Later this month, ProcureTech Live will kick-off its first online procurement event. Naturally when Supply Excellence readers hear ‘online event’ you think of an e-RFX or reverse auction.

ProcureTech Live, however, is truly an online conference – a full agenda with keynote presenters, a virtual exhibit hall and a lounge area where you can network with procurement executives from all over the world. (No word as to whether they’ll be serving virtual “rubber” chicken for lunch.)

Although you can log on in between coffee breaks and conference calls, the event will operate like a traditional conference, with a markedly Continental feel. The keynote presenters are impressive – from SpendMatters blogmeister Jason Busch to Senior Analyst at Forrester Research. As you “sit” in the lounge, you can share contact information and procurement war stories with someone in Asia. Or, you can visit an exhibit hall booth and request a demo “On Demand”.

The event is “live” on November 21. (Yes, for those in the U.S. that is the day before the traditional turkey feast. But what better way to fight off that tryptophan coma than to engage in a lively — albeit virtual — discussion on supply risks?) The presentations will be archived for 90 days and the exhibit hall booths open for questions during that same period.

I encourage you to check it out – heck, it’s free so what can you lose? Just think, this could be the way of the future for events (read: no more Vegas conference halls!).

For more information and to register for the event, visit http://www.procuretechlive.com/.