We all recognise that customer engagement is essential for business success. One of the most effective ways for software companies to connect with their users and drive value is by organising user group events. These gatherings go far beyond networking—they’re a goldmine for innovation, loyalty, and growth. Here’s why user groups are a must-have for any software company.
User group events offer a unique opportunity to get unfiltered feedback directly from the people using your software daily. Hearing about their successes, challenges, and enhancement requests in person allows you to fine-tune your product roadmap with precision. These events can extract insights that surveys and analytics tools miss.
Strong user communities build brand loyalty. When customers come together to share best practices and learn from each other, they feel more connected—not just to the product but to your company. A vibrant user community becomes a self-sustaining ecosystem where customers support one another, which can help to reduce reliance on your support teams.
User groups are a platform to showcase new features, offer training, and highlight real-world use cases. Engaged, knowledgeable users are more likely to maximise your software’s value, leading to higher adoption rates and stronger customer retention.
Every user group meeting is a potential innovation lab. Customers often bring creative ways they’ve adapted your software to their needs. Listening to these stories can spark ideas for future features and solutions that resonate with the broader market.
In a world of automated emails and virtual help desks, face-to-face interaction adds a human touch to your company. These events give your team the chance to meet the people behind the metrics, fostering trust and long-term relationships.
We recently hosted the Taranto User Group Conference at the iconic County Hall in London. Over 20 Taranto clients took part in the conference where we not only gave them an update on the progress of our business and our solutions, but we also highlighted some of our latest product updates. However, it wasn’t just all about Taranto: Interactive round table sessions were key to engaging with our clients and getting their input and feedback. The conference was successful and has given us a lot of material for our continuous improvement programme. It was also a fantastic opportunity to get out of the office, away from our screens, and talk to our clients in person. We heard about their successes and some of their frustrations—which we have already been able to resolve. The clients also enjoyed meeting other Taranto customers and learning from their experiences.
One of the highlights from our recent Taranto User Group Conference was hearing first-hand how one of our clients creatively solved an operational challenge by leveraging a lesser-known feature in Taranto. It was a great reminder that when you bring a group of engaged users together, they not only discover new ways to maximise your software but also inspire future innovations. Moments like these underscore why user groups are so vital to our broader commitment to customer success and continuous improvement.
In a digital age often dominated by virtual interactions, nothing quite beats the human element of an in-person gathering. It’s these personal connections—clients sharing experiences, product teams listening intently to real-world needs—that spark ideas and strengthen relationships. User groups offer that unique blend of practical insights and genuine dialogue, making them a cornerstone of any forward-thinking software strategy. If your organisation isn’t already tapping into the power of user groups, now is the perfect time to start unlocking their hidden value.
Shon de Vroede is Client Director of Taranto Systems.
Shon leads Taranto’s client services practice, fostering co-operative relationships and active engagement with Taranto’s extensive portfolio of public and private sector clients. With a deep-rooted background in the parking industry, Shon combines his technical expertise with a keen understanding of customer perspectives and empathy, enabling Taranto to deliver exceptional client services.
