The go-to event for IT professionals in Barcelona just turned two years old.

Throughout the 12 editions of Tech Up Nights, this initiative by Tech Barcelona and Ocado Technology has featured speakers from Nestlé, HP, Adevinta, Damm, MediaMarkt, and other companies, sharing their insights on how they are using technology to transform their companies. In this latest edition, Ocado Technology discussed strategies for minimising cloud costs, while i2CAT introduced an exciting new development: a real-time holoportation platform.

Kevin McCormack, Associate Engineering Director at Ocado Technology.

Kevin McCormack, Associate Engineering Director at Ocado Technology, delivered a presentation similar to one he gave at the AWS Summit in London this past April. He explained how Ocado Technology, recognised for its innovative e-commerce and logistics platform, has successfully reduced cloud costs without compromising its commitment to innovation. The company has optimised its cloud infrastructure through several strategies, including cost-aware engineering, efficient resource utilization, and the adoption of serverless architectures where applicable. This approach has allowed them to maintain rapid innovation cycles without sacrificing performance or functionality.

Sergi Fernández, Media & Internet Area Director at i2CAT; Mohamad Hjeij, Media Internet Research Engineer at i2CAT; & Miquel Angel Pérez, Knowledge and Technology Marketing at i2CAT.

It’s no longer science fiction. i2CAT has introduced HoloMIT, a solution that makes holoportation possible by reducing data volume, bandwidth, and computational needs, enabling immersive 360º experiences on current devices. HoloMIT captures people with depth cameras, encodes the data, transmits it, and renders it in a digital space—creating what’s known as holopresence.

The technology uses point clouds to produce realistic digital representations and is designed to work with low-cost devices. It also supports smooth multi-user sessions, accommodating up to 12 people at once. This could be the next big thing for virtual meetings, similar to how videoconferencing took off in the early 2000s.

HoloMIT has practical applications for businesses, including holoconferences, training, and demonstrations. One example is its use on TV3’s show Euforia, where multiple cameras captured scenes around the set, offering an interactive visualization of the performances.

In the end, the cake disappeared in a matter of seconds. But don’t worry, we’ve got pizzas, beers, and some connections on the menu for next time. See you in July!