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Demonstration guidance

Whether for a client, a session at a conference, or performing your Stand and Deliver, preparation for a demonstration is critical. Included are both general demonstration guidance and helpful tips for using IBM watsonx Assistant for Z and the IBM Technology Zone (ITZ) environment that is associated with the IBM watsonx Assistant for Z for Technical Sales Level 3 learning plan.

General demonstration guidance

Knowing the audience that you are presenting to is critical. Having a basic understanding of a client's business and their challenges enables you to customize the conversation, so it resonates with the audience. It is also important to understand the roles of the individuals in your audience to know at what level of technical detail to present.

In addition, it is always a good idea to:

  • Know how much time is allotted for your demonstration.
  • Anticipate what questions your audience will ask.
  • Anticipate what objections your audience may raise.
  • Have a backup plan (like a video recording of the demonstration) in case of unforeseen events like network failures and unexpected errors.
  • If your demonstration is to be delivered virtually, make sure everything works using the e-meeting technology.
  • Do not deviate from this demonstration script. Straying from the planned script can lead to unexpected results and failure.
  • If possible, and time permits, make your demonstration interactive with your audience. If that isn't possible, be sure to leave time for questions.
  • Always conclude with a call to action (for example, next steps, follow-on activities, and so on).

And, most importantly, practice, practice, and practice.

Specific guidance for IBM watsonx Assistant for Z and the ITZ environment

Following the scripts that are provided in the IBM watsonx Assistant for Z for Technical Sales Level 3 Demonstration Guide helps assure a successful demonstration. Use these tips to help assure success with IBM watsonx Assistant for Z and the ITZ environment:

  • While running many of the automated skills of IBM watsonx Assistant for Z, there will be times when the responses take 30 to 45 seconds to complete. You should be prepared to fill these wait times with some type of commentary. During these wait periods consider explaining in more detail what is being performed in the background, values of the automation, general values of the offering, or answering questions the client may have.
  • Google Chrome is the recommended browser for this environment. Some users have experienced intermittent errors with running some of the skills when using other browsers.
  • Run all prerequisites steps before starting the demonstration. Prerequisite steps are described with each scenario.
  • Anticipate different responses from the scripted queries. The ITZ environment is a live and changing demonstration environment. Responses are subject to change as updates are made to the large language model (LLM) and retrieval augmented generation (RAG) used by IBM watsonx Assistant for Z.
  • Follow the scripts in the IBM watsonx Assistant for Z for Technical Sales Level 3 Demonstration Guide for the automations and skills to run as expected.

  • When issuing other prompts:

    • Procedural questions provide better structure to responses. For example, in a query it is better to use "Explain how to estimate space requirements for Db2 table spaces without using Db2 admin tool. Provide a step-by-step answer.” versus "How to estimate space requirements for table spaces?"

  • When asking a generic question, responses are more accurate when possessive adjectives are avoided. For instance, "How do I check the Db2 for z/OS version on a logical partition (LPAR)?” versus "How do I check my Db2 for z/OS version on my LPAR?”

  • Compound questions perform better. As an example, “Categorize the various zparms available.” versus “What is zparm?”

  • Question styles like pros and cons and A versus B work better. For instance, “What are the pros and cons for setting GMTRAN to EXIT? Provide a detailed answer.”

If you know your client and their environment well, client-specific questions will add value to your demonstration. However, it is critical to validate the accuracy of the responses before attempting in a live demonstration.

Next, explore the scripted demonstrations that are created by IBM watsonx Assistant for Z experts.