New Experience: Participation in the Conference Online
Last week, the 18th Chlorine Symposium took place in Dortmund, dedicated to the latest developments offered by the German engineering company thyssenkrupp nucera, as well as the state of the chlorine and caustic soda market in general. My management tried to send me on a business trip to take part in this event, but fortunately it later became clear that crossing the border in wartime is a dubious pleasure.
Therefore, for the first time, my colleagues and I took part in such an event online.
Language Barrier
So, it was a new experience for us. What is the best way to organize such an event? It seemed that not having to go anywhere opened up new opportunities for us. We invited as many colleagues as possible to join us and listen to new information of interest to them. However, the issue of the language barrier arose. Among my colleagues, only a few can understand information in English without translation. I tried to solve this problem by inviting an interpreter who was supposed to do simultaneous translation.
During the first welcome speech, everything went smoothly. However, further speeches were devoted to highly specialized areas of electrolysis with a large number of specific technological terms. In addition, those who spoke spoke very quickly. This led to the fact that the translator was unable to perform simultaneous translation. Moreover, she began to interfere with those who understand English.
After a short period of time, most of my colleagues left us. I also sent an interpreter after them. Therefore, I and two more of my colleagues took part in the symposium almost all the time. Sometimes someone else joined us, but such participants did not last long.
The Online Format is Inefficient
Yes, we listened to all the presentations that we would have been sent in the mail anyway. Yes, we listened to the answers to additional questions. But the value of such events is found in this.
Recalling the experience of my past trips, I received the most interesting and relevant information during breaks between speeches, talking with representatives of other similar plants.
In addition, in addition to the main participants, such events are attended by company representatives whose activities are somehow related to the main topic. Also here you can meet managers of sales of equipment, technologies, raw materials and auxiliary chemical reagents. All this is lost in the online format.
What I Learned
The fact that our German partners, following the money of the European Union, switched their main attention to the production of green hydrogen.
For the first time, I witnessed when the company that organized it presented almost no new developments at such a symposium. At the same time, the company has grown significantly and boasts numerous orders around the world. If that's the case, then they could have deliberately slowed down with the latest developments.
But the main conclusion is that we are gradually sliding from the newest plant into the stone age. And I'm not talking about war now, war is a disaster in general. I am talking about the long-term management policy of rational use of investment funds. This policy was so rational that over the past 5 years we have not invested money in anything new, only replaced what was broken.
Despite everything, I am glad that I was able to participate in the symposium at least online. Now I will know that in the future it is not necessary to do this. It is enough for the organizers to simply send the presentations later.
At the same time, I realized that such events are necessary if you want to keep up with the times.
You simply have to try something like that to gain experience.
Of course, the language barrier is an additional complication.
Since Corona, online meetings have become standard for me. On the one hand, it is very relaxing not to have to go on business trips. On the other hand, such a meeting also saves a lot of time. The travel time, accommodation costs, etc. are eliminated.
However, there are disadvantages, which you have already mentioned.
For example, at training sessions it is always an advantage to be able to talk to other participants during the breaks. This is not the case with online meetings. In addition, the participants are less likely to ask questions.
Ultimately, it depends on the occasion whether such an event makes sense online. I like to do both, depending on what the occasion is.
To be honest, I don't like business trips. However, this particular online symposium was unhelpful. He needs live communication.
It is a completely different matter with studies, seminars, courses and trainings. Due to the coronavirus, we have also learned to take professional training online. And it works.
Therefore, you are right, a separate approach to each specific event is required.
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I found and still find online meetings or conferences helpful in some cases: it keeps the participants from talking at cross-purposes, from interrupting each other. The small rounds can be arranged in break-out rooms. For me, it is pleasant not to have to go directly among the people. The possibility to send comments directly to the other participants in the chat is another level of communication that is not available live. However, it really depends on how well the hosts prepare such a meeting, how much money they spend on the technology and how fit the administrators are...
The fact that you don't have to go anywhere is definitely an advantage. The lack of live communication in this particular case was a disadvantage. For example, during the coronavirus, we learned to conduct negotiations online. It's just great. You don't have to go anywhere and the issue can be resolved quickly. Therefore, of course, each case is individual.