First Line Software is a premier provider of software engineering, software enablement, and digital transformation services. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the global staff of 450 technical experts serve clients across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
During the Optimizely (Episerver) Ascend 2019 conference in Miami we saw our customers and met many other Optimizely (Episerver) clients.
This year’s theme for Ascend Miami was: Inspire. Learn. Connect. Which translated into an agenda packed with opportunities for attendees to learn how to get the most out of their Optimizely (Episerver) or Ektron solution, hear all about the latest industry trends, and start building connections with the dynamic community of Optimizely (Episerver) users and partners.
The event was kicked off by Chad Wolf, Optimizely (Episerver)’s Chief Customer and Sales Officer, who noted the success Optimizely (Episerver) has seen in 2019, most notably a customer centric strategy – “always on, always available, 24x7x365 support with personalized service and no 3rd party support.” Implementing this strategy has resulted in improved customer satisfaction, growth of the customer base, and an additional 200 attendees at this year’s Ascend in Miami. There was a lot of excitement throughout the conference as Optimizely (Episerver) staff and attendees celebrated Optimizely (Episerver)’s 25th year anniversary.
The two-day event was packed with presentations by the Optimizely (Episerver) staff, partners and customers who demonstrated the latest CMS and eCommerce features on customer websites such as Mazda, Marand, HD Supply, and MOAA (Military Officers Administration Association), to name a few. Optimizely (Episerver)’s most recent products include enhancements to features that leverage AI and machine learning technology. There was a great deal of discussion around the personalization capabilities as many customers are excited about taking advantage of this feature.
Attendees had the pleasure of listening to an inspiring story of courage from three-time World Cup Gold Medalist, Amy Purdy, who was also the 2014 Paralympic Bronze medalist, and 2018 Silver Paralympic medalist. Even though Amy lost her legs due to illness, she excelled as an Adaptive Snowboarder in the US and was also a runner-up on Dancing with the Stars. Amy’s message to the attendees was this, “if you were an author and writing a book about your life, how would you want your story to end? The choice is yours.”
At the end of Day 2, First Line Software held a cocktail reception for over 40 of their customers. David Tedford, Vice President at First Line Software stated, “this would not be possible if it were not for the people in this room that put their trust in First Line Software, and for that I am truly grateful.”
After 2 days of education, the closing reception was held at LIV, the Fontainebleau Hotel’s nightclub, where attendees mingled and danced to lively entertainment. We look forward to an even bigger presence at Ascend 2020. Until then, we welcome the opportunity to help you with your Optimizely (Episerver) implementation and building the best ecommerce personalization software for you in the near future.