One of the most awe-inspiring events of Payroll Congress is walking into the Expo. With so many vendors, so many things to see and do, where do you start?

Let's walk through some tips and tricks so you can make the most of your time at the Payroll Congress Expo. 

More Than Free Goodies

If you’ve never been to the largest payroll expo before, the one thing everyone talks about is all the free things you can collect from the vendors. That’s great, but the Payroll Congress Expo is so much more.

There are demonstrations, learning opportunities, and—most importantly—the networking opportunities provided by seeing the technological tools and resources other PayrollOrg members are using and researching.

Have a Plan

PayrollOrg provides Payroll Congress updates through multiple sources to attendees on everything happening at the Expo. There’s Congress Today magazine—both online and print, the Payroll Congress website and app, and PAYTECH magazine. Use these resources to do research ahead of time. Use available information, such as booth numbers and a map of the exhibit space, to make it easier to navigate the large space (pick up the first printed issue of Congress Today Tuesday morning for the Expo Resource Guide).

Then, make a list of the vendors you want to learn more about, as well as the ones you are already using. Think about what your organization may be planning for future projects. Use this opportunity to visit with your current vendors to see what they are offering in new functionality and what their roadmap may look like.

Be Open to Learning New Ideas

The best thing about Payroll Congress is being with so many like-minded payroll professionals. Listening to what other attendees talk about may spark an interest in something you have never heard of or experienced.

Use the networking opportunities provided during the meals that occur at the Expo and the special offerings like dessert and cocktail time. During this time, there are tables available to sit down to eat. Use this time to meet with other attendees to build your network.

Use the Buddy System

There are so many things to see and do at the Payroll Congress Expo that having another person with you can enhance your ability to capture everything.

Take notes, whether in writing or electronically. It’s hard to remember everything, so document the important information you gather from the vendors and/or learning sessions. Use the notes to create presentations for your organization’s management and your payroll team.

Arrive early at the conference, if you’re able to, as this will help you have time to find your way around the conference space. The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center sprawls over 600,000 square feet, so wear comfortable shoes.

Beware, there is a lot of activity going on at once, so take breaks when necessary. The Expo hours are posted in many places, including Congress Today, the Congress App, and on various signs throughout the convention center. Don’t expect to see everything at the Expo on your first visit. Plan on going back each time it is open.

Have Fun

Make sure your luggage contains enough extra space to take home all the great information (and goodies) you collect from the more than 100 vendors that will be in the Expo at next month’s 44th Annual Payroll Congress, May 12–15.

Most important of all, enjoy yourself. Payroll Congress is a fantastic opportunity to invest in yourself.

Karen Settembrino, CPP, is Product Director, HCM at Alithya. She is a volunteer on several PayrollOrg committees, including Ask an Expert, Board of Contributing Writers, the Child Support, Federal Issues, Garnishments, and State and Local Topics Subcommittees of the Government Relations Task Force (GRTF), and the Emerging Technologies Subcommittee of the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force (SPLTF). She is also a representative of the IRS Security Summit.