SiteREADY Leverages Yamaha’s Solution Portfolio to Propel Brainstorming and Collaboration Across a Range of Meeting Spaces
SiteREADY is a professional services firm that partners with companies when they renovate or are building, acting as a liaison between real estate and technology. As a think tank, they use technology to create fully integrated workplaces that drive innovation. At the heart of the company is its Solutions Delivery Model (SDM), which shirks the traditional way projects have been completed in the past through a process that blends consulting, program development, design, construction, implementation, and support. The design phase of this process is where technology comes into sharp focus and determines how solutions can be used to promote seamless, intuitive collaboration between employees and other parties.
To accomplish that, the company has a deep understanding of the audio and video market, including the best AV solutions available. Most recently, the company was selected to develop a space, called the Innovation Studio, for a national company where its employees could use technology to create, brainstorm, and solve problems in new and different ways. The 5,000-square-foot space was divided into small modular labs, called pods. The concept is that each pod can adapt quickly as its group formulates new ideas. Remote collaboration was a requirement. This would allow them to bring in outside team members via their chosen videoconference platform. They needed a solution that would grant them efficiency, ease of use, and flexibility. For example, if they were in one pod, they needed to be able to move to the next pod without having to disconnect and reset the system. With that in mind, SiteREADY came up with the idea of creating mobile videoconferencing carts that’s powered from ceiling drop-downs. Finding a videoconferencing system that was high enough quality and intuitive was the other challenge.
“We needed a solution that could go anywhere in the lab, work with any videoconference platform, and deliver the best quality available without having to wrestle with setting up and calibrating separate audio, video, and screen sharing components. The whole idea was to have an all-in-one solution that was just as agile as the space and team members working inside. We didn’t want a solution that had be tied to a certain room or even a configuration,” said Tom Potts, vice president of consulting and services at SiteREADY.
SiteREADY didn’t have to look far. The company was familiar with Yamaha UC’s vast portfolio of conference phones and microphones, relying on them for delivering superior audio quality in an array of workspace applications. For this space, SiteREADY chose Yamaha UC’s CS-700 Video Sound Bar. It is specifically designed for interactive huddle-type spaces where audio and video communication must be delivered with the high-quality caliber that was previously only available in large, expensive video conference suites. The CS-700 integrates the superior loudspeaker and microphone technology that Yamaha is known for with clear, HD video and collaboration capabilities in one solution.
“It’s a comprehensive solution that we could put on a cart, connect it, and provide everyone with a great experience, whether they’re in the middle of the Innovation Studio for breakout sessions or rolling it into a nearby office. No matter what, it was getting maximum use with a guaranteed experience,” said Potts. “They’ve been so successful in the Innovation Studio that we’re looking at them for a refresh of the company’s 385 conference rooms around the nation.”
SiteREADY also trusted Yamaha UC for a project for a national architecture, engineering, and consulting client. SiteREADY was tasked with finding a conferencing solution for more than 200 newly installed Zoom Rooms. The new meeting spaces were part of a company-wide system refresh, which required a Zoom-compatible conferencing solution that would quickly bridge calls, deliver an intuitive user experience, and deliver the best audio.
“The biggest hurdle is getting through testing,” said Potts. “You might have a solution that says its compatible with certain platform but once it’s in the room, you realize it’s not going to work. After testing the Yamaha FLX UC 1000 and 1500 conference phones inside some of their Zoom Rooms, we were able to confirm it was a great fit for our client’s needs. We’ve already outfitted the first 100 rooms and we’re looking at rolling out 185 later this year.”
Flexibility and natural conversation were core specifications of the project, which is what made Yamaha’s Revolabs FLX Series USB and VoIP conference phone a perfect fit for the project. The solution’s four corner microphones capture 360 degrees of sound for up to 18 participants, so everyone can be heard without shouting or repositioning the phone. The FLX 1500 model adds two extension microphones, which retains the device’s capacity to provide natural, in-person-sounding audio for even larger conference room environments. By making it easier for teams working from multiple locations to hear each other clearly, the FLX UC 1500 removes many barriers to effective communication and collaboration, boosting productivity and eliminating frustration. It’s also vital for improving intelligibility as more conference participants are added in from different locations.
“What it comes down to is that Yamaha enables us to outfit an entire business with incredible audio, from road warriors to offices to conference rooms and collaboration spaces in a range of sizes,” said Potts. “We can buy one product with one skew without worrying about where to hang microphones or to position speakers in the ceiling. It eliminates cabling all over the room, which is one of my design goals. Together, with core tenets of high-quality audio and video, we can trust Yamaha will provide the best experience in any of our installations.”
“Every meeting — no matter if there’s only two participants or 20, happening in a car, home office, or held in the most high-end board room — is incredibly valuable,” said Mike Fitch, vice president of global sales, marketing and customer support, Yamaha UC. “Yamaha UC’s entire portfolio is designed to deliver a great installation and user experience in any meeting environment. Our work with SiteREADY reflects this evolving meeting room landscape and how they’ve helped organizations not only adapt but strive for innovation.”
