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Dreamforce ‘18 is just days away — have you planned out your schedule yet? This conference is jam-packed with parties, presentations, and events, so there are hundreds of things you could do, but what should you do?
We brought our team together to discuss exactly that and answer what seems like a simple question: How can AppExchange partners make the most of their time attending Dreamforce?
Regardless of whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned vet, read on for our shortlist of everything you’ll want to hit while you’re in town to get the most out of Dreamforce. We break it down by workday happenings and nighttime networking. All times are in PDT, local for San Francisco.
During the Day
Amazing Content
AppExchange Partner Keynote: Harness the Power of Network Effects & Ecosystems – Tuesday, September 25 at 11:00am
Today, over 87% of Salesforce customers use AppExchange solutions to extend their success with Salesforce. Learn how the power of network effects, combined with the latest Platform technology, are delivering business growth for partners and customers like never before. Featuring an all-star panel of Salesforce executives, plus founders and CEOs at leading partners, you’ll want to grab a great seat and get ready to take furious notes.
Financial Services Keynote: Unify The Experience, Unlock Loyalty – Wednesday, September 26 at 11:30am
Are you struggling to bridge the relationships across both the personal and professional financial needs of your customers? If so, this keynote is for you! Leaders from BBVA and State Farm will share insights and live demonstrations of how they are unlocking the full power of their consumer and commercial lines of business to unify the experience, and in return drive unprecedented customer loyalty.
Want even more financial services activities on your agenda? Check out this Salesforce blog on the top fintech resources at Dreamforce.
Healthcare & Life Sciences Keynote: Better Connections, Bigger Outcomes –Thursday, September 27 at 12:30pm
In this keynote session, learn how Salesforce helped UnitedHealthcare CIO, Phil McKoy, and Sree Kolli, SVP of Global IT for Align Technology, connect their data and teams, benefit from AI, and personalize how they help people lead healthier lives. Plus, see a live demonstration of the all-new Health Cloud for Payers. You can also check out this Salesforce blog for their top five recommendations for can’t-miss Healthcare and Life Sciences sessions.
Demo Jams – Various Dates and Times
Demo Jams are exciting events that take place across the Dreamforce campus. Four to six AppExchange partners compete in a game show style event where each has only 3 minutes to do a real-time demo of their app — no slides, no videos, no fluff. Demo Jams are happening at all of the major lodges covering topics for:
- Sales
- Customer service
- SMB
- Marketers
- And more to come
The winner for best demo is chosen by the audience, and the winners for each topic compete in the final Mega Demo Jam.
Sessions We’re Participating In
We had to plug our great people as they share insights with the masses. After you attend our sessions, be sure to meet with us at our booth in the Healthcare Life Sciences area of the Industry Lodge.
How do you stack up? Benchmarks from Leading + Up & Coming AppExchange Partners – Thursday, September 27 at 1:00pm
Join us for a riveting partner panel unveiling key insights from our 2nd annual State of the AppExchange Partners Report, featuring executives from Glance Networks, Fenergo, KornFerry, and AHM (an IQVIA company) that will deliver benchmarks on growth, technology, investments, Salesforce as a channel, and more. Learn how ISV Partners like you are leveraging Salesforce and what to look for in the year ahead.
Right after this session ends, hustle over to Mohith’s at the Moscone West, IT Observatory — details below.
Building Apps on Lightning: 3 Super-Powers You’ll Gain by Advancing from Clicks – Thursday, September 27 at 1:30pm
CodeScience’s very own Mohith Shrivastava, author of Learning Salesforce Lightning Application Development and Salesforce MVP, will discuss the power of using open source tools for advancing user experience, testing apps and components at scale, and doing continuous integration with Salesforce DX.
Places to Check Out
Dreamforce is like an adult playground for attendees, so anywhere you go is going to offer you the opportunity to network, learn, and have fun. But our team highlighted 3 must-visit areas for all Dreamforce attendees:
- The AppExchange Den in the Trailhead Zone. Location: 1st floor of Moscone West
- The Partner Lodge – an oasis away from the madness of DF18. Location: Park Central Hotel
- Industry Lodge for Healthcare Life Sciences, Finance, and Manufacturing. Location: InterContinental Hotel
At Night
Party with CodeScience at Oktoberforce – Thursday, September 27 at 6pm
It’s our 10 year anniversary and we’re putting the wunder in wunderbar. Celebrate the best moments of Dreamforce with spritzers, brews, Oompah, and more. In honor of DF18 falling in the middle of the Bavarian festival Oktoberfest, we invite you to grab your Lederhosen or Dirndl and join us for delicious bites, endless drinks, and the best AppExchange Partner networking in town. We won’t have room for walk-ins, so if you want to party with us request an invite here.
If you were lucky enough to snag an invite to the AppBash on Thursday, enjoy the night celebrating all things #appyness. For the mega list of DF18 parties, happy hours and more, check out this link from the folks at Anaplan.
Final Thoughts
There are so many great sessions and events at Dreamforce every year that there’s no way to fit all of them on your schedule. If you’re having trouble deciding what to go to or how to divide your team, check out these tips on how to make the most of Dreamforce.
And don’t forget to stop by the CodeScience booth to get a copy of our 2nd annual State of the AppExchange Partner Report and discover how C-level execs and decision-makers are leveraging the AppExchange.
Hope to run into you at one or more of these great events!
