MODEX 2020: How to Get the Most Out of the Year’s Biggest Supply Chain Trade Show

MODEX 2020, the next edition of MHI’s bi-yearly trade show for supply chain industries, will take place March 9-12 at Antlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. A team from BHS will attend, as we have in previous years. In fact, we’ve been presenting at and/or attending every MODEX (in even years) and PROMAT (the sister show, also hosted by MHI, occuring in odd years) for decades.

In all that time, we’ve learned a thing or two about getting the most out of a visit to MODEX. Here are some tips for our fellow guests at MODEX 2020. We hope to see you there.

1. Make a plan. MODEX 2020 has a lot going on. This year’s show boasts nearly 1,000 exhibitors from all over the globe, scattered across five subject-focused “Solution Centers.” (These include Manufacturing & Assembly, Information Technology, Fulfillment & Delivery, Transportation & Logistics, and Emerging Technologies.)

   Then there are the 150+ educational seminars, the four high-profile keynote speakers, nightly networking events, and the tens of thousands of industry decision-makers to compare notes with. If you’re planning a face-to-face meeting with a longtime customer, you’ll want to schedule the event ahead of time. Otherwise, both your schedules are likely to be too full to make the connection.

2. Get started early. By the time we publish this piece, it’s probably already getting a little late to book your hotel and airfare. MODEX partners with accomodation provider onPeak to provide discounted rooms at more than 30 Atlanta hotels.

   There are plenty of other hotels in and around Atlanta, of course. But the onPeak providers are most likely to be near the Georgia World Congress Center and/or to provide shuttles each day of the event.

   At the last MODEX, in 2018, there were nearly 31,000 registrations. With that many people flooding to Atlanta, the sooner you can book your trip, the better.

3. Remember that, while the show is free to attend, some events may fill up quickly. It is free to register for and attend MODEX 2020. This free admittance gives attendees access to the exhibit show floor, the 162 (at the time of this writing) on-floor educational seminars, and even the event’s keynote speakers.
   Educational seminars and keynote presentations are first-come, first-seated, so you might want to arrive early to guaruntee a seat. That’s particularly true for the keynote presentations; they take place in the cavernous Thomas Murphy Ballroom, but are sure to prove particularly popular. Speakers include former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, EMOTIV founder Tan Le, and NFL champion Peyton Manning.

   On Wednesday, March 11, at 8:45, MHI CEO George W. Prest will provide a preview of the 2020 MHI Annual Industry Report — that’s not one to miss.

While BHS, Inc. won’t be exhibiting in 2020, our team will be there to meet with customers, competitors, and anyone ready to chat about material handling solutions and the broader supply chain industry. If you’d like to speak with our team during the show, call the BHS sales team at 1.800.BHS.9500. We look forward to seeing you at MODEX 2020!

References:

“MODEX 2018 Sees Record Attendance.” ModexShow. MHI, 2019. Web. 12 Dec. 2019.

“MODEX 2020.” ModexShow. MHI, 2019. Web. 12 Dec. 2019.