“Technology is evolving at such a rapid pace, that it can be challenging to stay up-to-date.” I’m guessing this statement will not instigate much of a rebuttal. I find myself on a constant quest for knowledge through reading and talking directly to customers and several subject matter experts. In my discussions, it seems many are in the same boat. Finding the right experts to follow and targeting the information sources most valuable are important, since most of us are stretched pretty thin.
I am fortunate enough to work for an organization that is the source of progressive yet reliable information – not only about customer support, but other relevant topics. I have found an incredible thirst for knowledge and excellence at EMC and this has fostered an environment of both learning and teaching. My colleagues throughout the company have been invaluable to me and I would like to think the reverse is the case. There is a good deal of sharing about our specific areas of expertise and access to resources inside and outside of the company.
This got me thinking. What role do vendors play in educating the industry and in some cases, instigating new directions? I’m sure the answer varies widely among vendors, but as I look around, I see EMC playing a very vital role in educating customers. Some of the places this happens are at conferences, both industry- and EMC-sponsored. EMC is often invited to speak at industry conferences, such as TSIA’s upcoming Technology Services World (TSW) conference, where speakers share best practices and experiential knowledge.
There are also a number of company-sponsored events that provide opportunities for EMC to share information and give customers an opportunity to network with industry peers. In addition to large-scale events such as EMC World, customers have access to more targeted meetings. For example, EMC Forum events are being held this year in more than 20 cities around the world. These are free events providing information on relevant topics such as cloud computing and big data, along with the opportunity to network.
Online, there are also tremendous opportunities for such interaction through EMC Support Forums where you will find customers and EMC technical staff sharing ideas and knowledge. This sharing also occurs through a continuous stream of white papers and articles published on both emc.com and the support portal.
It would be great to share ideas here. What information resources do you find valuable?
