Rexel’s High-Tech Upgrade: A Meeting Room Makeover
“Rapid are a very good company to work with, they have come on board with Rexel and as a new Partner, they made us feel welcome as a customer, everything was clearly outlined with no surprise costs. The backup service after installation is outstanding. Nothing is an issue for them and they always come back within reasonable timescales of the work requested..” – James Orme, Rexel The Customer Rexel is a global distributor of electrical products and services, specializing in providing electrical solutions to professionals in the construction, industrial, and residential sectors. They offer a wide range of electrical supplies, including lighting, automation, energy management systems, cables, and other electrical components. The company operates in over 20 countries and serves a broad customer base, from electricians and contractors to industrial and commercial clients. Their Problems Like many large organisations with multiple meeting rooms, Rexel experienced typical problems such as inconsistent user experience across rooms, hardware compatibility issues, complex set ups and poor audio/video quality. Managing these systems on a day-to-day basis would also be a challenge for them due to having staff based at multiple sites. Moving into their new HQ in Aylesbury provided a good opportunity for them to re-assess their meeting room technology and improve their spaces based on feedback they had received from staff over the past 12-24 months post-covid. The Solution Following multiple demonstrations using various systems, it became clear that the best solution out there was to create a Microsoft Teams Room. With its simplistic one-touch to join interface this provided a consistent and simple interface across all rooms so that regardless of room size or equipment, staff knew how to operate the system. More specifically, Yealink’s range of MVC Room Systems were chosen as they ticked all the boxes in terms of functionality whilst coming in at a more cost-effective price compared to other vendors. An important selling point was the Yealink WPP30 wireless sharing device which connects seamlessly to any device, either through USB-A or USB-C. Other brands that were considered required a 3rd party wireless sharing manufacturer to offer this functionality and this involved other drawbacks, as well as increasing costs. The main boardroom in particular needed superior audio quality, and as a result we suggested the Nureva HDL310 audio conferencing system. Using their patented Microphone Mist technology, the HDL310 creates thousands of virtual microphones that cover the entire room, ensuring that voices from any location are picked up clearly. This meant that as people move around the room, they would not see a drop off in audio quality that you would usually see if table microphones were used. The system also came Teams Room certified which was a key requirement, as well as providing additional noise reduction and echo cancellation features. Maintenance of these systems is paramount due to their importance of use and so Rapid provide remote management of the AV technology along with onsite escalation if a hardware/software fault is found with no fix. Other key technology implemented included using Clevertouch interactive displays for their R&D/training area. Speak to us to see how we can help with your AV project!
Rapid Technologies partner with CareCube to deliver efficiency improvements throughout the NHS
“Their solution more than met our expectations and Rapids training and advice on best practice usage ensured our clinicians took ownership of the system very quickly.” – Dr. Rob Stables, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist The customers: About CareCube CareCube is a fully integrated digital workflow system. It was designed in collaboration with The Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (LHCH) to simplify and centralise the complex scheduling and tracking of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures in catheter laboratories (cath labs). CareCube provides a framework for clinical teams with the aims of supporting patient safety, reducing human error, and making the best use of resources. Their Problems A common issue amongst these various hospitals was that they had inefficiencies within their Cath Lab facilities where heart stent and other procedures were being carried out. Staff had various devices generating a large amount of patient data but needed this data from different sources integrating into one platform so that it could be easier for clinicians to access, review, and analyse. With multiple devices and team members, a centralised interface would be required to help improve overall workflow efficiency. Furthermore, real-time data visualisation was proving difficult in the cath labs themselves. The Solution Carecube approached Rapid Technologies as they had heard from other hospitals how Rapid had delivered touch screen systems specifically around patient care. Carecube had developed a dashboard that would be suitable in a Cath Lab setting giving clinician’s access to a patient safety checklist and key patient data that could be updated in real time giving staff a status at a glance. Being able to view and monitor this data in real-time allows for healthcare providers to make faster and more informed decisions during procedures, leading to improve patient outcomes and reduce complications. Users can quickly update information by interacting with the board directly, as they would with a phone or iPad. They were not just looking for a panel where they could update and view patient records and history, but the Cath Lab teams held a number of meetings and briefings whereby a patient-specific case discussion in a protected period at the start of each individual case and the panels could be helpful in sharing ideas and collaborating in decision making. They found it useful if they could capture briefing notes and annotations over X-Rays and care documentation. In addition to installation services Rapid have carried out staff training early in deployment to ensure staff feel comfortable with the new technology and to make sure it is fully embraced. “As is best practice, we looked at a number of solution providers, but Rapid Technologies experience in the NHS with their Ward PSAG solution and their consultative approach and all-round attention to detail made them the ideal partner to work with on this project. Rapid’s approach was very professional and helpful, nothing was left to chance and we feel very confident in recommending them for similar projects“ – Dr. Rob Stables, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist Speak to us to see how we can help with your AV project!
