Forum 2027 | Why Attend
The executive case for being in the room
Three days at the A3 Business Forum can provide what months of reports, conference calls, and industry events often cannot: a clearer understanding of the economy and automation market, direct access to peers facing similar decisions, and time to build relationships before you need them.
WHY IT MATTERS
The Intelligence
Make better decisions with a clearer view of the market.
Economic conditions, technology investment, customer demand, labor pressures, capital availability, and industry transformation all influence the decisions automation companies make. The A3 Business Forum helps leaders interpret those forces through economic forecasts, automation-market insights, executive keynotes, A3 perspectives, and candid discussions with fellow members. You will gain a broader understanding of what industry leaders are seeing, where they believe the market is moving, and how other organizations are preparing.
Economic Perspective
Understand the economic signals and business conditions that could affect customer investment, operational planning, hiring, and growth.
Automation Market Intelligence
Explore the trends, technologies, applications, and market dynamics creating opportunities across the automation ecosystem.
Executive Interpretation
Compare what you hear onstage with the perspectives of other leaders responsible for strategy, sales, engineering, operations, and investment.
The Access
Build relationships with the people moving automation forward.
More than 700 automation leaders attend the A3 Business Forum each year. The value, however, is not simply the number of people in attendance. It is the concentration and breadth of A3 member companies represented. The Forum brings together executives, owners, innovators, manufacturers, system integrators, technology providers, and senior decision-makers from across the automation ecosystem.
These are the people developing new technologies, setting business strategy, forming partnerships, entering markets, investing in innovation, and influencing the future of the industry. At the Forum, access does not depend on securing a formal appointment or competing for attention on a crowded show floor. Members share the same sessions, meals, activities, and resort for three days—creating repeated opportunities to connect naturally and meaningfully.
700+
Automation Leaders
A3 Members Only
A Focused Industry Community
Three Days
Of Executive Access
One Location
For Sessions and Networking
The Experience
An environment designed for substantive conversation.
The Business Forum is not organized around an exhibit hall. Its focused executive program and shared-resort format are designed to bring members together—not send them in different directions. Market and economic sessions give attendees important subjects to consider. Meals and member activities create time to discuss those subjects, hear how peers are responding, and explore where priorities align. Each part of the experience serves a purpose: developing perspective, creating access, and building trust.
Begin with meaningful conversation
The Forum opens with an 18-hole scramble at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. The relaxed format welcomes golfers of all skill levels and provides several hours to connect with fellow members away from the usual meeting environment.
Turn introductions into friendships
Opening-night dinner, breakfast, Sports Night, the A3 Wellness Walk/Run, coffee meetings, and informal conversations throughout the resort allow friendships to develop across multiple interactions—not just a single exchange of business cards.
Establish a shared view of what is ahead
Economic forecasts, automation-market intelligence, technology discussions, and leadership perspectives provide a foundation for better-informed conversations throughout the Forum.
The ROI
Return with greater clarity, stronger relationships, and new opportunities.
The value of the Business Forum continues well beyond the three days in Orlando. Attendees return to their organizations with a stronger understanding of the business environment, a more connected executive network, and relationships that can support future partnerships, customer conversations, recruiting, benchmarking, and strategic decision-making.
A Sharper View of the Year Ahead
Bring economic, market, and industry perspectives back to your leadership team and use them to inform planning, investment, and growth discussions.
An Executive Network You Can Call On
Build relationships with peers who understand the automation business and can offer relevant experience, perspective, and introductions.
Strategic Introductions
Meet potential partners, customers, suppliers, and collaborators in a setting designed for meaningful conversation rather than rapid transactions.
Stronger Engagement With A3
Connect more deeply with A3 leadership and the broader member community while gaining a better understanding of the association’s priorities, resources, and industry work.
Alignment Across Your Leadership Team
Bringing multiple leaders from your company allows your organization to participate in more conversations, develop relationships across functions, and return with a shared understanding of the opportunities ahead.
Member Perspectives
The Setting
One venue. Three focused days. Countless points of connection.
The Forum takes place at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, with the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club nearby. Sessions, meals, accommodations, and member activities are centered in one resort environment. This creates a continuity that is difficult to reproduce at a traditional conference or trade show.
A conversation can begin during a session, continue over lunch, and develop further at Sports Night. A brief introduction in the lobby can become a breakfast meeting the following morning. The setting allows relationships to progress naturally throughout the event.
Venue
Signia By Hilton
Orlando Bonnet Creek
Golf
Waldorf Astoria
On-site course
Check-In
Jan. 18
2027
Check-Out
Jan. 20
2027
Why Orlando in January?
The timing gives A3 members an opportunity to step back at the beginning of the year, evaluate the market environment, reconnect with industry peers, and approach the months ahead with greater perspective. Orlando also provides the setting for members to remain together throughout the experience—helping conversations continue from the formal program into meals, activities, and informal meetings.
Who Attends
Built for leaders responsible for what comes next.
The A3 Business Forum is designed for executives, owners, senior functional leaders, and decision-makers across the automation industry.
Attendance is exclusively available to employees of current A3 member companies. This members-only environment creates a more focused community and gives attendees the opportunity to engage with peers who share a direct connection to the automation industry.
Attendees include leaders responsible for:
- Corporate and business-unit strategy
- Executive leadership and operations
- Sales and business development
- Engineering and technology
- Product development and innovation
- Marketing and market growth
- Partnerships and channel strategy
- Talent and organizational development
- Investment and long-term planning
Not Yet an A3 Member? Learn about A3 membership →
44%
C-suite, Owner, Founder, President
24%
Director, Head, Sr. Advisor
20%
Manager
7%
Vice President
January 18–20, 2027 | Orlando, Florida
Ready to attend? Registration is open to A3 members.
First Company Attendee: | Each Additional Attendee:
* prices increase on Aug. 18 and Nov. 18