A review of the highlights of the largest FME user conference to date

From the 5th to 7th of September, 640 participants from all over the world met in Bonn for "The Peak of Data Integration", the largest FME user conference to date. The event was jointly organized by Safe Software and con terra.
 

The conference week kicked off with pre-conference training sessions, which were very well attended by over 140 participants. They offered attendees the opportunity to learn about various topics such as automation with FME Flow, the integration of FME and Python, connection via APIs and quality assurance of geodata.
 

The conference started with the opening event in the plenary hall. Highlights here were the contributions from Safe Software founders and CEOs Don Murray and Dale Lutz. They welcomed the international audience and presented their usual entertaining and professional outlook on the future of data integration, proving their visionary potential. 
 

Absolutely impressive was the keynote of explorer, motivational speaker and author, Mark Pollock, who achieved the extraordinary feat of reaching the South Pole despite physical limitations.
 

Ken Bragg from Médecins Sans Frontières used impressive images to illustrate how FME technology is being used to support global humanitarian missions, in vaccination campaigns for example, with data on natural disasters, epidemic data or security information for missions.
 

Christian Elfers from con terra then took an exciting look at the future in his visionary keynote "Shaping the Future with the Cloud and GeoIT". He showed how technology-based concepts and trends such as Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence or Open Platforms can help to master current and future societal challenges. 

 
Participants were then able to get creative at the Hackathon in the evening on the first day of the conference. The event was hosted and sponsored by Deutsche Telekom, where 120 FME fans gathered for the challenge in a relaxed atmosphere with drinks and snacks. The hackers developed new ideas for Doctors Without Borders, among others, tested solution approaches with FME, and intensively exchanged ideas with each other. 
 

In addition to attending the user presentations, many participants also took the opportunity to network or exchange tips and tricks in the spacious Basecamp. In the Tech Solutions Lounge, a lively exchange on technological topics and practical application possibilities took place. 

A special highlight of the conference was the evening event on Wednesday: a boat tour on the Rhine, passing picturesque landscapes. The tour started at the pier near the World Conference Center in perfect weather and with good spirits on board. Fun and games were offered by the FunZone with a wide range of entertainment options, including the exciting Magic Video Cube. Sports enthusiasts took the opportunity to play matches with other conference participants in the table tennis area.

In the sponsor and host lounges, the focus was on personal discussions with manufacturers and partners such as Trimble, Esri, Tensing, Locus and 1Spatial.

The special personal encounters with FME users from all over the world, inspiring moments, and the great ambience in the World Conference Center rounded off three extraordinary conference days in Bonn. 

 
The next conference, The Peak of Data Integration, has been announced for spring 2025 in Seattle. We will inform you about this and all other events on our website in due time.