Rapid assist The Rayware Group on their wireless connectivity and upgrades
About The Rayware Group Founded in 1975, Liverpool-based Rayware Group has become a leading UK Housewares supply company. Rayware Group engaged with Rapid Wireless for the Wi-Fi review following the successful implementation of an earlier inter-site microwave link. Evolution of office structure, visitor engagement, warehousing and logistics methodology embraced contemporary technologies unable to be supported both in terms of coverage and configuration by the legacy HP Wi-Fi system installed several years earlier. Their Issues Over time, Rayware has reorganised the office layout, created a high-end show room, established a visitor engagement space and has introduced contemporary warehousing and logistics technologies. Site development resulted in the legacy HP Wi-Fi access points being installed in either incorrect location, in insufficient quantity or unable to support contemporary applications such as wrist and hand-held scanning devices or the expanded racking and palletisation methodologies employed in warehousing. Addressing the issues Rapid Wireless account management agreed coverage specification with Rayware prior to coordinating D-Link-attended site surveys to complete 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency mapping analysis. At Showroom location, the following illustrates legacy coverage and target coverage: At Warehouse location, the following images illustrate partitioned warehouse area and target coverage: Warehousing survey enabled solution to blind-spot issues created by densely populated steel racking and pallets. Wi-Fi in office areas required to accommodate revised office and partitioning layout to enable mobile device access to internet and server-based applications for employee and guest access. Warehouse access requirements include seamless connectivity for mobile devices operated by staff to access central stock keeping and internal systems. Review of existing cabling infrastructure in clean and within dust-laden environments were key factors in delivery of a robust and successful implementation. The Solution Rapid Wireless was supported by D-Link as the nominated manufacturer in the generation of heatmaps detailing access point positions to meet customer requirements. Existing access point positions were retained where appropriate. Additional access points were delivered and cabled by Rapid’s deployment team utilising new and existing containment trays and ducting. Warehousing ‘dirty’ areas (i.e. airborne dusts) required access point protective housings that were non-masking and to IP standard. IP66 rated GRP electrical enclosures were sourced and included within the proposition. D-Link Wi-Fi 6 Nuclias access points were pre-configured by Rapid’s technical team and installed at all pre-planned locations within the customer site. Upon completion of installation and network commissioning, service testing, reporting and handover followed. Testing included training and handover of D-Link’s Nuclias Connect Network Management Software (NMS). Nuclias Connect enables Rayware’s technical team to monitor and manage the Connect app from desktop, tablet or smartphone. All current technical, workspace and system management requirements have been delivered. Installed access point distribution: In conclusion, Rapid Wireless is pleased to have been selected as Rayware’s technical partner during their upgrade to the D-Link Nuclias Wi-Fi solution. If your business is reviewing Wi-Fi connectivity, Rapid would be pleased to hear from you. Speak to us to see how we can help with your Wireless Connectivity needs!
Rapid assist BAM Nuttall & TRU West on their digital transformation journey
“We would highly recommend Rapid to others based on the positive feedback we have received from site teams and users on the Transpennine Route Upgrade project. The satisfaction and positive experiences of these stakeholders reflect the effectiveness and value of Rapid’s products and services in overcoming workplace challenges and improving collaboration, communication, and productivity. Their solutions have proven to be reliable, user-friendly, and instrumental in enhancing the overall work environment.” – Shervin Yousefzadeh, TRU West About BAM Nuttall BAM Nuttall is a UK-based civil engineering and construction company, part of the BAM Group, which is one of Europe’s largest construction services companies. The company specializes in infrastructure projects, including roads, railways, airports, tunnels, and marine works. BAM Nuttall is known for its focus on sustainable construction practices and innovation in engineering solutions. Their Problems Before engaging with Rapid Technologies, BAM Nuttall faced some common challenges. These challenges included outdated technology, a lack of interactivity amongst staff, inefficient communication and collaboration, and limited flexibility/scalability. This was hindering productivity and collaboration in the workplace, which could potentially impact the companies’ ability in meeting project deadlines, keeping costs on track with budgets, and communication. They also faced challenges in visualising and organising ideas. The Solution Rapid have worked with BAM Nuttall over a number of years to help them with their digitisation and innovation strategy. Clevertouch UX Pro’s were chosen as the display of choice across the organisation due to their versatility in allowing for collaboration, engagement, and video conferencing. Wireless sharing was effortless by utilising CleverCast hardware (dongles) and software. Nureva Span Walls offered a large digital canvas ideal for ideation, planning, and visualisation. They enabled teams to visualise complex concepts and streamline project management processes, facilitating efficient teamwork and enhancing decision-making. Paired with software’s like Miro and Nialli, these received extremely positive feedback across the organisation. In keeping with the Clevertouch eco-system, Clevertouch PICO media players and CM Pro series displays were used for digital signage internally and externally. Internally they were used for communication within the workplace and externally for contractors and visitors. Staff that are onsite can now be alerted very quickly with any safety risks that are apparent and also with general health and safety information. This is all controlled remotely by office staff, and the content being pushed out can be changed at any time. “The buying experience with Rapid is often described as professional, efficient, and customer-centric. Rapid aim to understand the unique challenges and goals of their customers and recommend suitable products and services accordingly. The buying process is often streamlined, and Rapid’s knowledgeable sales team ensures a smooth transition from initial consultation to product delivery and implementation.” Speak to us to see how we can help with your AV project!
