This was the conference’s first in-person event since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The confluence of global supply chain disruption, changes to the nature of work, and shifts in consumer habits meant that the people coming together to talk about the future of their industries were essentially starting fresh, making a new way for themselves in a new world.
As evening fell on Thursday in Las Vegas, the whirlwind of activity that was HxGN LIVE Global 2022 came to a close, with more than 3,000 in-person attendees gathering at the Venetian Resort over four days to discuss, debate and encounter the autonomous future first-hand. The conference and technology expo came back with a strong focus on sustainability and learning from the challenges of the past years to disrupt the way things are done using autonomous technology as a tool for positive change.
This was the conference’s first in-person event since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The confluence of global supply chain disruption, changes to the nature of work, and shifts in consumer habits meant that the people coming together to talk about the future of their industries were essentially starting fresh, making a new way for themselves in a new world.
The conference began with the opening keynote “What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way” from our President and CEO, Ola Rollén, who greeted a crowd from across the spectrum of Hexagon customers and partners who were very excited to be gathering again. Rollén’s speech set the scene for the conference with a message of resilience, responsibility and thought leadership, focusing on moving forward in a world radically changed by the COVID-19 pandemic and seizing the opportunity to create a new paradigm where sustainability and profitability can coexist.
Hexagon CTO Burkhard Boeckem spoke early Tuesday morning, showing off some of Hexagon’s latest innovations that empower customers to create and manage real-world systems in a digitally immersive environment. This included the announcement of the Power of One digital platform for mining, a new holistic, life-of-mine smart solution connecting sensors, software, infield apps and cloudware. Available and ready to implement, this technology connects the mine to the boardroom via a single onboard ecosystem comprising a smart computer, antenna and display.
This was not the end of the new products and solutions announced at HxGN LIVE Global 2022, as attendees were introduced to the new BLK 360, the smallest, lightest and fastest scanner yet from Leica Geosystems that perfectly blends speed and flexibility with accuracy. We also met Nexus, an open platform that enhances smart manufacturing collaboration by connecting people, technologies and data, accelerating innovation and time to market and addressing specific challenges in various stages of the manufacturing process. These are all amazing products on their own and we have a lot to say about them, so check back soon for a dedicated blog on the details!
The event’s seven focused summits gathered during the days to provide attendees with training sessions, demos, panel discussions, Q&As and more in hundreds of breakout sessions where we heard thought-provoking conversations and answered a lot of questions about applications of Hexagon technologies at a variety of scales. The breakout sessions were also available to attendees in our virtual experience, ensuring that everyone got the chance to see how they will benefit in the autonomous future.
From the breakout session rooms it was only a short walk down the hall to our exhibition floor, the Zone, which opened for preview access Monday night and for the general conference on Tuesday morning. Remaining open throughout HxGN LIVE Global, the Zone offered hands-on looks at technologies from across a huge spectrum of use cases in summit-specific “islands” stuffed with the latest advancements from Hexagon and our partners. Those present could get a first look at products that had been announced only moments before, see new developments and solutions for their needs, and watch in awe as the powerful technologies on display did everything from surveillance scanning of the space they were standing in to exploring immersive augmented reality environments like a virtual mine site or a data-driven New York City. We were even treated to a visit by a couple of Boston Dynamics’ robotic platform (“Spot”) carrying the BLK ARC, who posed for pictures and even showed off a few dance moves.
In our keynotes room, the flow of inspiration never stopped. Each summit had its own dedicated keynote speakers who addressed pressing issues and exciting opportunities in their space, whether it was confronting the uncomfortable truths about sustainability, the lessons and opportunities gleaned from the pandemic, or hearing awe-inspiring stories about technology’s uses in space from retired Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk. The summit keynotes were live-streamed to users of our virtual experience and are available on-demand after the conference via HxGN TV.
The fun didn’t stop after hours, either. HxGN LIVE Global 2022 was packed with electrifying events in true Vegas style. On Monday, our preview event Xtreme in the Zone gave us a first look at the expo with a live DJ and drummer accompanying an extreme sports show on a massive halfpipe. On Tuesday, we split up for our summit events including a star-studded soiree at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, a tasting of local beers at the Trustworthy Brewing Co., dinner at the famous The Bouchon French bistro, and a rocking show with fully-costumed hits from across the decades from local musical experience Alter Ego. Then on Wednesday, we came together again for one last bash with Xcite, our own private evening at Tao Beach Dayclub – one of the hottest tickets in Las Vegas. Paying attention during the day was really rewarded, as the winner of the CODEBREAKERS on-site contest received their own private cabana for eight at Xcite!
It’s hard to talk about everything that happened at HxGN LIVE Global in one shot, because there really was a seemingly infinite supply of things to see and do during the week. But if we had to sum it up in a word, it would be this one – optimism. Whether we were gathered for an inspirational presentation, looking at the next generation of digital tools or just chatting in the halls between meetings, it was clear that the people and companies who filled the Venetian this week are going to do some incredible things to help us move forward into a sustainable future with autonomy at its core. We talked a lot about sustainability and the need to protect that future using the skills, knowledge and creative spirit of humanity, and it’s clear that this year’s HxGN LIVE Global is going to be remembered as the start of something amazing.
We’d like to thank everyone who attended in person and online, and everyone who worked hard to make this year’s conference a reality. Keep an eye on Spotlight for more from HxGN LIVE Global, including guest blogs from some of our attendees.
We’ll see you in 2023!
