November 2019: AMX Annual User Group & 15th Birthday
It’s been a week now since our fantastic 15th Anniversary User Group event at Tamworth Snowdome. We welcomed over 50 customers to the event this year, with many apologies too due to various last minute Brexit challenges or emergency responses due to the recent poor weather. However, we were lucky that the only snow we saw was nicely contained on the indoor slope which provided a stunning backdrop for our wintry birthday celebrations in the evening.
Throughout the day delegates were provided with insight from various customers and external sources, along with a valuable opportunity to share ideas with other AMX users in their sector, topped off with a delicious 3 course meal and some fun evening entertainment.
Our first presentation came from our newest customer. So new in fact, the ink was barely dry on the contract, having been signed just two days earlier. Andrew Mandle leads the ‘AIMS Upgrade’ project within the Environment Agency, and shared the history behind the Asset Management processes with the EA, particularly with regard to Flood assets, and their plans and aspirations for future improvements including the adoption of AMX as their central Asset Management system. The contract is a significant recognition of the quality of Asset Management Expert as well as the history and experience gained from working with similar assets with Natural Resources Wales. It was particularly positive to see the collaboration between the two organisations during the breakout sessions at the event.
Our second speaker, Rob Bailey from APSE, joined us to share information about the Association's work with Local Authorities and to provide a snapshot of the present state of affairs with regard to budgets and allocations along with current public perceptions. The data discussed was derived from information provided by numerous Local Authorities from across the UK and contributes to the Performance Networks programme that APSE run every year.
Our next speaker was James Barnes who recently joined the Humber Bridge Board and is currently familiarising himself with both the Structure and management programme there, along with the AMX system which recently went live. His presentation outlined the diversity of assets surrounding the bridge itself along with an account of the current approach to managing the structure and the new processes being introduced to coincide with the implementation of AMX.
Following a networking lunch, it was the turn of AMX to present, first with a look at some of the key new functionality that has been developed over the last 12 months, followed up with an overview of some of our more significant achievements and of course our plans for 2020 and beyond.
With increased customer growth not just in the UK but also internationally, the company has been on a major recruitment drive this year with six new faces welcomed to the team. This growth has led to a search for suitable, larger office space, and we are currently looking at nearby office premises that takes us out of the serviced Bristol & Bath Science Park that has served us so well for the past 7 years, yet gives us a chance to grow further and establish our own mark.
As ever, the sector specific breakout sessions proved to be the most popular part of the day, providing users with a chance to share expertise and experiences within their own sector. Feedback to AMX within these sessions is also incredibly valuable for shaping future developments and enhancements to the system, so thanks to everyone that contributed.
Given the amazing venue we were in, we couldn't pass up the opportunity for some team fun on the ice with a spot of Human Curling. Everyone taking part was a complete novice so there were no hints of cheating, and despite a few slips, bumps and wardrobe malfunctions, the fun had by all was clearly visible!
For those who attended, copies of the Presentations from the day are available to download from our Support Portal under the heading 'User Group Presentations', and, as always, if you have any questions at all please do drop us a line.
Being our 15th Birthday we wanted to take the opportunity to say a big thank you to all our customers for supporting us over the years, as we simply wouldn't be where we are without your input and backing, so as a special treat, this year saw our very first Evening event.
Having been primarily listening all day we thought it would be fun to ask our guests to take the lead in the evening with a fun Lego challenge where tables had just 15 minutes to create a landmark of their choice. The winner 'Tower Bridge' being chosen by the great staff at the Snowdome! The delicious meal was then followed by a mini quiz which appeared to generate lots of laughter, not least from some of the team names! Finally we rounded off, before the dancing began, with a short awards presentation. In the build up to the event we asked customers to submit their nominations for 5 categories. Winners received a Certificate and mini-trophy to sit proudly on their desks! The winners were:
- Biggest Asset - Falkirk Wheel, Scottish Canals
- Smallest Asset - 100mm Flap Valve, Natural Resources Wales
- Asset with Funniest Name - Bogey Burn, Scottish Canals
- Most Remote Asset - Lochnam Breac Buidhe Reservoir, Scottish Canals
- Most Unusual Asset - Dunnotter Woods Shell House, Forestry & Land Scotland
Once the music had stopped and breakfast enjoyed, over 10 organisations took the opportunity to have one-to-one sessions with our experts to discuss their own particular system needs and plans.
Overall feedback from delegates from the two days was incredibly positive, with comments such as “useful, informative and excellent variety of content” and 100% of attendees rating the content as good or very good.
We are very much looking forward to another year working closely with both our new and existing clients and are already excited about sharing next year's event with you. Get your diaries ready, as subject to confirmation, next year’s User Group event will go ahead on Wednesday 11th November 2020, with the location to be decided, but of course, we will aim for somewhere with easy access for as many customers as possible. We look forward to seeing you all then!
As always we continue to share information about our news, events and business through our quarterly newsletter so if you’d like to sign-up to receive them you can email “opt-in” to gdpr@amxsolutions.co.uk.