The National Lottery Fund (TNL) introduce ‘green’ ROOMZ booking system throughout multiple office locations
“Good Equipment, does exactly what is says on the tin. The room booking panels have helped us utilise them as calendar devices for room use.” – Keith Mardling – TNL About The National Lottery The National Lottery, a cornerstone of the UK’s gaming and entertainment industry, has been enriching lives and funding vital projects since its inception in 1994. Operated by Camelot Group, The National Lottery offers a wide range of games, including Lotto, EuroMillions, and Set For Life, creating winners every week and supporting good causes across the nation. With a commitment to innovation and community impact, The National Lottery continues to be a driving force for positive change, funding thousands of projects in the arts, sports, heritage, and community sectors. Their Problems The National Lottery came to us for help with streamlining their meeting room management processes and to enhance their operational efficiency. They also had to consider how these devices might be deployed across their estate due to difficult cabling routes and limited available resource. Sustainability and eco-friendliness remained core to TNL’s values so any product with these benefits would be an instant success. The Solution After fact-finding calls and demonstrations with TNL, Rapid decided that ROOMZ would be the perfect solution for what they were looking for. These sleek, intuitive devices are designed to simplify the process of booking and managing meeting spaces. Deployment was made very easy as no cabling was required and all devices were connected through Wi-Fi, not POE. Typical battery usage for Roomz displays are 4-5 years, and have the capability to be solar-powered. Paired with the ROOMZ occupancy sensor, rooms can be automatically be released if no one shows up (ghost meetings), while creating valuable data based on the effective use of their workplace. ROOMZ desk booking is another product set that could be easily deployed further down the line to help with office space management and ‘hot-desking’. Find out more about our ROOMZ!
K Line Europe improve the video conferencing experience in their London & Southampton offices
“After engaging with Rapid Technologies, Kit guided us through the different solutions available and arranged for a face-to-face demonstration by the manufacturer. The order process was smoothly handled, and the installation team worked tirelessly to complete the setup in our office. Since then, we have received positive feedback from the office and remote users, and had a trouble free environment which fully integrates with our MS TEAM. We are very satisfied with the service level we received and have already placed a second order to expand the use of the equipment recommended by Rapid Tech. It’s nice to come across a professional company that has the clients best interests at their core.” – Martin Jarvis, EMEA Information Systems Group – K Line Europe About K Line Europe K Line Europe, a European subsidiary of global Japanese shipping and logistics company, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, are a prominent player in the global shipping and logistics industry. K Line Europe have established itself as a leader in maritime transportation, providing a wide range of services including container shipping, bulk shipping and specialised cargo handling. Their Problems K Line Europe approached Rapid as they had multiple meeting rooms with video conferencing equipment that was no longer fit for purpose. They had a variety of conferencing equipment across different rooms, leading to inconsistent user experience and error. Their existing solutions did not effectively support K Line’s hybrid work model and there was difficulty for IT in managing and maintaining conferencing equipment. The Solution K Line Europe had standardised on Microsoft Teams as an organisation and after arranging face-to-face demonstrations with our partner Yealink, it was agreed that the best option was for them to deploy Microsoft Teams Rooms. This would fully integrate with their existing Microsoft ecosystem and the suite of Yealink’s Teams Room certified products aligned exactly with what K Line were looking for, whilst coming in cheaper than competing brands in the space. The Yealink Device Management Platform (free of charge for 2 years) ensured that IT can update firmware remotely and manage the estate without needing to be present in the office. As a result of staff positive feedback Rapid have also just recently fitted out video conferencing at K Line’s Southampton Office as well. Find out more about our Yealink Conferencing solutions!
