With the pandemic becoming a more distant memory for the commercial vehicle industry as we get back in the swing of face-to-face meetings and events, there’s something to be said about creating a better normal than before. We have all become more familiar with making digital connections, a useful way to rapidly build a business network – but these can only be developed to their fullest by taking time to meet in person. It will always be through real-life interactions that we build proper trust and really get to know our peers, colleagues and prospective business partners.
This year’s Commercial Vehicle Show proved the value of doing so, with a new business lead generated every six seconds by exhibitors using the event’s badge-scanning software – while last week’s Regional Forum North West brought SMMT members in Liverpool together to build deeper local relationships than online engagement is able to do.
England’s North West and locations in its immediate vicinity make the region an automotive hotspot, not least thanks to major ongoing investment in zero emission truck and van production, specialist trailer manufacturing, van converters, racking and a wide scope of component suppliers for some of the most advanced vehicles on our roads. It was positive therefore to see business cards being swapped or, as digital and in person interaction are increasingly combined, people scanning QR codes to streamline the exchange of business details.
Taking a more global perspective in two week’s time will be SMMT’s International Automotive Summit, bringing together the entire spectrum of our sector – from heavy vehicles and buses to cars and vans, along with hundreds of senior-level industry representatives, politicians and international media. As the UK’s flagship event dedicated to our global competitiveness, at a time of big investments around the world, the CV sector will be high on the agenda with a high caliber speaker line-up – including a keynote speech from Anna Westerberg, President of Volvo Buses, panel representation from Peter Ahrens, Managing Director of Leyland Trucks, Bruno Lambert, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, B–ON, and Dr Robert Best, Engineering Director, Wrightbus.
This is an unmissable opportunity to come together to seek knowledge, exchange ideas, challenges and solutions for the future and, like Regional Forum, networking away from the main conference room is a massive opportunity to that end. SMMT members can benefit from a complementary ticket, so if you’ve not got yours, click here for more information.
