Looking for reasons to attend a virtual conference this year?
2020 is rapidly becoming the year of the virtual conference — and they are not going anywhere. This is a good thing: in terms of savings, environmental footprint, accessibility and of course, immunity against external factors (ahem)… virtual events claim all the pros and not many cons.
We have 28 years’ experience hosting a worldwide software testing conference. Since 1993, we’ve brought software testers and QA professionals together to learn, test and connect. And every year, we get a little bigger. Now — well, we’re thrilled to be the largest, friendliest software testing event in Europe.
This year we’re doing things differently. We’re re-imagining our live event and taking our entire programme online. That’s 55+ speakers, 3 days of tutorials, keynotes, track talks, networking events, and more.
It’s going to be our best programme yet. Why? Because going virtual opens up a whole new arena of possibilities for us — and for you.
With this in mind, here are 7 reasons you should attend a virtual conference this year.
1. Connect with a global network
With endless online networking opportunities, it’s easier than ever to make connections that are most relevant to you at a virtual conference. Talk it out with those who are in the same boat, even if they’re not on the same continent — people who tackle the same problems, and get just as excited about a solution. At EuroSTAR 2020 Online, you can meet and jump into conversations with the world’s largest testing community
The conference is a melting pot of creative people. Hear new thoughts, validate your ideas, or change your perspectives — it’s all possible.
2. Get access to all the learnings
Ever gone to a conference and had to make a tough choice between two sessions you’d love to attend — but both are happening at the same time? You don’t have to worry about that with virtual conferences. In most cases sessions will be recorded, as they are streamed. At EuroSTAR 2020 Online, we’re including post conference on-demand access to ALL 60+ hours of talks, so you don’t have to miss a thing. That’s some serious learning at your disposal — our tutorials are super interactive and practical to get your creativity flowing. You’ll hit your desk filled with actionable ideas to apply to your work.
3. Solve testing challenges
We know that an important part of a live conference is that you get help with those frustrating problems creating bottlenecks in your work. 
It’s also where you’re sometimes hit with your best ideas, inspired by random interactions with your fellow attendees. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get that same chance at a virtual conference. For example, our live conference will feature the EuroSTAR Test Clinic, where you can bring your toughest and most complex questions to our testing experts. We’re creating a dedicated online space where you can get 1:1 help and resolve even the most frustrating testing challenges.
4. Explore new tools & vendors
Trying cool new tools and demos from vendors is all part of the conference experience. There are tons of opportunities to replicate this online, with platforms offering extremely sophisticated virtual expo booth experiences. We’re going to make sure you get the most out of our software testing expo — it’s Europe’s biggest, and draws some of the best companies in the world, armed with all the latest testing tools. Chat face to face, ask questions, try online demos and tools, and add new processes to your testing toolkit. And did we mention the virtual swag bag…?
5. Bring an open mind, take new perspectives home
One of the best things about a conference is that it’s a new space and a chance to put your thinking cap on; away from the usual daily grind. Well, that’s still a given with a virtual conference when it’s done right. It’s all about the people taking part in the online space — and our community is so passionate and enthusiastic about testing, the vibes will jump out of the screen! Plus, it can be easier to ask questions in a virtual setting. Our live Q&A sessions mean you get to pick our speakers’ brains and absorb lots of extra knowledge.
6. Increase team bonding
Yes, there’s a huge benefit to giving your whole team access to a virtual conference. Everyone is absorbing the knowledge together and getting into the same headspace. Create a ‘divide and conquer’ approach to split up the programme of talks and maximize the learnings from all sessions. Co-ordinate talks and keynotes in order to get different perspectives and learnings and hop in and out of different breakout session as a team. This nurtures team building, strengthens your company culture and gets everyone thinking creatively so you can test more efficiently as a group. If your team has a backlog of ideas, now is the time to let them flourish! With on-demand access to all the sessions after the conference, your team can use the content as a learning resource all year.
7 Save, save, save
This is a no brainer, but you really are saving on a huge cost by attending a virtual conference. Most of the potential physical barriers are gone — travel and accommodation, accessibility, and all the other reasons that may have stopped you from attending a conference. You can join an online conference from anywhere — all you need is your device and an Internet connection. You don’t even have to show up for the entire conference if you really don’t want to — just secure your ticket and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll have access to recordings. It’s a win-win.
EuroSTAR Online is happening this November, 17–19. It’s Europe’s largest software testing conference and has been bringing software testers and quality professionals together since 1993!
This is where you are going to solve your testing problems — straight from the comfort of your home or office. Check out our programme for even more reasons to attend a virtual conference…