POST-EXPO '97 gracefully brought high-volume mailing professionals from around the world together to exchange information, see the latest technologies and purchase solutions. Held in Hamburg, Germany during October 6th through the 8th, the mega-exhibition and conference was very well done and refreshingly unique in several ways.

With a strong first-show attendance of over 4,000, there was plenty of activity and networking to be enjoyed by all present. Attendees came from all corners of the world, representing over 100 countries and dozens and dozens of Postal Services. One of the most interesting differences observed at POST-EXPO (compared to other postal-related shows) was that you didn't find "the person who operated the postage meter" or the person who "works in a small mailroom" at the show. Rather, attendees found themselves literally surrounded by some of the highest powered decision makers consisting of Purchasing Directors, Chief Engineers, Postmasters and other high level management officials and specialists from Postal Services and only the largest mailers far and wide.

The conference which offered over 75 Educational Presentations from industry experts covered three primary areas of concern so that there was something for everybody who attended. The three topic ranges covered in great detail were "Mail Processing", "Customer Services" and "Fleet Management". Presentations were delivered in a rapid-fire, right-down-to-business fashion. Every 20 minutes another presentation was unveiled and enjoyed by attendees who showed great interest and stayed on the edges of their seats anxiously absorbing and learning what the expert speakers brought to them. The panels of speakers thoroughly radiated experience, knowledge, strength and numerous creative abilities.

The Mail Processing presentations included titles such as "Optical Character Recognition on Parcels", "Cryptographic Postage Evidencing-A system to ensure postage payments for each mailpiece.", "EDI-Development & Integration" and "High-Speed Barcode and 2D Code Scanning Systems in Postal Sortation".

The Customer Service presentations included "Beyond the Counter-Extending postal services to the internet.", "Self-Service-Promise or reality?", "Postal Solutions-Automated postal counters creates a better and more profitable service-how can postal enterprises cooperate and share software developments?" and "Automating Counter Services-The key to providing more attractive and competitive services".

On the Fleet Management side of the coin, attendees enjoyed learning about things like "Electric Delivery Vehicles", "Geographic Data Systems", "Wireless Data Applications in the Local and Wide Area Environment" and "Multi-Stop Data Collection for Parcel Data Management On The Move".

Without doubt, the show was first-class all the way. I personally had the pleasure of performing the role of moderator for all of the speakers, presentations and panel discussions held in the main conference hall. From my personal experience (having given hundreds of postal and internet-related seminars over the years), I was extremely impressed with the audio-visual equipment and resources provided for the speakers and attendees alike.

The conference hall was professionally equipped to handle, project and display several forms of media, allowing for a wide range and multiple styles of presentations. In all of my speaking engagements I had never before had the pleasure to work with such a good media set up, or such a good team of A-V and lighting experts. Speakers gave presentations originating from their notebooks/laptops (PC as well as MAC), VHS Tapes, 35mm Slides and Transparent as well as Opaque Overheads.

Almost magically invisible to the crowds, several presentations actually utilized a combination of forms of media where the excellent audio visual crew seamlessly switched between the different forms of media so that the screen always quickly and accurately displayed what it was supposed to and the sounds remained perfectly in sync.

During the coffee and lunch breaks, literally dozens and dozens of computers owned by the different speakers were quickly and professionally swapped, set-up and ready for action by the time the crowds returned to the conference halls for the next round of presentations.

What made it even more exciting was that the crowd offered many compliments about the conference facility (in the Hamburg Messe) without even realizing that the main conference auditorium was literally whipped together and built to the specs provided by the show manager (Mr. Peter English), who worked very closely with each of the show's contractors, electricians, etc. in order to ensure a professional environment and a smooth show. The entire POST-EXPO team worked hard and well together to cover all the bases and roll out the red carpet to all who attended.

The three large exhibit hall areas were home-away-from-home for over 100 Exhibitors consisting of the postal worlds leaders in Equipment, Machinery, Vehicles, Software and Services. Top industry representatives from the many exhibiting Postal Services and Vendors alike proudly manned their stands and shared information and solutions with the hungry crowds. The Postal Services and Companies who exhibited were all very happy as well as somewhat surprised (as I was) to see just how much solid business was actually conducted right on the floor. Almost as if the "Wall Street" of the postal world, firm deals were being made left and right. It was abundantly obvious that POST-EXPO '97 accomplished the ultimate task of bringing key decision makers and solution providers face to face with one another.

Never before have I seen so many exhibitors do so well at a Postal related conference and exhibition. While by early Monday morning there had already been hundreds of thousands of dollars of business conducted in the exhibit hall, early estimates already indicate that the total dollars of deals made and contracts signed at the show are literally ranging in the high Millions! Yes, the high millions! Massive sorting and mail processing machines were being bought in bunches and several multi-year contracts for things such as Consulting Services and Software Packages were being wrapped up. This was not a show where people were merely present to "bring back some brochures" or "get some key chains & trinkets". The attendees were very powerful, very busy people with specific jobs to do and were there for a purpose. They meant serious business and they proved it with their checkbooks and their pens.

The show was such a success that POST-EXPO already has booked the hall again for POST-EXPO '99. All of the vendors I spoke with during and after the show indicated that they were definitely going to attend every POST-EXPO they could as they were very pleased with the high caliber of the attendees and their results in their stands. Many other representatives from postal services and companies such as the USPS and Siemens have already indicated that although they did not boast their products and services at this show, they are very much looking forward to exhibiting in the 1999 event. In fact, many people who simply attended or gave presentations were very sorry that their company or postal service did not exhibit as they missed out on opportunities or even more depressingly, saw their potential clients choosing alternate solutions or providers of services.

Although plenty was learned by all and many products and services were purchased, being at the show was definitely "fun-work". The entire POST-EXPO team went out of their way and spared no expense to ensure that all who attended were treated as VIPs and had a good time while they worked.

The food served during the various breaks, lunches and complimentary cocktail hours and buffets was all terrific. It consisted of delicacies such as a variety of smoked fish, delicious meats, fruits, vegetables and deserts from several countries. There were even several times when unlimited complimentary wines, beers and hors d'oeuvres were enjoyed as professionals networked and conducted business in a friendly, comfortable environment.

Even the exhibitors were courteously treated with their own special exhibitors lounge which was continually manned and stocked with conveniences such as complimentary coffee, soda, juices and fancy cookies. Rather than being tucked away in an "unused corner room" somewhere, the exhibitors lounge was pleasantly located in a private, center-balcony location, easily looking down onto the main exhibit hall floor enabling exhibitors to keep an eye on the overall activity of the floor.

Watch future issues of Post-express for information regarding future POST-EXPO shows. Until then, hat's off to POST-EXPO '97 for a job well done!

Scott DeMayo, CMDSM, MPQCS President DeMayo Mail Management Consultants