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More Conference Mayhem: i2 Cancels Planet
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| Written by Mel Duvall |
In January we reported that research firm Gartner had cancelled two of its showcase conferences, the Symposium ITxpo scheduled for Las Vegas in May, and the Symposium ITxpo scheduled for Barcelona, Spain.
Now comes word that supply chain software specialist i2 Technologies has pulled the plug on its annual conference scheduled for New Orleans in April.
Late Wednesday afternoon i2 sent the following message out to its customers and partners:
Dear Customer,
Like you, we have been evaluating the current state of the economy and trying to project the impact this downturn will continue to have. One thing that is evident – both anecdotally and through our research – is that corporate business travel is down substantially. We’re seeing reduced attendance at every industry event we attend, and have heard from many of you that your own 2009 travel budgets have been cut or eliminated. It is with that information, and after careful analysis, that we have decided that this year we will not host our traditional i2 Planet event, originally scheduled for April 27-29 in New Orleans.
You can rest assured, however, that just because we aren’t having a “destination” event doesn’t mean you won’t have access to the rich supply chain thought leadership and best-practice success stories that you have traditionally experienced at i2 Planet.
The letter goes on to say that in lieu of a traditional conference, the company will be hosting a “virtual Planet” Web cast, and expanding its online activities.
I find the news disappointing for several reasons. First of all, the i2 Planet conference is usually one of the best industry events I’ve attended. It has been a great place to hear speakers from big name companies share how they are using technology to overcome sweeping changes to global supply chains. Second, if there ever was a time to share and learn from one another on how to adapt supply chains to rapidly changing business conditions, this it.
Third, customers are looking for a clear statement of direction from i2. Last August, i2 announced it was being acquired by JDA Software for $346 million. Then in December, the companies announced the deal was off, a victim of the economic fallout. A couple of weeks later, the company also revealed chief executive Pallab Chatterjee was leaving the company. i2 has a loyal customer base, something that has seen it through several years of uncertainty, but I suspect that loyalty is being severely tested.
And finally, this was one of a handful of major IT conferences to return to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005. The economic boost it would have delivered will be sorely missed.
I’m curious to hear from i2 customers out there. How worried are you about the company’s future?
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