Connect 2026 Day 3: What Attendees Are Taking Back Home
April 10, 2026 by Craig Patton
By the end of Tyler Connect 2026, the conversation had shifted from exploration to execution.
Attendees left with clearer direction shaped by real examples: where artificial intelligence (AI) is already embedded in daily workflows, how cloud infrastructure is supporting faster delivery and integration, and what it takes to move initiatives from planning into execution.
What Public Sector Professionals Are Taking Home
Enterprise Permitting & Licensing clients at the “Central Roundtable — Regional Collaboration & Networking” session exchanged ideas for new product features.
For many attendees, the value of Connect shows up in more confident decisions.
Some are returning with immediate next steps — configuration changes, process improvements, or product capabilities they can apply right away. Others are advancing larger initiatives with greater confidence, including cloud migration, data governance, and resident engagement.
“We used the conference to network, refine our skills, and learn about opportunities to improve our products,” said David Farmer, director of Budget & Administrative Services in Scott County, Iowa.
Todd Fleming, senior financial analyst for the city of Longmont, Colorado, said a key takeaway for his team is a clearer view of what’s ahead — particularly upcoming updates and new functionality. “We are going to be switching to the cloud in the next couple years, so we are really focused on the changes that are going to be happening there and what it’s going to take to switch,” he said.
The result is a path forward grounded in practical application.
Cloud as the Foundation for What’s Next
Attendees at the “Cloud Question Roundtable” asked Tyler team members about everything from migration strategy to security as they continue to transition public safety solutions.
Across sessions and client discussions, cloud was not a future-state goal, but an active priority. Agencies are working through how to migrate core systems, manage integrations, and maintain continuity.
Sessions on cloud adoption explored how to approach migration in stages, manage risk, and align cloud strategy with long-term goals.
In sessions like Adopting the Public Cloud in Government, attendees gained insights from Tyler and Amazon Web Services (AWS), including common adoption patterns, security considerations, and approaches to scaling cloud environments across agencies. Tyler’s strategic collaboration agreement with AWS helps to deliver innovative and accessible solutions for clients, enabling them to provide better experiences for residents.
For many agencies, the shift to cloud is also a shift in accountability — moving from managing aging systems internally to relying on a trusted partner to help navigate change. In the Appraisal & Tax General Session, a prerecorded client interview highlighted how this transition is enabling teams to push beyond the limits of legacy technology and operate more efficiently. As Lisa Dionne, executive director of Property Assessment in New Brunswick, explained, “Tyler can guide us through many of the challenges we’re seeing … We’re seeing a shift in the [staff] mindset every day of ‘oh, this is going to be so much more efficient.’”
Across Connect, cloud’s role was clear. It enables continuous updates, strengthens security, and supports the integration required for technologies like AI to function effectively within government environments.
Partnership Beyond Connect
Attendees worked with Tyler staff in “Creating and Managing Budget Projections: A Practical Lab.”
While Connect brought thousands of government professionals together for a few days, the work it supports continues well beyond the event.
Partnership remains central to delivering and sustaining complex systems, from implementation through ongoing support.
When asked for advice on how to communicate the ROI of cloud migration to stakeholders, Tiana Garner, Clerk of Court in Gwinnett, Georgia, pointed to their partnership with Tyler. “One of the biggest things with our SaaS flip was that things didn’t look different the next day,” she said. “We didn’t have any downtime.”
At Connect, that partnership was visible in sessions, in the Solutions Hub, and in conversations where challenges were worked through collaboratively. Beyond the event, it continues in the day-to-day work of maintaining and improving the systems that communities depend on.
Looking Ahead
Attendees departed with a more concrete understanding of how AI fits into their workflows, what it takes to advance cloud initiatives, and how to move forward within the constraints their organizations face.
Priorities are better defined and decisions are more informed by peer experience. The conversations that began at Connect will continue — shaping how agencies implement, adapt, and scale these capabilities.
We look forward to continuing those conversations at Tyler Connect 2027, May 2-5, 2027, in San Antonio, Texas.
More Scenes From Connect 2026!
World-renowned speaker and author Sebastian Terry onstage during the Closing Keynote.
Ethel Williams, city accountant for West Memphis, Arkansas, took a bold step toward her dream of becoming a famous singer — joining Sebastian Terry on stage and delivering an a cappella performance that brought the audience to its feet.
The Tyler Excellence Award winning team from Peoria County, Illinois, celebrated during a reception on the final evening of Connect.
The team from Maricopa County, Arizona.
Teams from Fort Bend Central Appraisal District, Texas, and Williamson Central Appraisal District, Texas.