OTC 2019 - Was It Worth It?
Last week the SAS-ES team travelled to Houston, Texas for the Offshore Technology Conference. Just 5 years ago, in 2014, attendance numbers for this trade show were over 100,000, however in recent years they have plummeted down to around 60,000. Does this drop in numbers signify the end of an era of successful trade shows? We thought we'd take this opportunity to share with you our thoughts, and how the conference went for SAS-ES.
The global oil industry is recovering, oil prices are stable, and OTC is still recognised as the largest global event for the industry, so you would assume the show would be improving and getting bigger every year? However, attendance numbers actually show a gradual decline each year since 2014, with OTC 2019 recording the lowest numbers yet with only 59,200 attendees.
However, even with this downward trend, OTC 2019 was still a very productive, successful and busy week for SAS-ES. We find OTC is a great opportunity to meet with our clients, and future clients, from the USA but also from further afield, in regions such as Latin America, Africa, and the Middle and Far East. We had some very important face to face meetings with a selection of regional partners and customers from South America, in order to negotiate the crucial details of some substantial onward contracts. We agreed upon, and committed to, strategic routes forward towards commercialisation later this year, busy times ahead of us for sure!
During our time at OTC, SAS-ES were situated at the Scottish Development International stand. We had a lot of visitors come by the stand and ask for us specifically, with people continuously commenting on just how much traffic SAS-ES were getting, so we must be doing something right!
With over 70 Scottish companies exhibiting at the SDI stand it really shows why Scotland's oil and gas industry has a global reputation for innovation. We owe a huge thank you to the amazing team at SDI who organised the trade mission and who worked tirelessly for us during OTC.
So, maybe it is not the case that these figures prove the demise of trade shows, perhaps they just have to be approached slightly differently in order for them to be successful. With less people attending, and therefore less chance of visitors just stumbling across your stand, the days of sitting in your booth waiting on people coming to you are over. We believe quality is better than quantity, but to reach this quality it is crucial to prepare thoroughly before the event.
Here's how we do it:
Advertise that your company is going to be there. Write blogs, post LinkedIn statuses, send out newsletters, add the information to your website, anything you can to get the word out.
Research companies that would be beneficial to meet with. Have a look through the exhibitor list in advance and reach out to anyone that could be of interest, it will keep you busy!
Try and make a plan. We know that events like this it is almost impossible to stick to a schedule but if you have a rough idea of who you are meeting with and when, it is easier to manage your time and make sure you aren't sitting around doing nothing for too long.
Overall it was a very productive and successful week for SAS-ES, making us very excited for things to come. Thank you to all who came to visit us, to all our friends, clients and supporters.
Do you agree or disagree with us? How did you get on at OTC this year? Please do let us know in the comments below and maybe we'll see you at OTC 2020...