Progress Exchange 2013 in Boston October 6-9, Westin Waterfront will be the premiere event to learn more about Progress Pacific, Progress Software's cloud strategy, that brought you DataDirect Cloud. As a principal systems engineer for Progress DataDirect, I work with DataDirect shops every day connecting their worlds to data, and wanted to share my top reasons to attend. I have attended A LOT of conferences, and this is THE superbowl for Data Driven Organizations and their Data Junkies, Data Geeks, and even Data Nerds.
When I attend conferences, I meet a lot of nice people and learn cool new things. But it's less common that I return home with something that proves immediate business value. Since data connectivity is ubiquitous, you will have an amazing trip report to share across your organization!
And I will bet you a cannoli from Modern Pastry in Boston that you're already using DataDirect somewhere in your organization.
My top 3 reasons to attend the DataDirect Track - Data Driven Applications
1. Save 6-7 figures on your next project by joining the DataDirect RoadMap and Vision
This session presented by Michael Benedict and Brad Wright will showcase the most exciting period in DataDirect's history with the explosion of data sources from Big Data, NoSQL, Social, and SaaS. I have seen first hand when organizations develop bloated solutions for data connectivity to SaaS sources such as Salesforce.com. Then they find out DataDirect built a standard ODBC/JDBC driver for it which would have saved a fortune in dollars and time. Join us to hear what's cooking for the next set of data sources on your radar.
2. Learn how DataDirect Cloud will make you a data hero
It's easy for a business unit to adopt a SaaS solution like Salesforce CRM, Eloqua, Workday, etc. But the challenge is how to drive your business with data silo'ed in those solutions. Even Progress Software has struggled with this, and DataDirect Cloud has been launched to solve this problem for your organization. I have been on calls where people dance, sing and make other NSFW remarks of joy when they get a direct SQL connection to Salesforce.com.
3. Wednesday 11:15 AM October 8, 2013
DataDirect has a top secret product announcement you will want to hear live. I have been tracking down developers in downtown Raleigh bars on this secret project, but they have yet to spill the beans under NDA. Perhaps it's easier to just join the session.
Below are track and session details for DataDirect; and we encourage you to visit other tracks related to Rapid Application Development with Rollbase, Business Rules Management with Corticon, and RDBMS technology for SaaS with OpenEdge.
Track 7 - Data Driven Applications - Progress® DataDirect® in Practice for High-Performance Data Access
Overview:
Big data and the cloud have sparked tremendous growth in data-driven applications and fit-for-purpose databases. This presents a new set of challenges: the demand for fast access for applications and the impact on application development. It also presents a unique opportunity: the ability to quickly and consistently connect to the world’s data.
Content areas:
- Data connectivity technology to address the challenges of data access in business-critical applications
- Future of data access in the context of big data, cloud data, and enterprise data.
- Best practices and real-world scenarios in deploying data-driven applications
- New world of data connectivity—where cloud data sources can be added on the fly without changing applications, and big data applications can facilitate faster decision making
Ideal for:
Database administrators, data management, and IT professionals, business users, business analysts, architects, developers, and anyone looking to learn more about the latest data access trends Track
Track 7 : Connecting the Dots: The Progress DataDirect Vision and Roadmap
MICHAEL BENEDICT, VP, GENERAL MANAGER, PRODUCT MANAGEMENT; BRAD WRIGHT, SENIOR MANAGER, PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, PROGRESS SOFTWARE
Learn some of the latest advancements in data connectivity and our coming attractions for the next versions of key solution sets. These include: Progress® DataDirect Connect®, Progress® DataDirect Cloud™ and Progress® DataDirect® OpenAccess™. Also, get the first inside look at results from our global survey of customers and partners. From platforms and operating systems to access and database technologies, see who is using what, where your markets are trending and how tomorrow’s competitive field is shaping out.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Executive Management, IT Managers, Operations Managers, Systems Engineers/Analysts, Business Analysts TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: Novice, Intermediate
JIM KOSLOSKEY, MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER; SUMIT SARKAR, PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER, PROGRESS SOFTWARE
Our experts will show how Progress DataDirect drivers are improving data management in the data-critical healthcare/medical world. For example how patient information gets populated in real-time to the multiple hospital functions integrated into EHR/EMR processes. This includes writing to relational databases including Oracle and SQL Server and even to departments that can’t receive TCP/IP or HL7 messages.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Executive management, IT Managers, Operations Managers, Systems Engineers/Analysts Business analysts, Business development TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: Novice, Intermediate
Track 7: Real-time SQL Access to Salesforce.com Cloud Data
SUMIT SARKAR, PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER, PROGRESS SOFTWARE
Like many organizations today, you need SQL access to Salesforce.com CRM, Force.com and Database.com. Sumit will guide you to the solution with real-time SQL 92 access using ODBC and JDBC. And, he’ll show you how –– with DataDirect –– you can realize unique data connectivity using SQL access to get a bigger payoff from your cloud data. Sumit promises real world examples from a number of different organizations.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Systems Engineers, IT Managers TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: Intermediate, Advanced
JAIME MERITT, DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, PROGRESS SOFTWARE; MARK ERICSON, DIRECTOR PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, ORACLE RIGHTNOW; JEFF RESER, SR PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER, PROGRESS SOFTWARE
This session will lead off with an overview of DataDirect Cloud, a new service that provides connectivity to any data source through the familiar, standards-based interfaces you know and love, ODBC and JDBC. An Oracle representative for Oracle RightNow will provide an industry view on Customer Service Clouds and the integration challenges to SaaS connectivity. Through the lens of the customer, product marketing will highlight the forces vying to provide access to data, and which approaches may ultimately advance integration efficiency, connectivity and enterprise success.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Executive management, CIOs/CFOs IT Planners, Operations Managers, Systems Engineers/Analysts, Business Analysts, Business Development TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: Novice, Intermediate
JAIME MERITT, DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, PROGRESS SOFTWARE; DION PICCO, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MARKETING, PROGRESS SOFTWARE
We’ve been cooking up something really cool. What is it you ask? Nah, we can’t tell you just yet. But trust us, you don’t want to miss this. If you only sit in one session this week, make sure it is this one.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Business Executives TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: Intermediate
DION PICCO, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MARKETING, PROGRESS SOFTWARE; ALEX OLIVERI, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, BRAVEPOINT
Application users want to access critical data through their tool of choice. Learn how Progress customers such as Bravepoint have taken advantage of the tighter integration between OpenAccess and OpenEdge, and how DataDirect fits within the OpenEdge Modernization Platform. Dion and Alex will explain how the OpenAccess tool custom-connects any OpenEdge application using tailor-made drivers and to best take advantage of this solution. They will also explain how it integrates with Progress DataDirect Cloud, a unified connectivity service.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: CIOs/CFOs IT Planners, Operations Managers, Systems Engineers/Analysts TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: Intermediate, Advanced
Sumit Sarkar
Technology researcher, thought leader and speaker working to enable enterprises to rapidly adopt new technologies that are adaptive, connected and cognitive. Sumit has been working in the data access infrastructure field for over 10 years servicing web/mobile developers, data engineers and data scientists. His primary areas of focus include cross platform app development, serverless architectures, and hybrid enterprise data management that supports open standards such as ODBC, JDBC, ADO.NET, GraphQL, OData/REST. He has presented dozens of technology sessions at conferences such as Dreamforce, Oracle OpenWorld, Strata Hadoop World, API World, Microstrategy World, MongoDB World, etc.