this format allows us to deliver the same content, but it in a format that is suitable for viewing online. The only thing we had to leave out is our evening dinner in a picturesque Mediterranean fishing village.”
Consistent with the event theme, topics at the virtual forum will include:
- 21st Century Operations: Where IT, OT and ET Converge
- AI and Machine Learning
- Asset Performance Management
- Automation Innovations
- Cybersecurity and Safety
In a special session for automation suppliers, ARC analysts and a guest financial analyst will present their views on the state of automation markets. One presentation will share ARC analysts’ forecast of the impact of the coronavirus on these markets.
In consideration of the new virtual format, ARC reduced the attendee fee. Combined with the associated travel and lodging savings, this should make it practical for industry participants around the world and those who were not able to attend the recent ARC Industry Forum in Orlando, Florida, due to travel restrictions, to participate in the 2020 ARC European Industry Forum.
For more information, readers can visit the event site: https://www.arcweb.com/events/arc-industry-forum-europe.