3 Tips for a Productive GSX

It is easy to get lost in the midst of a large trade show, here are three tips to ensure you are getting the most from your trip.

Heading to a trade show these days is no easy feat. The size of security industry events are growing at a rapid pace based on continued interest in securing facilities, educational buildings, hospitals, venues and more. There are also new verticals of security that are quickly growing such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and analytics.

In order to get the most out of your trade show experience, you have to have a game plan. It is easy to lose track of time and miss that important session or forget where that important booth was located. Here are three tips to getting the most out of GSX.

Come Prepared

It is always easy to have a great and productive time when you are prepared for anything. For GSX 2018 there are a few things you will need, such as weather appropriate clothing, comfortable shoes, plenty of water, businesses cards (lots of them!), an external battery for your phone and a list of booths and sessions you wish to hit up.

The weather in Las Vegas, according to weather.com shows that we are all in for a hot GSX. With temperatures ranging from 97 degrees to 99 degrees. For those of you who aren't from Dallas, Texas where Security Today is headquartered, 99 degrees — in the dessert — is hot! Be sure to wear layers of clothing that you can remove and drink plenty of water.

Business cards are your best friend at tradeshows such as these. They are the best way to remain connected to those you meet at the show. Write down on the back of someone's card what you might have talked about or a key word to help you remember your conversation when you finally get back to the office.

And last but not least, carry with you your perfect itinerary. List all the sessions and booths you would like to see and try to get to as many of them as possible. When you have a game plan, and stick with it, you tend to be a lot more productive than the wanderer.

Venture Outside Your Comfort Zone

In order to have a productive trade show, sometimes you need to do things you wouldn't normally do. Expand your plans to include a few sessions that aren't in your wheelhouse, stop by booths that you have never heard of, and venture into conversations you wouldn't normally take part in.

By doing this you will find yourself learning things and adhering them to the way you do business now. There are solutions and ideals that you have never thought of introducing to your team, after GSX there might be a thing or two you learn that will jump start your brain.

Stay in the Know

One of the best ways to get the most out of any trade show is to stay connected to what is going on around you. Security Today has created a way to ensure that each attendee can get the most our of GSX by visiting the Live From GSX social zone. This social zone collects all the news, updates and live view from the exhibit hall, guaranteeing that even if you are stuck in a room with no windows for a meeting, you can still see what is going on at booth 1456.

To stay connected to the show and Security Today's coverage of updates and news, go to securitytoday.com/live.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.