Introduction

In this article, I share my experience attending FinOps X Europe, the largest event in the FinOps industry, and how I got the opportunity to participate through a scholarship program. I’ll walk you through the key takeaways from the conference, including the latest trends and developments in FinOps, as well as the invaluable networking opportunities and tool discoveries that enriched my professional journey. Beyond the official sessions, I’ll recount the unique experiences and insights gained from interacting with a global community of FinOps practitioners. I hope this article will pique your interest in FinOps and perhaps inspire you to consider attending a future FinOps X event, where we might have the chance to meet and exchange ideas.

What is FinOps X?

FinOps X is a global conference series organized by the FinOps Foundation. This event features industry-leading talks and offers interactive sessions. It provides a unique networking opportunity for FinOps practitioners to connect and share experiences. Notably, for this European event, we booked the entire hotel for the duration of the conference, creating an immersive and exclusive environment for attendees to fully engage in the FinOps experience. As a FinOps engineer, I often found it challenging to find common ground with other stakeholders in my daily work environment. However, during this event, I felt a sense of comfort and belonging, as if I had returned home. The conference provided a rare opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded professionals who truly understand and appreciate the intricacies of FinOps.

Beyond Borders: Navigating FinOps X Europe with Scholarship Support

Attending overseas conferences can be challenging due to work schedules, travel fatigue, time differences, and high costs. The financial burden is often the most significant obstacle, even when companies cover some expenses.

However, receiving a scholarship changes the equation. I was invited to FinOps X Europe with a scholarship, which not only eased the financial burden but also recognized my contribution to the FinOps community especially to Japan and South Korea.

Scholarship program details have been changed. But it remains an attractive opportunity for people who want to enter this industry. For current information on scholarship opportunities, visit the official FinOps Foundation website.

Conference Highlights: Key Takeaways

The FinOps X Europe conference provided valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the FinOps field. Here are the key takeaways:

Expanding FinOps Scope:

The first day’s keynote, which is now available on YouTube, presented a paradigm shift in FinOps thinking. It proposed extending FinOps scope beyond the public cloud to private cloud, data center, SaaS and licenses.

FinOps in AI Services:

With the rapid cost escalation associated with AI services, discussions began on how FinOps experts can contribute to managing and optimizing these expenses. This highlights the evolving role of FinOps in emerging technologies.

FOCUS 1.1 Release:

The FinOps Foundation introduced the latest release of their Format, FOCUS 1.1. This update to the FinOps framework was a significant point of interest, likely offering new guidelines and best practices for practitioners.

Emphasis on SaaS Management:

While cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure) have been the primary focus of FinOps, there was an intriguing discussion about the need for FinOps to pay more attention to Software as a Service (SaaS) costs. This is particularly relevant as SaaS expenses are growing rapidly.

Japan’s SaaS Market Growth:

While Japan’s SaaS market is smaller than Europe and the United States, it is showing rapid growth. This trend underscores the importance of applying FinOps principles to SaaS management in the Japanese context.

Networking and Community Building: The Hidden Gem of FinOps

The true value of the FinOps X event continued long after the official sessions ended. Each evening, participants from various countries gathered over dinner to share their experiences and knowledge. These gatherings went beyond simple networking, becoming a platform for practical problem-solving.

Attendees openly discussed FinOps-related challenges they faced in their companies and received advice from others. For instance, when one participant expressed difficulties with cloud cost optimization, others shared strategies that had been successfully implemented in their organization. This exchange provided vivid, on-the-ground experiences and insights that are often hard to obtain from formal presentations.

Exploring the FinOps Tool Ecosystem

The FinOps X venue was filled with numerous SaaS companies sponsoring the event and showcasing their solutions. This presented attendees with a valuable opportunity to get a comprehensive view of the latest tools and technologies in the FinOps field.

Before the event, I was familiar with only a few well-known tools. However, through this experience, I realized that there are numerous solutions supporting various areas of FinOps. I had the chance to directly experience tools specialized in cost optimization, resource management, predictive analytics, report generation, and more, while receiving expert explanations.

This experience went beyond simply discovering new tools; it provided concrete ideas that could be applied to FinOps practices. It will be immensely helpful in selecting and implementing appropriate tools that meet our organization’s needs in the future.

Conclusion

FinOps X Europe was a transformative experience that broadened my perspective on FinOps. The power of networking and community building stood out, providing invaluable opportunities for idea exchange and problem-solving.

As a FinOps engineer from Japan, I gained insights that will enhance my practice and contribute to the growing FinOps community in Japan and beyond. However, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed by the limited representation from Asian countries at the event. This underscores the need for greater engagement and participation from the Asian FinOps community in global events.

The conference reinforced that FinOps is about optimizing value and driving innovation, not just cutting costs. Looking ahead, the next FinOps X is scheduled for June 2025 in San Diego, USA. I hope this article has sparked your interest in FinOps, and perhaps we’ll have the chance to meet at a future FinOps X event. It would be especially great to see more attendees from Asia next time.