INTRODUCTION
Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG) is the largest operator of odds betting and games in Eastern Europe. Originally a Czech company, it has transformed into an international business operating in Slovakia, Poland, Romania, and Croatia. FEG employs over 6,000 staff members and aims to ensure that every employee remains proud to work for an internationally renowned bookmaker, which opened its first branch more than 30 years ago.
THE CHALLENGE
Following the company's growth, expansion, and acquisitions in neighboring countries, FEG sought solutions to unify communication and increase the effectiveness of cooperation between employees’ cross-location. In addition to increasing productivity through enhanced communication, FEG wanted to provide its staff with the best resources to do their jobs. Starting with its new headquarters in Wenceslas Square, Prague, the firm’s integrator, Langard, was chosen to deploy a solution that would reflect the company’s modern working values and ensure a completely reliable interconnection of employees between all five countries in which it operates.
THE SOLUTION
After careful consideration, the teams at FEG decided on a Crestron and Microsoft Teams® solution. The first steps towards installation began in 2017, but by 2019, FEG chose a more comprehensive concept: to integrate Microsoft Teams Rooms conference solutions for branches in all five countries where the business operates. Crestron Flex was selected for its scalability, quality of sound and image, brand reputation, and warranty. Langard began by equipping the company’s new head office in Wenceslas Square, Prague, with a complete Crestron solution for 45 meeting rooms, three training rooms, common areas, a café, gym, and game room, offering a higher standard working environment for free-flowing creativity and collaboration.
THE TECHNOLOGY
In FEG’s new headquarters in Prague, there is a modern solution for transmitting presentations via a Crestron AirMedia® receiver and camera with auto tracking function and face recognition. The image and the speaker’s sound can be combined with the presentation. The content is then distributed not only to the PC for the Microsoft Live event or webinar but also to the monitors in the building. Perfect sound quality is achieved through the Crestron audio system and Crestron Saros® speakers. To ensure an uninterrupted signal, the entire AV system is connected to the Crestron DM NVX® AV-over-IP distribution and streamed to more than 40 screens throughout the building.
Crestron AirMedia is the standard for AV transmission in all areas, chosen for its high-quality wireless conferencing technology. All meeting rooms have a reservation system using Crestron Fusion monitoring and scheduling software, occupancy sensors, and Crestron LCD panels. AV connectivity in meeting rooms is solved with the help of Crestron FlipTop™ cable management and Crestron DigitalMedia™ components. In addition to the Crestron Fusion® software, the Crestron XiO Cloud® management platform offers remote support, maintains operations standards, manages device lifecycles, and offers enhanced insights for maximum reliability. This integration enabled a user-friendly solution for all employees based in every office location, and it has become a natural part of everyday business operations and collaboration.
Fortuna Entertainment Group’s new head office is the hub of the business, designed to reflect the company’s modern working values. It fully uses modern technologies for enhanced productivity, and its corporate culture is now truly digital. Crestron meeting room equipment helps simplify and improve video conferencing capabilities for company-wide updates. Crestron devices enable the seamless projection of high-quality images and sound via Microsoft Teams while also transferring the presenter virtually to multiple countries simultaneously and with a wireless connection to the screen in the physical space.
RESULTS
The client of this project now uses modern and efficient communications solutions from Crestron and Microsoft Teams, unifying its international teams and setting new standards for collaboration across the business. By unifying the solutions in all locations and increasing the standard of the working environment, FEG is fulfilling its aim of keeping its employees satisfied and proud to be representing the largest bookmaker in Eastern Europe. The success of the installation at this stage prompted the decision to deploy the solution across all spaces in the newly built offices in Prague, as well as in all other premises, to unify collaboration tools and ensure a consistent and reliable user experience.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
