Convincing Your Boss You Should Go to Convergence

Authored By:  Kerry Rosvold

Last year, I called one of the people I regularly see at Convergence who didn't make it to ask her why she wasn't there.  She said, "Our company has been laying people off this year, I can hardly justify going to an expensive conference."  While many of us can relate to my friend's situation, I think almost anyone can convince their boss that Convergence is well worth the expense no matter what is going on back at the office.  There are three things you should be doing. 

DO SOME RESEARCH  Before you make your pitch, do some research.  Find out what challenges your company is facing that may be solved by technology. Make a list of things that are large and things that are small.  Are you looking at doing an upgrade?  How about putting in place an add on software package?  What about processes?  Is there a list of things you simply need to learn how to do better, differently, or more efficiently?  Are you struggling with how to get started with a new business concept?  Are you part way there with a solution or almost there, but stuck?  Are you simply wondering how other companies are doing things? Make sure you ask around at your company, and solicit needs from people who work in areas other than yours.

ACTION LIST   Take this list and turn it into a Convergence action list.  For each thing, large or small, write next to it how you could solve that problem at Convergence.  Will you attend a session, talk to a vendor, seek out someone who does the same type of processes as you, or find a group of end users who are in the same job role or industry as you?  Will you build a networking relationship with a user group who can help you solve problems during the year when new things come up?  Will you seek out people with specific expertise who are willing to exchange an email or two with you during the year?

ASSIGN VALUE  Once you feel you've got a realistic list of challenges and actionable ways to bring back solutions and resources to your company, make a guess as to what that work would have cost your company if you had called up your partner and paid them to answer those questions.  Remember, this is your opportunity to bring ROI back to your company for things you wouldn't necessarily have chosen to pay your partner for.  This is your chance to bring a whole basketful of extra wins back to your company.

Don't forget intangibles like understanding what the future holds regarding technology for your company.  This aspect of Convergence can be overlooked, and is an important part of advocating for your ERP system.  Knowing when the next release will be coming out and what the primary features will be is valuable information to your company and can prevent you from making some bad decisions.  Make sure to assign this a value as well.

If your list of challenges, actionable tasks, and the numbers attached to them equate to more savings than your registration and travel expenses, you're in the clear.  Walk into your bosses office and tell them what you'll be accomplishing by attending Convergence next year. 

Kerry Rosvold, Corporate Controller
Augsburg Fortress Publishers

*We also recommend utilizing the "Convince Your Boss" email that we have created, located on the Convergence 2012 website- right hand column, under the countdown clock!