Given the uncertain state of the economy, we didn’t know what to expect at Interop this spring. The show appears healthy. There is a lot of energy in the crowds, and attendees appear to be paying rapt attention to what is going on at the show. We see lots of attendees filling seats to listen to booth presentations – as if they are here to learn not just enjoy an employer-sponsored junket. For their part exhibitors are more businesslike than in past years, dispensing with gimmicks and diligently trolling for serious leads.
Performance reporting is coming into its own at this year’s show. We detect a trend as vendors showcase the value performance reporting delivers to their customers. Enterprises seem open to this message, and aware that performance information can prepare them to weather the impending economic downturn. There is a sense that getting good performance from existing resources gives you a leg up when the anticipated budget crunch hits. So rather than being drawn like moths to fire by whiz bang technologies as in many past Interops, this year there is keen interest in getting smart about how well the infrastructure is performing and making sure that what’s already in place lives up to its full potential.
