What to expect from Appian World 2022
After the painstaking (but staunchly conscientious) switch to virtual that the Appian World conference had to move to in 2020 right at the start of the pandemic, the world has been through two years of… well, we don’t need to explain the rest, do we?
Appian’s low-code C-suite spokespeople and tech leads have spent the last 24 months delivering Zoom briefings and virtual online update calls like everybody else… but, now, in 2022, the ‘band’ is getting back together again.
So then, as the Computer Weekly Developer Network team heads out to Appian World from April 25 to 27 2022 in Miami, Florida… what can we expect?
Safety first
Given the personal journey that so many people have been on throughout the pandemic, Appian has thankfully put its safety plan front and centre for this developer symposium and conference. Appian World is a fully vaccinated event. Attendees will be required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination at conference registration prior to picking up their badge.
There is also additional cleaning, provisioning for any required levels of social distancing and Appian has even reserved an option to stipulate a change of suggested actions covering ‘handshakes and embraces’ between conference attendees. It all makes sense.
Into the event proper then, the company’s official big statement is as follows:
Appian World connects business and IT leaders [so that they can] learn firsthand how to accelerate business by discovering, designing and automating workflows through a unified low-code platform.
“Collaborate with your peers, industry visionaries, partners, and the entire Appian community to find resources, develop skills, get certified and be inspired,” reads the promo.
Speaker selection pack
Speakers at Appian World 2020 include company founder and CEO Matt Calkins and chief marketing officer Denise Broady.
Also speaking are Chris Bell, director at PwC; Krystle DaSilva, principal at Neuberger Berman; April DelFavero, VP for global field and partner marketing at Appian; John Kotsonouruis, director & global head for Business Intelligence (BI) and process reengineering at Citi… and, for developer enrichment, Malcolm Ross, Appian’s VP of product strategy and deputy CTO – breakout speakers are further detailed here.
Malcolm Ross’ recent low-code compliance control confidence deconstruction can be read on Computer Weekly here.
Session snapshot
Appian CEO Matt Calkins: A mission to empower organisations – elevate people – democratise development.
Let’s also take a snapshot of some of the sessions presented this year.
The Fastest, Easiest Path to Complete Automation – this session is devoted to automating complex processes that span people, legacy systems. In this session, Appian automation expert Kevin Visco uncovers automation trends and strategies and showcases how the Appian Low-Code Platform works delivers automation and indeed the wider path to hyperautomation.
The Live Build Challenge – sees six Appian developers compete head-to-head, showing off their app building speed and skill, to try and claim a cash prize. Appian senior developer advocate April Schuppel will be joined by senior solutions consultants Jenny Durina and [he/him] Val Rader to guide viewers through the action.
Build Data-Driven Apps 10x Faster with Low-Code Data – this session looks at why integrating siloed data sources is typically the slowest aspect of app development and requires specialised, technical resources. Low-code data promises to change that, serving as an integrated data layer that is usable and accessible across an organisation.
Alongside the core Appian sessions, partners and guest speakers will hold present on a number of low-code related topics and themes.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome attendees back to Appian World and the opportunity to meet our customers, partners and guests in person. From democratising software development, through enabling business agility with a unified low-code platform… and onwards to embracing sustainability and Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG) for strategic advantage, this year’s event offers a broad array of topics to empower attendees and their organisations. In addition to unveiling exciting news for developers, I’m also looking forward to chairing the Women’s Leadership Lunch and talking with Sarah Thomas, the first full-time female official in NFL history,” said Denise Broady, chief marketing officer, Appian.
Malala’s human education mission
Yes obviously there will be networking and the odd refreshing beverage, but Appian’s non-code conference element is actually a presentation/discussion with Malala.
“Education is education. We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow. Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human,” said Malala Yousafzai, co-founder of Malala Fund and Nobel Laureate.
As the author of three books, Appian encourages us to consider Malala as a ‘catalyzing force’ that aims to ensure every girl in the world will have the opportunity to learn and lead. Her immediate focus is providing access to 130 million girls who have been denied the right to education.
Miami sound machines
The event itself kicks off with the Appian World 5k run, which operates with a $25 fee to participate and all proceeds being donated to ITWomen, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the interests of women and girls pursuing careers in technology.
Appian will use Miami to showcase its vision for a new breed of low-code sound [software] machines, if the rhythm doesn’t get you, the code acceleration probably will.
