Gerber will host Executive Forum and open state-of-the-art NYC Innovation Center at the event.  © Gerber Technology

Gerber Technology’s annual ideation conference has become an exciting hands-on tech experience in the fashion, apparel and textile industries. This year’s conference, taking place from 23-25 October, will unite customers and thought leaders together to act on key market trends and test drive the latest on-demand technologies.

The event will feature the grand opening of Gerber’s Innovation Center, a showcase for end-to-end workflows and digital microfactory for personalised production within hours. In partnership with show sponsors Kornit Digital, Henderson Sewing, Amazon Web Services, A&E, Caldera  and Pointcarré, the new Innovation Center will showcase a digitally connected workflow, harnessing the power of technology from consumer to design and all the way to print, cut and sew.

“Our customers and attendees will leave ideation 2019 with the motivation, knowledge and tools they need to go back to their businesses and transform the way they create, empowered by what is Now Trending,” said Ketty Pillet, Gerber Technology’s Vice President of Marketing.

“This year’s ideation will be a learning showcase like no other for the digital supply chain. Panellists, experts, and over 30 breakout sessions will focus on how to succeed with technology in the face of a rapidly changing consumer landscape. With increasing demand for customisation, as well as sustainable operations, rising costs and economic uncertainty, it's really the perfect time for both brand leaders and manufacturers in the industry to come together. Every year customers’ ROI from attending ideation keeps growing exponentially.”

Executive Forum

For 2019, Gerber is taking the conference to the fashion and design capital of the world, New York City, and is anticipating several hundred attendees at the Marriott Marquis on Broadway in Times Square. This year’s ideation conference will also include the addition of an invitation-only Executive Forum to help accelerate transformation in the industry through senior-level engagement and idea sharing.

“We are excited to engage with industry leaders in a whole new way this year,” said Karsten Newbury, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer at Gerber Technology. “Our focus is on empowering executives to digitise their businesses now in order to transform the way they create value for their customers. This includes a new look at business models in addition to advancing technology capabilities in areas such as 3D, PLM, Industry 4.0, IoT, and digital printing.”

“We are as committed as ever to our role as a trusted guide in helping our customers to reach their optimum level of success. ideation 2019 will be truly transformative: what was once just theory will now be happening in front of your eyes with practical and efficient workflows.”

Seismic shift

Consumers are creating a seismic shift in nearly every industry, the company continues. Passive, second-hand technologies, in which companies dictate the user experience, don’t work in an on-demand world, where consumers are shaping and creating their own experiences in every corner of their lives. Customers need to be in the centre of the story informing the industry of what they want, when they want it, and how they want it delivered. Efficient product delivery and sustainability are expected, not optional. This confluence of technology and consumer need is forcing brands, retailers, and manufacturers to find ways to transform their entire supply chain from development to production, sales, and delivery processes.

Keynote speaker and fashion industry disruptor Jenny Fleiss will kick off the event, speaking about consumer shifts and real-world experience with digital business models. Ms Fleiss is a co-founder of Rent the Runway, a successful, eleven-million-user strong start-up that pioneered a new and dynamic ownership of fashion, enabling consumers to rent designer clothing. Rent the Runway is one of only 20 female-led “unicorn” companies in the US to achieve a US$ 1 billion valuation.

In addition to the Executive Forum, the on-demand and microfactory sessions covering both mass production and on-demand customisation, 2019’s ideation conference will include sessions on:

• Digital printing workflows
• Solving the fit dilemma with 3D 
• PLM making digitalisation a reality
• Cost optimisation with production planning

www.gerbertechnology.com