As we prepare to head to this year’s Dreamforce conference, we look at a few tips and tricks to make your experience seamless and memorable.
Dreamforce is back, and most likely, it will be back in a big way! Dreamforce is Salesforce’s annual conference in San Francisco. It never ceases to amaze me how many people attend, how difficult it is to get a hotel room, and of course, the concert!
Each year, Dreamforce has a theme, and I’m guessing this year it’s all things artificial Intelligence (AI). I expect Salesforce to demonstrate Data Cloud (formerly Genie, I knew that name wouldn’t last) and how it pairs with the AI tools within the existing Salesforce Clouds and the new Salesforce GPT products.
Customers come ready with questions about how to begin their AI journey. You can expect to see a lot of information about Salesforce’s AI innovation, Data plus CRM plus AI readiness, and how your organization can start your Salesforce AI roadmap.
Five Ways to Prepare for Dreamforce
Given that I’ve been to Dreamforce seven (or maybe eight) times now, clients often ask me how to prepare for the event, especially if they are new to the conference. Below are five tips for how you can prepare for the conference.
1. Book four to five sessions per day and do it quickly!
Don’t wait to book sessions on the plane ride there. Sessions fill up fast but keep an eye out for these to occur at other times – sometimes, sessions appear on the schedule more than once. You may have luck as a walk-in attendee, but don’t bet on it.
2. Skip the keynotes.
You heard me: keynotes can be a waste of your time, and Dreamforce records them all. Unless you are a massive fan of a specific celebrity speaker, watch them later. You won’t miss anything because themes from the keynotes reoccur in the sessions and other smaller settings.
3. Get a certification or two.
The conference offers certifications at a discounted rate, and Salesforce always makes the experience fun (if you pass) by taking your picture, sending tweets, and giving fantastic high fives.
4. Use the time to network.
Traveling alone? Ask your Salesforce Account Executive if any of their clients have similar interests to you and could meet for coffee or lunch. Dreamforce is more fun with friends. It sounds like blind dating, but meeting new people is part of the Dreamforce experience. And it’s a great way to build your connections.
5. Come prepared.
A question people frequently ask me is: What should I pack? I always bring a jacket with a hood (San Francisco is cold at night), an umbrella, Band-Aids, and comfortable walking shoes (or several pairs). It’s not uncommon to log 25,000 steps in a single day! Don’t forget a battery pack or two for cell phones, snacks, and maybe some aspirin.
Dreamforce is a fantastic experience, and you will learn more about the various platforms from Salesforce and the community. But most of all, you’ll have fun!
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