Folks,
If you feel that preparing for SAPPHIRE/ASUG conference is like another full-time job – you are not alone. Just last night finally I was able to complete my agenda draft even though at first glance it seemed like in the technical areas pickings were rather slim (it’s not TechEd after all). Unfortunately the Agenda Wizard happened to be, as my son would say, “0% helpful”, so I turned to the previous TechEd experience in the agenda building. My session “vetting” process includes these simple steps.
- Dump the whole session list into Excel spreadsheet and use filters to select the tracks (first two characters in session ID) I’m interested in. At SAPPHIRE my interests mostly include tracks BT (Business Integration), EA (Enterprise Architecture – not that I have a clue but it seems these days everyone is an aspiring Architect), PO (Portals – not a big fan, but since there is the whole track they must be onto something) and UX (User Experience). This should bring the list of 1000+ sessions to more manageable number. Like 400.
- Scan the descriptions and mark the “must have” sessions (those usually “jump” at you) as well as some lower priority ones.
- Use Agenda Builder on the conference web site to add the “must have” items. If some times are double- booked, check if the session is recurring or recorded and make changes accordingly.
- Stuff the remaining available times (if any) from the “B list”. If any time slots still remain (luckyyyyy!), search the full agenda for potential additional activities.
Usually I try to leave a bit of time to browse the vendor booths, grab some food and just take a breath. There is always something to see and do at these events but taking care of yourself is important as well.
Below is the result of some nail-biting decisions:
| Session ID | Title | Room | Day | Start Time | End Time |
|---|
| BT1453 | Warner Bros.: Technical Deployment and Support Considerations for Running SAP Business Suite on SAP HANA | S331D | 05/05/2015 | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| BT1811 | Changes to Custom Development with the Advent of SAP HANA | S331B | 05/05/2015 | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM |
| BT404 | Build Your Own Hybrid, Mobile SAP Fiori Apps Rapidly Using SAP Web IDE | S331A | 05/05/2015 | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM |
| EA2331 | SAP Architecture Support for Enterprise Architects – From Business Process to Landscape Planning | S310G | 05/05/2015 | 1:45 PM | 2:45 PM |
| BT1312 | Art of the Possible with SAP Fiori and Real Life User Experience Stories, and Lessons Learned | S331A | 05/05/2015 | 3:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| BT1423 | SAP Data Archiving and Image Archiving 101 | S331C | 05/06/2015 | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| UX316 | Improve the UX with SAP Screen Personas and SAP Fiori - Norfolk Southern's Journey | S210C | 05/06/2015 | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| RM2389 | Road Map: SAP S/4HANA - the Next-Generation Business Suite | S210D | 05/06/2015 | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM |
| UX621 | SAP Fiori Launchpad Solution in Detail - Deployment Options and Architecture Recommendations | S210C | 05/06/2015 | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM |
| AD1902 | SAP HANA Extended Application Services Engine Development: Lockheed Martin's Exploration into an Alternative Development Technology to Access SAP HANA | S311 | 05/06/2015 | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| PO460 | Learn How Johnson and Johnson Redesigned Its Global SAP Enterprise Portal Component | S310E | 05/06/2015 | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| PT21886 | Start Your Journey with a Free Trial of SAP S/4HANA | PT401 | 05/06/2015 | 4:00 PM | 4:20 PM |
| BT458 | Improving the User Experience with SAP Fiori | S331A | 05/06/2015 | 4:15 PM | 5:15 PM |
| BT177 | B2B Capabilities of SAP Process Integration and SAP Process Orchestration | S331C | 05/07/2015 | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| BN20496 | Support IT Projects with Outside Resources | BN322 | 05/07/2015 | 9:00 AM | 9:20 AM |
| PT21644 | Discover SAP S4/HANA, Our Next-Generation Business Suite | PT415 | 05/07/2015 | 9:00 AM | 9:45 AM |
| AD124 | Using SAPUI5 to Enhance SAP Enterprise Learning and SAP Solution Manager Capabilities | S311 | 05/07/2015 | 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| EA653 | Head in the Cloud but Feet Firmly on the Ground | S310G | 05/07/2015 | 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| BT162 | Introduction to SQLScript in SAP HANA | S331D | 05/07/2015 | 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| EA744 | Practical Guide to User Experience Including Mobile | S310G | 05/07/2015 | 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| PT21648 | Reimagine Logistics and Manufacturing with SAP S/4HANA | PT410 | 05/07/2015 | 3:30 PM | 3:50 PM |
You might notice that some times are still double-booked. I intentionally left it like that in case there are some last minute changes (happened at TechEd) or if after Day 1 I realize that it’s already enough of a specific subject.
This year the SAP Mentors are sporting blue shirts (very much like Best Buy employees) and there are not that many female Mentors, so I won’t be hard to find. Note that if you wave at me and I look right through you it’s not because I’m being rude but most likely because of some deep thought process going on in my head (like mentally working on another blog :smile: ). Well, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
See you in Orlando!
P.S. Some additional last minute SAPPHIRE themed blogs that you might find helpful:
My session pick for SAPPHIRE NOW & ASUG conference
Back to Orange County, again
HANA Cloud Platform at SAPPHIRE NOW: The RoundUp