Mibelle UK Improve Meetings and Workplace Collaboration with Interactive Technology
“With old flipcharts people were reluctant to work together. Now people want to get involved. I just want to see more and more smart boards around the site.” – Damien Archer, IT Manager – Mibelle UK About Mibelle Group Mibelle develops, produces and markets its brands and own brands for retail in the fields of Personal Care & Beauty, Home Care and Nutrition. The group offers innovative concepts and outstanding solutions that are precisely tailored to the needs of their customers and consumers always with focus on quality and sustainability. The Mibelle Group employs around 1,600 people spread over nine locations in Switzerland, and is part of the Migros Group. Their Problems Mibelle approached Rapid as they had over 50 physical whiteboards across their site but found that collaboration with these was limited and wanted to digitise operations. Whilst there was some functionality in these whiteboards, there was no way of integrating these with Office 365, Sharepoint, and Microsoft Teams, whilst the company found with older flipcharts people were reluctant to work collaboratively. For morning/afternoon meetings people were having to take photos of the notes taken and upload these to SharePoint manually, not in the correct file format and without the option to edit. There was a concern that the implementation of any digital hardware was ‘risky’ and would require a lot of staff training and resources. The Solution Partnering with SMART Technologies, over a period of 6 months Rapid Technologies deployed 10+ SMART MX Pro Series interactive displays to help combat the issues Mibelle were previously experiencing. These devices integrate seamlessly with the Microsoft suite of apps, meaning that staff in various areas of the building can collaborate, both on SMART displays in open areas/meeting rooms and also local PCs/laptops. This ensures that everything can be managed centrally. Rapid also provided free onsite training for Mibelle employees to ensure that everyone was comfortable and confident enough in using the new technology. As staff became invested and saw the value in the SMART displays on a day-to-day basis, demand around the site increased and ultimately led to additional purchases. It has been noted by management that the displays have also given a very positive impression to clients and visitors of the site. Find out more about our range of SMART Boards!
Kirkby Tyres implement BYOD solution for their meeting rooms
“All of our requirements with Rapid have come last minute. Rapid responded and always delivered. This has been demonstrated when we have had the need for Conference AV rental with stage design and the need for screen to be supplied and fitted around our offices. Keep up the good work.” – Simon Evans, Analyst – Kirkby Tyres About Kirkby Tyres Kirkby Tyres is a renowned leader in the tyre distribution industry, serving a variety of clients across the UK. With a strong reputation for reliability and an extensive range of high-quality products, Kirkby Tyres has cemented its position as a trusted partner for businesses seeking top-notch tyre solutions. Their Problems Kirkby Tyres came to Rapid as they had began to use video conferencing more regularly and had issues with poor audio and video quality, connectivity issues, and user friendliness. This was becoming increasingly an issue for senior management who needed to connect with key suppliers in foreign countries seamlessly. Kirkby Tyres also needed to remain platform agnostic as they used Microsoft Teams internally but other platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet were used by suppliers & customers and they could not always dictate the platform of choice. The Solution As a result of the requirements laid out by Kirkby Tyres, Rapid proposed a simple Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) solution in order to ensure ease of use and allow for use with multiple different video conferencing platforms. After reviewing a couple of different options, the Biamp Parle VBC 2500 Video Conferencing Bar was chosen for the meeting rooms along with a single USB-C cable for ease of use. Biamp use Acoutic Echo Cancellation (AEC), AI Noise Reduction (NRD), and their patented Beamtracking technology that actively tracks and intelligently mixes conversations from around the room. The wide angle 4k camera also uses auto framing technology to identify meeting participants and to adjust the focus and zoom to keep participants in view. Since then Rapid Technologies have successfully worked with Kirkby Tyres to assist in the AV design, planning, and rental for a recent event they hosted in the Crowne Plaza. Find out more about our Video Conferencing solutions!
Rapid x Lookers Project
See what the Interim Project Manager at Lookers had to say about their experience with Rapid and how they have overcome challenges in their workplace since working with us. What challenges did you face before speaking to Rapid? We’d already deployed the Go Bright solution to our head office site, however we now wanted to expand the system to include another office. How would you describe the buying experience? Straight forward and pretty pain free. How do you use our product/service and how much has it helped overcome your challenges in the workplace? Its helped us overcome challenges with not only having a high desk ratio (2 people for every desk), but also where we have challenges where specific teams need to have locations to themselves due to privacy (sensitive conversations) or hardware requirements (dual screen) – whilst trying to keep a flexible office set up where possible. Would you recommend Rapid to others? Absolutely Is there anything you would like to add? Kit and Louis we’re our main Rapid representatives that we engaged with, both really helpful! Particular shout out to Louis who noted down c.80 pass numbers down and allocated to our colleagues 😊