Supply chain conferences are an excellent way to connect with industry professionals, learn about new technologies, and refine your operation through the experience of others. Conferences exist for a variety of purposes and supply chain specialties, including cold chain storage, transportation management, omnichannel best practices, and much more.

It is up to your organization to decide which conferences to attend and how you will leverage the information presented. Also, some conferences may offer discounted rates for groups, and others, like ProMat, do not charge a registration fee. There is no reason you should not at least make it to the low-cost conferences in the coming year. Although dozens of conferences exist around the globe, warehouse managers should consider going to one of the best supply chain conferences of 2019 (plus MODEX, which is held in even-numbered years and occurs in 2020).

National Retail Federation: Retail’s Big Show

Cost: $950 – $1,275 For Members and $1,000 – $2,375 for Non-Members.

Dates: January 13 – 15, 2019 in New York City

The NRF Conference brings together buyers and exhibitors to learn more about the innovations driving the industry. More than 99 countries send a combined 16,000 retailers and 37,000 attendees to share information and improve the state of retail.

RILA Retail Supply Chain Conference LINK

Cost: $1,095 to $1,595, Depending on Membership and Registration Date

Dates: February 24 – 27, 2019 in Orlando, Florida

The RILA LINK conference focuses on giving retail supply chain executives a review of emerging technologies and the opportunities through logistics service providers. Keynote speakers at LINK 2019 include Dick Johnson, President and CEO at Foot Locker, Inc., Gary Maxwell, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Dollar Tree, Rick Ridgeway, Vice President of Environmental Affairs at Patagonia, as well as many other industry leaders from top-notch brands.

Veridian Partner: HighJump Elevate

Cost: $1,249

Dates: March 3 -6, 2019 in San Antonio, TX

Elevate is a unique conference that focuses on bringing supply chain leaders together with product demonstrations of HighJump products, social events, and breakout sessions. This conference is the easiest and most interactive way to learn more about HighJump’s latest product releases and get in-person training for how to get the most value from such products.

ProMat

Cost: No Cost

Dates: April 8 – 11, 2019 in Chicago, IL

ProMat is among the nation’s greatest no-cost conferences. The conference brings together supply chain solution providers, up to 950 of them, and offers 100+ show floor seminars to enhance operations. It is a one-stop conference to see and interact with some of the most exciting developers in the modern supply chain.

Veridian Partner: JDA Focus

Cost: Varies by Group Size, Membership Etc.

Dates: May 7 – 10, 2019 in Dallas, TX

The JDA Focus conference is one of the largest conferences to take place in the DFW metroplex. Attendees get in-person skills in how to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning for the future of supply chain management, how to stay in-line with consumer’s needs, and much more. Major leaders conducting sessions and events at this conference in Charlotte Russe, Heineken, KeHE, Lowe’s, Mercedes-Benz, PetSmart and more.

Veridian Partner: Manhattan Momentum 

Cost: TBD

Dates: May 20 – 23 in Phoenix, Arizona

Manhattan Momentum brings together global thought leaders, market changers, and trendsetters in the WMS and distribution center space. This helps supply chain leaders understand how to take advantage of the latest technologies, increase competitive advantage, engage with consumers on a higher level, and much more. Key tracks in the conference will focus on the Manhattan lineup of products and systems, including Manhattan Active™.  For 2018, the conference focused on introducing the concept of “Push Possible.”

Global Cold Chain Expo

Cost: $795

Dates: June 10 – 12, 2019 in Chicago, IL

The Global Cold Chain Expo attracts more than 7,500 attendees annually and is focused on refining the perishable supply chain. This has roots in both food and pharmaceutical safety, as well as supply chain efficiency. Also, participating companies increase brand recognition and can open doors to new supply chain systems and management styles to improve their operations.

Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2019

Cost: $2,642.89 – $3,324.92

Dates: June 17 – 19, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain

Gartner hosts this conference to help supply chain leaders gain the skills to navigate the complex world of supply chain analytics and new technology. Leaders get the opportunity to interact with peers to discuss best practices and opportunities or weaknesses felt over the past year. In addition, hands-on learning sessions, directed by Gartner experts, help supply chain executives plan for the year to come and the changing needs of consumers and the modern supply chain, from supply chain planning through customer fulfillment and beyond.

Veridian Partner: Manhattan Exchange

Cost: TBD

Dates: October 7 – 9, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.

Manhattan Exchange 2019 will likely be a continuation of the featured, Push Possible™ concept. In 2018, the event brought together industry leaders from across Skechers, Gartner, Cdiscount, and Adidas, including more than 30 sessions and plenty of opportunities to connect with other supply chain leaders across the globe.

Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP Edge)

Cost :$2,495

Dates: 2019 To Be Determined

This 100+ session conference provides a glimpse into the workings of Amazon, IBM, Nike, and other Fortune 100 companies through keynote speaker sessions. The conference is primarily focused on cargo owners, transportation management, analytics and technology companies, and most importantly, this conference’s participants are the first to hear the results from the 2019 Third Party Logistics Study.

MODEX 2020

Cost: None

Dates: March 9 – 12, 2020 in Atlanta, GA

MODEX is held on the opposing years as ProMat, and it is among the largest trade shows around the globe. It brings together more than 30,000 attendees, 900+ exhibits and dozens of potential supply chain partners. Focal points of the conference include the Internet of Things, Big Data, Warehouse Management System (WMS) implementation, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and more.

Start Planning Your Conference Trips Now

Registration for the top supply chain conferences of 2019 may be limited, so it is best to register for the conferences today. Going to a conference is a great way to see where your organization may be struggling or want to improve. Also, some registration portals for the 2019 conferences are not yet available. Keep checking back on the homepages of each conference to find out when you can register for next year’s conference. Otherwise, if you are ready to start your new system implementation, Veridian can help you with that as well.

Veridian, a Manhattan Associates, HighJump, and JDA warehouse management system implementation company, can help you realize your supply chain success. Click the “Speak to an Expert” button at the top of this page in order to schedule a consultation call with one of our supply chain professionals.