Microsoft conference in Croatia

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Microsoft conference in Croatia

• UFI meeting
• 29.1.2004, Zagreb

Marko Makovac Marketing Manager Microsoft
Adriatics
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Agenda

• Introduction
• Microsoft conferences
• WinDays
• What?
• How?
• Why?
• Q A

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Introduction

• Microsoft in Adriatics Region
• 4 Subsidiaries
• Slovenia Ljubljana (1995)
• Croatia Zagreb (1997)
• Serbia Montenegro Beograd (2002)
• Macedonia Skopje (2004)
• 70 employees
• Sales, Marketing Services
• Partnership MS Business Model
• Global Local Company

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Microsoft Conferences

• Long tradition in Microsoft
• Global, Regional or Country level
• Mostly annual events
• Target audience - Professionals in IT industry
  (both customers and partners)
• Typical example - TechEd
• EMEA level, 10 years, 5500 attendees
• Adriatics region (annual events)
• 9. NT Konferenca SLO (1996)
• 4. WinDays CRO (2001)
• 3. Sinergija SMN (2002)
• 2. Vizija MAC (2003)

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WinDays What?
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WinDays What?

• The most important Microsoft event in CRO
• Recognized as a professionally organized, highly
  valuable, very attractive event (rated avg. 4.4
  out of 5)
• Annual conference (4th consecutive)
• Venue Timing - Opatija in April (duration 4-5
  days)
• Biggest IT conference in Croatia
• over 1000 attends (from the region)
• 129 speakers, 119 sessions (6545 min. of content)
• participation of all major MS partners in Croatia
• Richness of content
• 9 Parallel tracks, Workshops, Hands On Labs
• WinDays Network (Wireless Opatija), Partner Expo
• Parties, charity and social events (i.e.
  basketball tournament)
• VIP events tracks
• PR briefings
• and more ...

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WinDays How?

• WinDays Team MS partners (sponsors) vendors
• Content (sessions) is the most important
  component
• Partner contribution essential
• Speakers (majority of sessions)
• Solutions (WinDays Network, WinDays Portal)
• Services (Support for WinDays staff and
  attendees)
• Equipments (PCs, network, multimedia, printers
  ...)
• WinDays is non-profitable (today)
• Microsoft Conference Marketing Budget
• Sponsorships
• Attendees fee
• Biggest challenges
• Subcontractors (not prepared for such event)
• Venue (no adequate facilities)

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WinDays Why?

• 4 years ago
• Several smaller events focusing on one area or
  audience or huge happenings not focused on the
  right people
• In total required a lot of effort and resources
  with limited results
• No single, central Microsoft event that would
  cover all major technologies and areas
• WinDays today
• Single major event Synergetic effect achieved
• Demonstration of MS technologies and solutions
  supported by (mostly local) skilled experts
• Considerable MS technical knowledge and skills
  transfer
• Broad customer and partner connection achieved -
  increased customer and partner satisfaction
• More than just a conference (technologically,
  professionally, socially)
• MS very satisfied with achieved results

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WinDays 2002 Video

• What is WinDays all about!

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Q A Open Discussion