The virus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on in-person conferences, with nearly all if not actually 100% of such events cancelled or more commonly moved to virtual since the middle of March.
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In fact, likely one of the last conferences or trade shows to be held in person was certainly the massive MODEX show in Atlanta from materials handling industry trade association MHI, which opened just as the virus was starting to break in the US. Several exhibitors chose not to attend the event, and attendee numbers were down dramatically, at maybe to just 35% of the normal crowd, according to SCDigest estimates.
MHI runs two major supply chain shows: (1) MODEX, held in even numbered years in Atlanta; and (2) the ProMat show, held in odd years in Chicago.
The originally scheduled date for ProMat was in April 2021. One change was that the annual conference of the Warehouse Education and Resource Council (WERC), which MHI acquired earlier this year, was planned as a separate event but co-located in Chicago with the ProMat trade show and conference.
Recognizing that the virus might still force cancellation of ProMat 2021, MHI earlier had announced that it would make a call on this year's show on December 7. That day is here, and with virus levels spiking, to no one's surprise the physical ProMat show has been rescheduled and reformatted as of course a digital only event.
The show for 2021 at least has been rebranded as ProMatDX, for "digital experience." It will be held April 12-16, 2021.
"The MHI Board determined that due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the current state and local regulations, it was not possible to hold a live event for attendees and exhibitors," MHI said today in a statement.
Some weeks ago, a source had told SCDigest that holding the in-person event was impossible, due to regulations in Chicago and Illinois.
In parallel, the WERC conference will now be a separate event, back in its once familiar spot in May, and also be renamed as WERCDX. The event will run on-line May 3-5, 2021.
On ProMat, a real challenge for MHI is that the chance to actually see materials handling equipment, often in very large displays that cost vendors sometime more than $100,000 to install, is a key attraction to get potential customers to come to the event.
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 MHI says that ProMat DX "will provide not only sponsor and attendee interaction but also the ability to see equipment and system solutions in-action."
The organization adds that the show will used AI-based matchmaking to connect exhibitors and attendees, live video meetings, product demos and live chat. There will also be streamed educational and keynote sessions.
Added Daniel McKinnon, MHI EVP of Exhibitions: "While nothing will ever replace the in-person ProMat expo, ProMatDX will utilize the latest digital event technologies to provide all our audiences with the unrivaled education, connections and market access the industry needs now more than ever to solve today's unique supply chain challenges."
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