embedded world 2020 – quiet but interesting!
When the embedded world doors are closed today it might be time to draw the easy conclusion, it was interesting and quiet. A show many people will remember.
Quiet…
Some people estimated a 50% drop in visitors, but we have to wait for the final figures to draw a final conclusion on that. The no-show of many big companies created big open spaces – no filled up with benches and tables, parasols; it sometimes reminded more of a holiday or gardening show.
..but interesting!
The low number of visitors created a very different atmosphere. No shoulder to shoulder filled paths, but quiet places and halls. The good thing? There was time to have a close look at the products and solutions offered and some of the exhibitors felt happy with the response. Not so much the quantity, but the quality of the meetings counted for them.
The ‘fear of the virus’ was on the top of the lists of the conversations. People moved their body in awkward positions to find out yes or no to shake hands (there where special stickers advising not to shake hands..better to give a smile) and all over the show there were special dispensers to clean your hands.
It was also a reality check for the ’show’ market. Depending of the spread of the corona-virus it can have a serious impact. The Mobile World show in Barcelona was canceled and over the coming months we will see how a show like the Electronica in Munchen (Nov 2020) will pick-up in reservations. Most likely many companies will hold the cards close to their chest when it comes to order reservations for the show.
If China is not opening up soon, it will be interesting but also difficult to see how the electronics market will respond, not only for shows like the embedded world and Electronica, but also for the day to production like PCBs, the availability of components, the production of ready made hardware…interesting times!
More about the handshake: https://www.eenewsembedded.com/content/no-handshake-policy-embedded-world-hmm-aha
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