What is it like to attend Community Summit for the first time?
, Project Manager and Financial Supervisor at Andrea Foods, was the winner of a free VIP ticket from ERP Software Blog. As a first-time Community Summit attendee, he discovered technology vendors in the expo that he had never come across before, built valuable professional connections using the Whova app, and attended sessions focused on his company’s migration from Microsoft Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central.
In this interview, Alex shares what he learned, what stood out to him, and why he believes Community Summit is well worth attending. If your organization is considering attending Community Summit for the first time, his experience offers some useful insight into how to make the most of the event.
On a personal note, I am especially glad that we were able to give this ticket to someone who was so appreciative of the opportunity and really focused on getting the most out of his time at Summit.
Watch the full interview below.
Anya Ciecierski: I’m here with Alex Orlando, the winner of the ERP Software Blog giveaway for a free VIP ticket to Community Summit. It was Alex’s first time at Summit, and I’m eager to hear: How did you like it? How was it different from what you expected?
Alex Orlando: I think it was much different from what I expected. I didn’t realize that the convention center would have two full rooms of vendors whose booths I could visit and learn from. There were also thousands of people there, all attending just like me. It was much bigger than I expected.
Anya Ciecierski: Do you feel like you met vendors at the expo that you might not have heard of otherwise?
Alex Orlando: Definitely. In addition to the technology side, I also found accounting services, which is really helpful for us right now. I was pleasantly surprised.
Anya Ciecierski: Nice! I know you took advantage of some of the advanced networking opportunities, including events and parties. How did you connect with people in the evenings?
Alex Orlando: On the event app, Whova, there were a few community posts about places to meet and things to do. I went to a couple of events I found through the app. I met a wide range of people from across the U.S., as well as someone from London. I think it was very successful.
Anya Ciecierski: Were there any particular sessions or takeaways from the event that you think will help you become a better user or share useful information with your team?
Alex Orlando: Yes, definitely, especially given where we are right now. We’re currently using GP and migrating to BC. A couple of sessions outlined specific warehouse adjustments we can make, as well as the basics to consider when moving to BC. I feel much better prepared and more comfortable starting this project for our company.
Anya Ciecierski: Tell me a little about your system. What are you using now, and what are you planning to use?
Alex Orlando: We’re currently using GP 2018, along with Vicinity Software, who actually told me about this event and helped me get here.
Anya Ciecierski: Vicinity Software is a great partner.
Alex Orlando: They’ve absolutely changed the way we do business, so credit to them. Since we already partner with Vicinity and their solution works well with BC, that’s why we’re making the move to BC. We also hope to integrate a few more financial reporting capabilities into BC.
Anya Ciecierski: What would you tell someone next year who’s wondering whether they should attend Community Summit?
Alex Orlando: I’d definitely say yes, especially for someone in a similar position who’s looking to migrate to BC or has recently moved to BC and is exploring different ways to make it work for their business. The range of options is unmatched. Our computer VAR at home probably wouldn’t have shown us anywhere near as many options as we found here. I hadn’t heard of most of the people and companies I connected with, so it’s an easy recommendation from me.
Anya Ciecierski: It really makes a difference to attend in person. That’s great to hear. Thank you so much. I’m really glad we could give you a free ticket to someone who appreciated it and truly made the most of the experience.
Alex Orlando: Thank you.
Final Thoughts
Alex's experience highlights the value of attending Community Summit in person, particularly for organizations preparing for a Microsoft Dynamics GP to Business Central migration. From exploring new vendor solutions and connecting with other professionals to learning practical ways to prepare for a transition, the event gave Alex ideas and confidence to take back to his team.
If you're considering attending a future Community Summit, Alex's advice is clear: go, explore your options, and make the most of the opportunity to learn from the community.
Registration for Community Summit 2027 in Columbus, Ohio is already open.
