8 Things You Missed At AlliantCon24

Textile Rental Industry Gathers at AlliantCon24: Shaping the Future of the Modern Laundry

In Frisco, Texas, Alliant Systems hosted its annual customer conference, AlliantCon24, bringing together over 190 textile rental professionals from more than 75 companies across the U.S. and Canada. This three-day event provided a collaborative platform for attendees to explore advancements in technology, share strategies, and gain critical insights into business growth and operational management. Under the theme, “Creating the Modern Laundry,” AlliantCon24 emphasized innovation and resilience in an evolving industry.

Event Highlights:

  Product and Services Announcements: some exciting new product and services initiatives were identified during the conference. Here's a summary:

• Alliant Business Intelligence (AlliantBI): announced as a new, no-cost addition for Alliant Cloud and Console clients, AlliantBI will offer pre-configured reports and dashboards along with customizable reporting tools. Users will be able to create, personalize, and schedule report delivery as needed. The tool is set for release before the end of Q1 2025.
• AlliantTrack: this tool has been added to the Alliant roadmap and will be a stand-alone inventory tracking system to be operated by your customers at their places of business. The focus of the system is for the end customer to better manage their local inventory. A tight API integration to your Alliant database will be included to keep data synchronized. Release date and details TBD.
• AMS System: this is an internal system for Alliant, allowing better management of the Alliant customer versions and builds installed at customer sites, whether if on-premises or in the cloud, giving us tools to support our customers better. Most importantly, it will allow for simplified and smoother version updates.
• New Integration with Avalara: aimed at enhancing tax compliance, the Avalara integration simplifies tax code accuracy and maintenance. This optional, new feature is expected to be available by Q3 2025, helping operators stay compliant with the latest tax requirements.
• Alliant Centralized Console fresh look and feel: use a browser from anywhere to access Alliant via the Centralized Console. Currently, the console allows for enterprise-level A/R inquiry. Very soon, it will allow you to process payments for one or multiple plants including integrated payments with credit cards and/or ACH. In the coming year, users will begin to see other maintenance screens be enabled in the console, allowing users to use a browser more and more. 

  Operator-Driven Content: textile rental operators delivered practical, 10-minute sessions on topics including AI for transforming your organizations, outsourcing options for time savings, implementing least privilege and zero-trust security measures, and expanding the role of Alliant administrators within their companies.

  Interactive Customer and Supplier Panels: A new section for the conference, these panels encouraged open dialogue on technology adoption and highlighted effective, and occasionally challenging, strategies shared by both customers and suppliers. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from industry peers and discover how embracing new technology can drive businesses forward.

  Breakout Sessions: these sessions focused on key industry areas, such as route delivery, customer service, RFID, integrated payment solutions, and inventory management, fostering a collaborative look at the future needs of textile rental operators. In these sessions our attendees were able to interact with speakers and other users, enhancing their skills and knowledge, while having discussions about best practices, tips to elevate the bottom line, and industry trends. During these sessions, we discussed:

• Beyond Signatures - Best Practices for Handheld Optimization: attendees were able to discover how NextGen laundries maximize handheld technology beyond signature collection, including real-time features, route lists, and more.
• Does IT Matter? An Assessment of the IT Operations of Modern Laundries: this was an engaging breakout session dedicated to explore the critical role of IT in enhancing security, efficiency, and streamlined processes within the organization.
• Trends in Accounts Receivables & Finance: participants had the opportunity to explore the latest trends in accounts receivable and finance, including payment processing, invoicing, price types, and reporting.
• Your Customer Portal, A Resource Working 24/7: a comprehensive workshop focused on enhancing the customer experience by mastering the Alliant Online Portal, covering branding, customization, promotion, and seamless integration to delight attendees and boost engagement.

Community Meet Ups Sessions: this year we offered for the first time five dynamic Community Meet Ups where attendees dove into focused discussions with peers and industry experts for broader industry conversations, with key topics such as:

• A/R and Payment Integration:  a session for front-office staff on effective accounts receivable and payment processing, focusing on strategies to minimize receivables while adapting to new payment technologies. Attendees explored best practices for handling cash, moving from checks to electronic payments, and maintaining compliance in a dynamic environment.
• Customer Service / Route Delivery: this session was focused on empowering Route Service Representatives (RSRs) to enhance customer relationships through effective account management and delivery. Participants discussed recruiting and retention strategies, explored proactive customer service structures, and learned how data and goodwill visits can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• The Future of RFID in Textile Rental: a session dedicated to the impact of RFID technology in textile rental, covering how it enhances tracking accuracy, cost control, and invoicing. Attendees learned from early adopters about the necessary training, support, and future advancements in RFID for improved automation, data insights, and operational efficiency.
• Uniforms / Stockroom Management: this session highlighted the essential role of stockroom personnel in managing inventory flow, replacements, and new orders under high-pressure conditions. Participants discussed best practices and proven strategies to enhance stockroom organization, optimize inventory use, and improve operational efficiency.
• General Discussion Lounge: an open forum were attendees discussed any industry topics in a collaborative setting, offering fresh perspectives and valuable insights. It was a chance to connect, share experiences, and brainstorm solutions with peers, fostering innovation and networking opportunities.

These sessions were highly successful, perfect for sharing experiences, exchanging ideas, and networking with others facing similar challenges in the textile rental industry.

  Alliant Community and University Updates: With over 90% of Alliant customers actively participating in the online Community, users benefit from a comprehensive knowledge base, training resources, and a platform for interaction throughout the year. This enables end-users to connect, collaborate, and share insights at any time, fostering valuable peer-to-peer learning. Alliant reported more than 10,000 monthly page views, underscoring active and growing engagement among users.

 Dinner Party of the Year: attendees celebrated this year with a lively dinner at Fogo de Chão in Plano, Texas, marking another successful year of collaboration and innovation. This is more than just dinner — it’s an experience to unwind, connect with fellow attendees, and enjoy a night filled with delicious food and great company.

  Looking Ahead: AlliantCon25 is scheduled for the week of October 13th, 2025, in San Antonio, TX, promising continued learning and new opportunities for textile rental professionals to connect and grow. Exact dates and details coming soon!

About Alliant Systems

Alliant Systems is the leading provider of business management systems and IT solutions for textile rental companies. Our software suite supports operators in driving growth, saving time, and increasing revenue by optimizing front-office, plant, and route operations.