A word from the CiA Managing Director

Summer is gone, autumn already has knocked at the door. This means, CiA technical group and standardization meetings are scheduled more frequently compared with the last weeks. CiA staff is also increasingly travelling to trade shows and conferences. The next trade shows, where CiA has booked stands, include:

• Schweissen & Schneiden, booth 6/A24, Essen (Germany), September 15 to 19, 2025
• Interlift, hall 3, booth A406, Nuremberg (Germany), October 14 to 17, 2025
• Agritechnica, hall 17, booth A59, Hanover (Germany), November 9 to 15, 2025
• SPS, booth 5/410, Nuremberg (Germany), November 25 to 27, 2025

On these trade shows, visitors have the opportunity to meet CiA staff and to discuss CAN-related technical and marketing issues. Even in days of social media and other means of electronic communication options, personal meetings are valuable.

In-person meetings offer several benefits, including stronger relationship building, improved communication, and increased trust. They allow for better interpretation of non-verbal cues, facilitate more fluid conversations, and reduce technical disruptions. Furthermore, personal interactions can foster a sense of camaraderie and make it easier to address sensitive issues directly. In particular, face-to-face meetings allow for the observation of body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues, which can significantly enhance understanding and communication. In-person interactions allow for more natural and fluid conversations, which can lead to more in-depth discussions and a greater sense of connection. The ability to clarify information immediately and address concerns in real-time reduces the likelihood of misinterpretations that can occur in virtual or written communication.

Casual conversations and small talk during in-person meetings can help build rapport and create a sense of camaraderie, fostering stronger relationships. When people can see each other and interact directly, it can lead to a greater sense of trust and authenticity, which is essential for strong professional relationships. In-person meetings can be less distracting than virtual meetings, allowing for greater focus and concentration. They also can spark creativity and encourage more collaborative brainstorming sessions.

In order to avoid misunderstandings, I like virtual meetings to agree on dedicated issues like wordings in specifications and standards. This is very efficient. Nevertheless, I prefer to discuss more complex things in personal meetings, whenever possible. A community needs trust, which is not easy to achieve with people, who never met in-person.