5 Things to Know Before Heading to the APP2P Spring Conference & Expo

As Florida residents and AP Automation specialists, our team is getting excited about heading to Orlando for APP2P’s Spring Conference & Expo in May!

If you’re not familiar with APP2P, here’s a quick rundown of what their conference entails:

This event is the largest, most comprehensive conference dedicated to Accounts Payable. It brings together experienced accountants and innovative thinkers, providing attendees with an incomparable 4-day AP learning experience. Participants will learn best practices as well as ingenious solutions to their most demanding challenges. Odds are, if you’re facing a specific challenge within your AP practice, you’re not the only one!

This year, APP2P’s event takes place May 19-21, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, in sunny Orlando, FL. With the conference quickly approaching, it’s time to start planning!

Here are the 5 things you need to know before going to APP2P this year:

1. Get Registered

This year, registration opens on Sunday, May 19th at 7am. As you can imagine, gobs of people will flood registration as soon as it opens. Since registration is open until 6:15pm on Sunday, with additional hours each day of the conference, consider waiting a couple hours until the crowd dies down. While there are some pre-conference workshops going on Sunday morning, the conference welcome & keynote won’t begin until 5:15pm that night, with the opening reception following at 6:15pm.

Note: If you don’t have a place to stay yet, you can check out the event brochure for details on discounted lodging for attendees.

2. Attend Roundtables, Networking Events, and More

There are dozens of learning and networking opportunities available to you at the APP2P Spring Conference & Expo. If the options are overwhelming, check out this breakdown of the sessions, roundtables, and networking events:

Session Tracks

Not sure which sessions are best for you? You can follow one of the pre-designed session tracks outlined in the event brochure. Choose from tracks designed for your interests in:

• AP Fundamentals & Best Practices
• Leadership
• Operations & Compliance
• AP Security
• Payments
• Automation Case Studies

Each track includes session topics to fit your interests, as well as breaks for meals, networking events, and peer-to-peer roundtables.

Roundtables

Don’t miss the peer-to-peer roundtables scheduled for each day of the conference. 

Networking

Social events will be held each day, in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. You won’t want to miss out on the after-hours happenings. There will be giveaways, free photo booths, and more.

Keep in mind that this isn’t just about cutting loose and partying. It’s also about meeting industry leaders and making valuable connections with people who share your professional interests. Even if after-hours parties aren’t your scene, give it a try.

Certifications

Maybe you’re attending the event to take advantage of the certification classes. On Sunday, there will be full-day and half-day certification trainings available,  running from 8am until 4pm. Again, on Wednesday, certifications will be available 8am-4pm. But don’t worry, that still leaves you plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the event.

Before you leave for the conference, check out the brochure for full details, so that you can prioritize your time.

If you’re interested in learning about AP Automation, you can stop by Booth 109 to chat with the DocuPhase team about how Accounting Automation can help you simplify, organize, and automate your AP processes, letting you get more work done with less effort and frustration.

3. Make It Count

Maybe it feels unnatural for you to strike up conversations with people you’ve just met. If that’s the case, we get it! Still, meeting new people and hearing their unique stories is part of the experience. Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to some new people. Here are some challenges for the shyest eventgoers:

• At meals, sit at a table where you don’t know anyone.
• If you have a question in a breakout session, ask it!
• Attend the networking events with stories ready to share with others.

Trust us – you won’t be the only one in the room who’s feeling a little bit shy.

4. Be Prepared for Anything

When you’re going to an event like this, there’s no telling who you’re going to meet or when you’ll meet them. No matter where you decide to go while you’re in Orlando – whether it’s a session, a restaurant, or even a karaoke bar – it’s best to take a note from the Boy Scout motto and “always be prepared.” How can you be prepared? That’s easy enough - have business cards on hand at all times!

It probably goes without saying that you should get a business card from everyone you have a conversation with. The cards can add up, and you may forget which name goes with which person. Try this trick: Write a short note on the back of each card to remind you of who you got it from, what you talked about, and where you met. This will help you sort through all the information you collected when you get back from your trip.

From there, it’s up to you to stay connected with your new contacts! Make an effort to reach out to each person you met, so that if you ever need a line of support, you’ll all be there to help each other.

5. Enjoy Beautiful Orlando

Orlando is a prime vacation destination – and for a good reason! Take some time before your trip to identify things you’d like to do while you’re in the area. Since our team is pretty familiar with Orlando, we’ve taken the liberty of suggesting some of our favorite spots for food and entertainment:

• Disney Springs is Orlando’s #1 shopping destination, boasting over 100 shops and more than 50 restaurants. There’s something for everyone at this sprawling outdoor megamall.
• Twice the size of Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Epcot is best known for their World Showcase, where visitors can tour 11 different countries, enjoying food and shops at each destination.
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is ranked as the #1 “Thing To Do” on Trip Advisor’s Orlando page. It’s the only place on earth where you can ride the Hogwarts Express, visit Gringotts Bank, and sip on some Butterbeer fresh from the tap.
• Looking for some healthy fare? Swing by Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria for exquisite handcrafted teas, pressed sandwiches, and salads.

For more things to do (and eat!) in Orlando, check out TripAdvisor.

Whatever you decide to do, it’s sure to be a good time! We hope to see you all at APP2P’s Spring Conference & Expo!