Looking to the Future at a Record-Setting Connect 23
May 08, 2023 by Anonym
The San Antonio Riverwalk didn’t know what it was in for with Tyler Connect 23 bringing a record-setting number of public sector leaders to the famed thoroughfare for three days of learning, networking, and a healthy dose of fun.
Connect '23 marks the highest attendance ever for Tyler Technologies’ annual conference, with nearly 6,000 people packed into the Henry B. González convention center from every department in government, schools, and public safety. The conference – centered on ideas of Shaping Tomorrow, Together – offered an inspiring lineup of speakers and classes in the unique Southwest setting.
As Connect opened Sunday night into Monday morning, attendees relished the first chances to meet their fellow public sector employees with the goal of swapping stories, lessons, and ideas for the best ways to connect their communities and care for staff and constituents.
The team from LEARN Regional Educational Service Center in Connecticut show off their Tyler Connect badges on Monday in San Antonio.
Tina Bridgeforth and Azariah Anderson, from Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, were at their first Connect conference. Their school district is piloting a new app, thinking of adding a new solution, and always looking at the best ways to leverage their existing technology.
One of the main draws of Connect is “being able to network with other districts,” Bridgeforth said. This informs “best practices — what works that benefits one district or another.”
Fahad Mansoor, attending from the city of Sunrise, Florida, listened to an explanation of a revenues and utilities solution at the Tyler Solutions Hub. It was his first time at Connect as well, as his department rotates each year.
Mansoor is tasked with bringing back information from learning sessions as well as other clients who use their same solutions.
“How was their experience?” he wants to know. “We’ll then carry that to our user base.”
Tina Bridgeforth, far left, listens while Tyler staff explain the benefits of Student Transportation at the Solutions Hub.
Off to a Hot Start
The conference opened Monday morning with an engaging panel from Tyler’s leadership team, including President & CEO Lynn Moore, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Puckett, Digital Solutions President Elizabeth Proudfit, and Chief Information Officer Kevin Iwerson. The panel was hosted by Dustin Haisler, chief innovation officer for e.Republic.
Haisler probed the panel for their insights on civic experience, data, workforce, and cloud hosting.
Tyler’s Connected Communities vision is strong, Moore said, with Tyler itself committed to streamlining operations to match the government interactivity it offers to cities, counties, and states.
“I don’t think it’s enough for us to be open to the change; we have to really embrace the change,” Moore said. “If we do that, there’s nothing we can’t do together.”
As governments continue to embrace cloud hosting, there will be immediately visible benefits, and some potential issues, Iwerson said.
One feeling shared across the panel was a continuing vigilance over cybersecurity. Having a strong partner to focus on security issues can ease those concerns, Iwerson said, while allowing government employees to focus on their daily work.
But the benefits to cloud hosting are great, including the ability to adapt quickly by updating or adding new solutions without lengthy physical installs. This will position governments to continue the massive gains they’ve made in recent years, Iwerson said.
“The last thing you want to do is to reach that peak and begin to atrophy, to lose that momentum that you have.”
Chief innovation officer for e.Republic Dustin Haisler, left, hears from Tyler Technologies CEO Lynn Moore and COO Jeff Puckett during the Connect '23 opening session.
Puckett agreed on the need for speed, thinking of it as the new expectations of government — faster service and simpler interfaces, lining up more with private sector offerings than ever before.
Through cloud hosting, and with easy-to-learn solutions, change can be impactful and fast.
“It’s not good enough anymore, once you identify a problem, to wait three or four years for a solution, you need it soon,” Puckett said.
Tyler Excellence Awards
A highlight of Connect every year is honoring Tyler’s Excellence Award winners – local governments, courts, schools, or other departments who went above and beyond in the last year, solving problems for staff and residents through creative and dedicated use of cutting-edge technology.
The winners were announced Monday, with an interactive website outlining their achievements.
Look for more detailed stories from each of the winners in the coming months, with individual accounts of their struggles and successes implementing tech solutions.
Connect '23 on Social
Social media remains the best place to stay constantly plugged in with Connect, as many attendees and Tyler employees know. Following Tyler Technologies and using #TylerConnect is a great way to connect during and after the conference, and to see highlights from throughout the week. Post and tag pictures of yourself, your team, or other sights around Connect to be featured in Tyler’s Connect '23 photo album on Facebook!
The “Tyler” sign in the lobby of San Antonio’s Henry B. González convention center was a popular photo-op.