Since mid-November, Mesago Messe Frankfurt has been inviting the automation industry to a virtual exchange on its virtual platform SPS Connect. From November 24 to 26, the virtual matchmaking event was accompanied by an extensive lecture program. Those responsible at Mesago Messe Frankfurt have now drawn a positive initial balance.

"We are very satisfied with the results of SPS Connect and are delighted to have once again offered the automation industry an opportunity to exchange ideas with the virtual format this year," summarizes Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President SPS at Mesago. "Our special thanks go to the numerous participants as well as our long-standing exhibitors, whose participation made the virtual format possible in the first place."

From November 24 to 26, 239 exhibitors presented more than 2,500 products at SPS Connect. During this time, 4,329 employees were available on the virtual platform to advise the 9,008 active participants. 27% of participants accessed the platform from abroad.

Although the live program has come to an end, visitors to the platform can still access the presentations on the Main Stage until the end of the year. The matchmaking function via video conference/meeting is still active until December 4, after which participants can exchange ideas via chat.

Good response to the lecture program

SPS Connect was accompanied by a total of 120 presentations in three parallel streams and several roundtables, with the most popular presentations being followed live by more than 1,300 people.

Among the highlights was the discussion with Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder, who spoke about the opportunities and limits of politics in dealing with the pandemic and with regard to the development of new technological possibilities.

Successful AI-based networking

21,310 networks, i.e. mutual connections, relationships and contacts were established between participants and exhibitors. 4,166 business meetings were generated by the end of the event week. 702 more are planned for the first week of December, after which participants can continue to exchange information via chat.

First exhibitor and participant feedback

Cooperation partner Siemens is satisfied with the virtual event: "As the largest exhibitor at the physical SPS trade fair, it was also important to us for the virtual format in this difficult situation to create a positive external perception for SPS through a strong partnership presence. It was just as important for us to reach our customers and interested parties in person this year. To this end, we have closely linked our own virtual format, the Siemens Digital Enterprise SPS Dialog, with SPS Connect," says Marcus Bliesze, Head of Marketing Factory Automation at Siemens Digital Industries.

"The idea of integrating matchmaking into SPS Connect and focusing on it was exactly the right one from our point of view," confirms Ulrich Leidecker, COO and President of the Industrial Management and Automation business area at long-standing exhibitor Phoenix Contact. "Looking back on the last few days, we can say that there were very promising contacts via the platform."

It is also interesting in this context that the virtual format has opened up completely new target groups, as Fausto Carboni reports. "We have reached a diverse audience that differs from the physical trade fair. A look at the statistics shows that we were able to establish numerous new contacts and relationships," says the CEO of Italian transmission manufacturer Bonfiglioli.

Mehmet Gülbey Yanar was one of the participants who had the opportunity to attend SPS Connect for the first time. "SPS Connect was a great platform to expand my business world in a targeted manner," concluded the Project Manager at Mercedes Benz Türk A., who joined the event from Turkey.

"SPS is the most important trade fair of the year for us and the industry, which is why it is important to us that it continues to exist," confirms Steffen Winkler, Sales Manager of the Automation & Electrification Solutions business unit at Bosch Rexroth. "We are happy to support this with our participation."

SPS 2021 - in Nuremberg again?

Despite the positive outcome of the virtual SPS Connect, the industry is still hoping for a physical SPS in Nuremberg - including Mesago Messe Frankfurt. The organizers are planning to hold the industry get-together for automation technology as a real event again next year from 23 to 25 November 2021.