K20 has gone digital
ServiceNow just announced it has gone digital for this event. Below is the statement from https://knowledge.servicenow.com/faq.html#more_1
Over the past few weeks, we have been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. In order to protect the health and safety of our Knowledge 2020 attendees, partners, and community, we have made the decision to make Knowledge 2020 a digital community event that will launch on May 5 in place of the in-person event in Orlando, FL.
As a Knowledge 2020 registrant, you will receive a full refund of your pass to the original form of payment. This will take 5-7 business days to complete and an email confirmation will be sent to you.The Knowledge 2020 digital experience will showcase all the ways you can unlock productivity through modern digital workflows, highlight the latest customer and platform innovations, and inspire the ServiceNow community to continue to create great experiences for businesses.
In the coming days and weeks, we will provide details about the Knowledge 2020 digital experience. We are committed to creating a phenomenal digital experience that will engage, inspire, and connect you to the best practices from our customers around the world.
The global health crisis is creating new realities for all of us. Thank you for your patience as we evaluated this fluid situation and assessed the best way forward to bring the ServiceNow community together in a safe and healthy manner. We regret we won’t see you in Orlando this year, but we are excited to stay connected digitally to share and learn from each other. That’s always been the power of the ServiceNow community.
See you online!
Which has a lot of details.
My take aways
It seems that ServiceNow has taken a page from Google's book here. That's fine. Great even. No reason to rethink some of these decisions.
| Item | Google Cloud Next FAQ | ServiceNow FAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Refunded, and waived | |
| Hotel | Cancelled automatically | Cancelled automatically |
| Keynotes | Still happening | Not addressed, but I imagine they will show this like they have previously |
| Sessions | Listed, not scheduled (Maybe they were scheduled, but I wasn't watching then) | They were listed, not anymore, and not scheduled |
| Attendance | Everyone can join for free | |
| Swag? | There will not be swag | Not addressed |
| Flight | You are on your own |
- Full refunds of your pass. If you booked a hotel through Knowledge 2020 website, the reservation will be cancelled.
- A "digital experience" was mentioned three times in this short FAQ. It should engage, inspire, and connect individuals.
What can we expect for a "digital experience"?
Here we get into what could be. If we look at other conferences that went digital, and ones that have always have been there seems to be some competing agendas.
- Disseminating information. I assume will be done via Zoom Meetings or some other screensharing tool.
- Connecting individuals. I assume this will be either not available, or some digital way, but in either case, it will be new and different. It will take getting used to.
- Expo floor. I assume this will be either not available, or some digital way, but in either case, it will be new and different. It will take getting used to.
How can we capitalize on this change?
Since everything will be digital, all streaming of ServiceNow stuff is nearly equal. If you're a small partner, spinning up YouTube Live or Twitch, you are not much different than however ServiceNow official will handle it in my opinion. With that being said I expect to see a lot of steaming video coming up out of this.
Changes
| Date | Changed |
|---|---|
| 2020-03-17 | Passes are now stated to be rolled to K21 and not refunded unless asked. |
| 2020-03-17 | Digital event will be free. https://knowledge.servicenow.com/faq.html#reg_1 Will there be a cost for digital participation? We will not be charging for attending the Knowledge 2020 digital experience. Stay tuned for more information on how to register. |
| 2020-03-17 | Airfare will not be reimbursed. https://knowledge.servicenow.com/faq.html#speaker_1 Will I receive reimbursement for airfare? Airfare and hotel is the sole responsibility of the individual and will not be reimbursed. |
| 2020-03-17 | "Learn More" FAQ removed block of text regarding refunds. |