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 About Rexel 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. Identifying the challenges 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. Delivering a 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, therefore we provided 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!
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. Identifying the challenges 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. Delivering a 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!
What is the best technology to have in the boardroom?

In today’s fast-paced and ever evolving corporate world, boardrooms are where the critical decision-making and strategic planning happens. Investing in cutting-edge technology will help companies enhance collaboration, efficiency, and productivity in the boardroom. In this blog, we explore the best technologies that can be used to revolutionise the boardroom experience and ultimately drive businesses towards success. Interactive Displays and Content Sharing The days of old fashioned PowerPoint slides and presentations are behind us. Now modern boardrooms require meetings and presentations that can captivate audiences. Thanks to interactive displays with touch screen capabilities and digital annotation features, meeting participants will be engaged and meaningful conversations can be stimulated. Data visualisation tools take complex information and transform it into visually compelling representations, allowing board members to grasp insights quickly, facilitating data-driven decisions. Furthermore, supporting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), it encourages flexibility and enhances collaboration, as participants can use their familiar devices to contribute to discussions. Devices such as the Yealink WPP30 Wireless Sharing Dongle allows hassle-free screen sharing at the touch of a button. Alternatively, Poly, Yealink and Logitech VC systems all allow for a direct screen sharing solution with an HDMI cable which can be used by anyone at the table. Video Conferencing The rise of remote work has presented both challenges and opportunities for businesses across the globe. Video conferencing solutions have become a vital part of work activities by enabling seamless communication and collaboration regardless of physical location. High-definition cameras and reliable audio systems ensure that virtual participants feel present and engaged, fostering real-time interactions and facilitating connections. With the emergence of solutions such as Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zooms rooms, users are able to enjoy an extremely simple meeting process in just a few clicks. These solutions are fool proof, allowing users to join meetings with just one touch, scheduling new meetings easily and sharing content into those meetings seamlessly. This enables collaboration between those in the workplace and remote, in a way that was previously not possible. To facilitate seamless teamwork, businesses are turning to collaboration software and tools. These platforms encompass project management, file sharing and communication tools, streamlining workflows and enabling real-time document editing and sharing. With everyone on the same page, board members can make decisions more efficiently and effectively. Room Booking Solutions The management of meeting spaces has become paramount for maximising productivity and enhancing the overall efficiency of a company. By introducing cutting-edge room booking technologies into your business, such as GoBright and Evoko, it brings an array of invaluable benefits. These solutions revolutionise the way organisations schedule, utilise, and optimise their meeting spaces. Employees can effortlessly locate and secure suitable spaces for their meetings and receive real-time updates on room availability reduce conflicts and eliminate time wasted searching for vacant spaces. In conclusion, the boardroom is much more than four walls and a flipchart. Embracing the best technologies, can help your business to improve collaboration, efficiency and productivity, which will boost your businesses at the forefront of innovation. As companies are always adapting and evolving, the boardroom will continue to be the hub of strategic decision-making and technology will remain a driving force behind their success.